Bulman
GenreCrime drama
Created byMurray Smith
Based onThe XYY Man by Kenneth Royce
Starring
ComposerDick Walter
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerRichard Everitt
Producers
  • Steve Hawes
  • Sita Williams
CinematographyMike Blakeley
Editors
  • Barry Bowmer
  • Paul Griffiths-Davies
  • Kim Horton
Running time60 minutes
Production companyGranada Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release5 June 1985 (1985-06-05) –
8 August 1987 (1987-08-08)
Related
Strangers

Bulman is a British television crime drama series, principally written and created by Murray Smith. It was first broadcast on ITV on 5 June 1985.[1] The series, featuring retired ex-cop George Bulman (Don Henderson) and his assistant Lucy McGinty (Siobhan Redmond), was a spin-off from the 1978 TV series Strangers, itself a spin-off of the 1976 TV series The XYY Man, which was adapted from the novels of Kenneth Royce.[2] Produced by Granada Television, Bulman ran for two series, with the final episode broadcast on 8 August 1987.[3]

In this incarnation, Don Henderson once again stars as former Detective Chief Inspector George Bulman, who is ostensibly retired from police work and now spends his spare time repairing old clocks. However, aside from fixing clocks, Bulman is also working as a private investigator, and even has an assistant, Lucy McGinty.[4] Aside from a number of private clients, Bulman and Lucy are frequently drawn into the clandestine world of the secret service through the machinations of security chief Bill Dugdale (Thorley Walters), and also find themselves helping the police with cases under the instruction of Bulman's former boss Jack Lambie (Mark McManus).[5] Bulman's former assistant, Derek Willis (Dennis Blanch), also appears in two episodes.

Both series were released on DVD via the Network imprint on 1 July 2013; however, these have since gone out of production. A complete box set was released on 20 August 2018, again via Network Distributing.

Cast

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1135 June 1985 (1985-06-05)28 August 1985 (1985-08-28)
2720 June 1987 (1987-06-20)8 August 1987 (1987-08-08)

Series 1 (1985)

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Winds of Change"William BrayneMurray Smith5 June 1985 (1985-06-05)
Despite having retired from the police force to fix clocks, Bulman is asked to help out on a case.
22"The Daughter Was a Dancer"Ken GrieveMurray Smith12 June 1985 (1985-06-12)
Bulman acts as safeguard for a businessman.
33"Pandora's Many Boxes"Christopher KingMurray Smith19 June 1985 (1985-06-19)
Bulman investigates when a man fails a security check.
44"Death of a Hitman"Bill GilmourMurray Smith26 June 1985 (1985-06-26)
Bulman helps a woman find out why her son was killed.
55"The Name of the Game"William BrayneMurray Smith3 July 1985 (1985-07-03)
Bulman assists the police when a woman who blames her husband's death on a policeman swears revenge.
66"One of Our Pigeons is Missing"Charlie NairnMurray Smith10 July 1985 (1985-07-10)
Bulman goes undercover as a tramp to solve a case.
77"Sins of Omission"Roger TuckerMurray Smith17 July 1985 (1985-07-17)
Lucy is used as bait to catch a female KGB agent.
88"Another Part of the Jungle"Christopher KingHenry Livings24 July 1985 (1985-07-24)
Bulman is hired to fix a church clock but must contend with a hitman instead.
99"Born Into the Purple"Bill GilmourPaul Wheeler31 July 1985 (1985-07-31)
Bulman investigates thefts in a wealthy household.
1010"A Cup for the Winner"David CarsonMurray Smith7 August 1985 (1985-08-07)
Bulman is hired by an American to find his family property.
1111"I Met a Man Who Wasn't There"Ken GrieveHenry Livings14 August 1985 (1985-08-14)
Bulman interferes with the schemes of a vengeful villain.
1212"A Moveable Feast"Bill GilmourPaul Wheeler21 August 1985 (1985-08-21)
Bulman helps a couple running a catering service.
1313"A Man of Conviction"Tom CotterMurray Smith28 August 1985 (1985-08-28)
Bulman goes undercover to investigate robberies by prisoners.

Series 2 (1987)

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"Chinese Whispers"William BrayneMurray Smith20 June 1987 (1987-06-20)
Bulman re-encounters a convict that he helped to put away during his time in the police force.
152"Death by Misadventure"David CarsonMurray Smith27 June 1987 (1987-06-27)
Bulman investigates when a reporter is killed at a racetrack.
163"White Lies"Gareth MorganMurray Smith4 July 1987 (1987-07-04)
Bulman helps Commander Morrison on a case.
174"Chicken of the Baskervilles"William BrayneMurray Smith18 July 1987 (1987-07-18)
Bulman poses as a butler to investigate a butler's disappearance.
185"Thin Ice"Bruce MacDonaldMurray Smith25 July 1987 (1987-07-25)
Bulman investigates when he hears rumours that Dugdale has been found dead.
196"W.C. Fields Was Right"Sarah HardingMurray Smith1 August 1987 (1987-08-01)
Bulman investigates a series of incidents involving young children and animals.
207"Ministry of Accidents"Brian MillsMurray Smith8 August 1987 (1987-08-08)
Bulman offers to help out Dugdale one last time.

References

  1. ^ "Sins of Omission (1985)". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  2. ^ "The XYY Man - Show News, Reviews, Recaps and Photos - TV.com". Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Bulman - Show News, Reviews, Recaps and Photos - TV.com". Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  4. ^ Newcomb, Horace; Newcomb, Lambdin Kay Distinguished Professor for the Peabody Awards Horace (3 February 2014). Encyclopedia of Television. Routledge. ISBN 9781135194727 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Sorry, pal…". 28 March 2021.

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