Strangers: Clever Dick (ITV 23 Jan 1979, Neil Stacy)

In Clever Dick Bulman is put out by the arrival of Detective Inspector Dick Barrington. Bulman has worked with him before in London and he thinks he is a bit of an upper class twit. He is in the north to work with the team on trying to catch a counterfeiting ring between England and Germany with the difference being that it’s German Deutschmarks that are being counterfeited.

When he learns that Barrington has broken into one of the chief suspects homes Bulman is convinced he is up to something.

Rather surprisingly Frances Tomelty’s Linda Doran has departed the series midway through the season. Linda has been promoted to Detective Sergeant, transferred back to London and assigned to the anti-terrorist squad. Whether it was Tomelty’s choice or the production teams it’s a shame because she added a welcome dynamic to the team and was able to play nicely off both Bulman and Willis.

Guest star Andrew Sachs, with his thick pebble glasses and dodgy accent is almost unrecognisable.

classic quote
“Narcissism is named after the Greek God Narcissus who woke up one morning, looked into a pool and cut his ear off.”
“I thought that was Van Dyke”

production details
UK / ITV – Granada / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Tuesday 23 January 1979 at 9.00pm

Writer: Brian Finch / Production Design: David Batley / Director: Quentin Lawrence

Series: Strangers Season 2 Episode 3

cast
Don Henderson as Bulman
Dennis Blanch as Willis
John Ronane as Singer
David Hargreaves as Chief Inspector Rainbow
John Duttine as Lennie Brooks
Neil Stacy as Detective Inspector Dick Barrington
Geoffrey Chater as Barker
Gunnar Moller as Hirsch
Andrew Sachs as Conron
Anita Carey as Edna
Michael Wardle as Knocker
John Who as Wally
John Proctor as Travis