Friday 28 June 2024

Bulman 1 of 9


Genre Crime drama 
Created byMurray Smith 
StarringComposer Dick Walter 
Country of origin United Kingdom 
Original language English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 20 (list of episodes)
Production Executive producer Richard Everitt
Producers
  • Steve Hawes
  • Sita Williams
Cinematography Mike Blakeley
Editors
  • Barry Bowmer
  • Paul Griffiths-Davies
  • Kim Horton
Running time 60 minutes
Production company Granada Television
Original release Network ITV
Release 5 June 1985 –
8 August 1987
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 TelevisionBulman 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[edit]

  • Don Henderson as George Bulman
  • Siobhan Redmond as Lucy McGinty
  • Thorley Walters as William 'Bill' Dugdale (Series 1 — Episodes 4, 6, 7 & 13; Series 2 — Episodes 5 & 7)
  • John Benfield as DI Holmes (Series 1 — Episodes 1, 5 & 11)
  • Mark McManus as DCS Jack Lambie (Series 1 — Episodes 1, 2 & 13)
  • Simon Molloy as DS Mackay (Series 1 — Episodes 1, 5 & 7)
  • Dennis Blanch as DS Derek Willis (Series 1 — Episodes 1 & 3)
  • Jeremy Gagan as DCI Faulkner (Series 1 — Episodes 1 & 3)

Episodes[edit]

Series overview[edit]

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1135 June 198528 August 1985
2720 June 19878 August 1987

Series 1 (1985)[edit]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Winds of Change"William BrayneMurray Smith5 June 1985
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
Bulman acts as safeguard for a businessman.
33"Pandora's Many Boxes"Christopher KingMurray Smith19 June 1985
Bulman investigates when a man fails a security check.
44"Death of a Hitman"Bill GilmourMurray Smith26 June 1985
Bulman helps a woman find out why her son was killed.
55"The Name of the Game"William BrayneMurray Smith3 July 1985
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
Bulman goes undercover as a tramp to solve a case.
77"Sins of Omission"Roger TuckerMurray Smith17 July 1985
Lucy is used as bait to catch a female KGB agent.
88"Another Part of the Jungle"Christopher KingHenry Livings24 July 1985
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
Bulman investigates thefts in a wealthy household.
1010"A Cup for the Winner"David CarsonMurray Smith7 August 1985
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
Bulman interferes with the schemes of a vengeful villain.
1212"A Moveable Feast"Bill GilmourPaul Wheeler21 August 1985
Bulman helps a couple running a catering service.
1313"A Man of Conviction"Tom CotterMurray Smith28 August 1985
Bulman goes undercover to investigate robberies by prisoners.

Series 2 (1987)[edit]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"Chinese Whispers"William BrayneMurray Smith20 June 1987
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
Bulman investigates when a reporter is killed at a racetrack.
163"White Lies"Gareth MorganMurray Smith4 July 1987
Bulman helps Commander Morrison on a case.
174"Chicken of the Baskervilles"William BrayneMurray Smith18 July 1987
Bulman poses as a butler to investigate a butler's disappearance.
185"Thin Ice"Bruce MacDonaldMurray Smith25 July 1987
Bulman investigates when he hears rumours that Dugdale has been found dead.
196"W.C. Fields Was Right"Sarah HardingMurray Smith1 August 1987
Bulman investigates a series of incidents involving young children and animals.
207"Ministry of Accidents"Brian MillsMurray Smith8 August 1987
Bulman offers to help out Dugdale one last time.

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