The XYY Man

Rating: 6
Cast: Stephen Yardley, Don Henderson, Vivienne McKee, Dennis Blanch

The XYY Man is a 1976–77 British crime thriller television series created by Kenneth Royce, based on his novel series about reformed cat burglar William 'Spider' Scott, recruited by British intelligence for secret missions due to his unique genetic makeup (an extra Y chromosome), which supposedly predisposes him to crime. The plot follows his reluctant work for the secret service and his constant pursuit by the dogged Detective Sergeant George Bulman, leading to spin-offs like Strangers and Bulman.

CrimeDrama

Seasons

1. The Proposition

Air Date: 1976-07-03

Cat burglar William 'Spider' Scott leaves prison vowing to go straight. However, a government security officer approaches him to do a highly dangerous job, and is hounded by Detective Superintendent George Bulman.

2. The Execution

Air Date: 1976-07-10

Fairfax persuades Spider to burgle the Chinese Legation to retrieve a photo for the British Government. He accomplishes this but is seen and chased by Bulman.

3. The Resolution

Air Date: 1976-07-17

Spider is tortured by two South African hitmen for the negative he stole from the Chinese. He's luckily rescued and then discovers he may be in even worse danger than he thought.

1. Friends and Enemies

Air Date: 1977-06-27

Spider has bought a half share in a small executive aircraft which he flies with his partner. One of his first customers is an acquaintance from his days of crime. He thinks nothing of it until his best friend is found dead in the Thames.

2. The Missing Civil Servant

Air Date: 1977-07-04

Has Riesen become involved with American crime and, if he really has, what impact will this have on Spider?

3. The Big Bang

Air Date: 1977-07-11

Spider is forced to fly up North en route to Russia with a bomb onboard. This turns out to be the decoy at the airport for a half a million pound robbery.

4. At the Bottom of the River

Air Date: 1977-07-18

Narrowly escaping the aeroplane explosion, Spider returns home to find Reisen's body being loaded into a van. Then Bulman turns up to save him from being drowned.

5. When We Were Very Greedy

Air Date: 1977-07-25

Spider is invited to sit on a prison enquiry board headed by a rich merchant banker. Bulman and Willis continue dogging his tracks, with Bulman becoming ever more distracted by the need to nick Spider.

6. Now We Are Dead

Air Date: 1977-08-01

Caught up in a situation beyond his control, Spider finds that Quilter has been murdered and Bucket-Face Smith has vanished. Then he finds something nasty in the study.

7. Whisper Who Dares

Air Date: 1977-08-08

A trail of corpses seems to follow Spider as he attempts to free himself from the situation he's been caught up in.

8. Law and Order

Air Date: 1977-07-15

Imprisoned, Spider is involved in a conspiracy to spring himself and Norden. They succeed in breaking out of jail and Norden disappears, leaving behind a dead warden.

9. The Detrimental Robot

Air Date: 1977-08-22

Bulman is hot on the trail of Spider, who finds himself in a hostage situation. The body count rises as two detectives are killed.

10. A View to a Death

Air Date: 1977-08-29

Maggie bonds Spider out but, when he is released, he's sought once more to risk his life in order to capture a foreign agent.

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Rating

6.0/10

Release Date

1976-07-03

Episodes

13 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Videos

Production Companies

Granada Television