The XYY Man The Complete Series

cast
Stephen Yardley, Vivienne McKee, Don Henderson, Dennis Blanch, Mark Dignam

This highly culty spy-crime drama series from the mid seventies has long been on most TV fan's must see list so all praise to Network for bringing us the entire series (including the original 3 part serial which led to the longer series). Besides the fact that the stories are intriguing the show has held interest because of it featuring the first appearance of a certain Detective Sergeant George Bulman who would later go on to appear in the legendary series Strangers and his own series, here (still played by Don Henderson of course) he is teamed with DC Derek Willis (who would also go on to Strangers) Bulman is a somewhat different beast to the character he became in the later series, single minded and dogged in the extreme Bulman has none of the quirkiness that makes him stand out in Strangers but it is more than interesting to see the genesis of a character though.

The star of the series is the excellent Stephen Yardley who is probably best known for having played greasy Ken Masters in BBC1 super soap Howard's Way but who has actually had some great roles over the years, notably this and his spell in Secret Army as the traitorous Max Brocard.

Yardley plays cat burglar Spider Scott, born with an extra Y chromosome in his genetic make up which not only makes him tall but gives him a pre disposition to steal. Initially he is trying to go straight when secret service man Fairfax persuades him to break into a foreign embassy, the consequences of which mean that Scott is never really able to shake off the shackles of his make up and thanks to Fairfax is never far away from crime or intrigue. Created by Kenneth Royce the XYY man is high quality viewing that knocks modern fare such as Hustle or Spooks into a kocked hat.

Network maintain there usual meticulous standards here too by featuring as an extra a very rare chance to see a complete 3 part Crown Court story form the early 1970's with Yardley playing a GP accused of dispensing the pill unnesseccarily to an underage girl. Brilliant stuff and a brilliant idea,

A must have for any TV aficianado