Gangster Podcast
Tony Bellew uncovers the dark side of football hooliganism. When bloody battles and rivalries, spilled from the terraces onto the streets, told by those who lived it.
Former boxing champion and proud Evertonian Tony Bellew delves into the brutal world of football hooliganism. At its height in the 1970s and 1980s, it was labelled 'the English Disease,' a time when violence on the terraces was as much a part of the game as a half-time Bovril. Bellew hears from those who lived for the trouble, the men and women whose Saturdays weren't complete without a brutal punch-up.
He speaks to the innocent victims caught up in the mayhem, the families of those who lost their lives at the hands of thugs, and the undercover police officers who risked everything to infiltrate some of England's most notorious firms.
He also explores how government crackdowns, tougher laws, and the introduction of all-seater stadiums helped bring an end to widespread hooliganism.
Presenter: Tony Bellew
Series Producer: Emma Forde
Producer: Patrick Kiteley
Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
Development Producer: Holly Clemens
Production Co-ordinator: Ellie Dover
Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna & Sarah Green
Commissioning Editor: Louise Kattenhorn
Editor and Executive Producer: Carl Johnston
Episodes to download
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The Burger Bar Boys: 4. The Murder of Innocents—The Story of the Burger Bar Boys
Fri 10 Nov 2023
The gang war in Birmingham escalates leading to a tragic event.
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The Burger Bar Boys: 3. Fall Out—The Story of the Burger Bar Boys
Fri 10 Nov 2023
A power struggle emerges between the Johnson Crew and the Burger Bar Boys.
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The Burger Bar Boys: 2. The Yardies—The Story of the Burger Bar Boys
Fri 3 Nov 2023
Tensions in Birmingham escalate with the arrival of the Yardies.
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The Burger Bar Boys: 1. Out of the Ashes—The Story of the Burger Bar Boys
Fri 3 Nov 2023
In 2003, murders thrust Birmingham gang into spotlight. Livvy Haydock investigates.
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Introducing Gangster: The Story of the Burger Bar Boys—The Story of the Burger Bar Boys
Fri 27 Oct 2023
The story of the Burger Bar Boys - a gang born out of the Handsworth riots in 1985.
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Killing Death Row: 6. Living and dying—Killing Death Row
Fri 13 Oct 2023
7/7 How one man dies and another gets his life back.
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Killing Death Row: 5. What’s the Cost?—Killing Death Row
Fri 13 Oct 2023
6/7 What a brutal racist murder reveals about the future of death row.
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Killing Death Row: 4. Who Cares if it Hurts?—Killing Death Row
Fri 13 Oct 2023
5/7 How pain can be a problem for the US death penalty.
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Killing Death Row: 3. Inside the Chamber—Killing Death Row
Fri 13 Oct 2023
4/7 What a modern execution might tell us about the future of the death penalty.
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Killing Death Row: 2. How to Kill the Killers—Killing Death Row
Fri 13 Oct 2023
3/7 Meeting a murderer on Death Row
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Killing Death Row: 1. The Hunt for Lethal Drugs—Killing Death Row
Fri 13 Oct 2023
2/7 Could the US death penalty ever die out? Livvy Haydock investigates.
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Gangster Presents... Killing Death Row—Killing Death Row
Fri 6 Oct 2023
1/7 Could the US death penalty ever die out? Livvy Haydock investigates.
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Introducing Blood on the Dance Floor—The Story of John Palmer
Mon 3 Jul 2023
8/8 Journalist Jordan Dunbar and Gangster's Livvy Haydock discuss Blood on the Dance Floor.
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John Palmer: 1. Palmer Nova—The Story of John Palmer
Wed 1 Feb 2023
2/8 The Brink’s-Mat gold robbery changes a young John Palmer’s world forever.
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Introducing Gangster: The Story of John Palmer—The Story of John Palmer
Tue 31 Jan 2023
1/8 The story of John Palmer - a Godfather figure who became as rich as the Queen.
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John Palmer: 6. The Hitman—The Story of John Palmer
Wed 18 Jan 2023
7/8 John Palmer is out of jail, but the net is closing in.
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John Palmer: 5. Self Defence—The Story of John Palmer
Wed 18 Jan 2023
6/8 John Palmer continues to run his timeshare empire from his prison cell.
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John Palmer: 4. Chateau Palmer—The Story of John Palmer
Wed 18 Jan 2023
5/8 As the violence on Tenerife escalates, John Palmer starts to lose control.
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John Palmer: 3. The Clumpers—The Story of John Palmer
Wed 18 Jan 2023
4/8 John Palmer stands trial at the Old Bailey accused of smelting the Brink’s Mat gold.
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John Palmer: 2. London Calling—The Story of John Palmer
Wed 18 Jan 2023
3/8 John Palmer starts to build a new life on Tenerife.
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Curtis Warren: 6. This Charming Man—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 6 Jul 2022
7/7 Curtis Warren is released from prison but another drug deal lands him back behind bars
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Curtis Warren: 5. The Rich List—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 6 Jul 2022
6/7 Curtis Warren is in trouble as police finally catch up with their target number one
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Curtis Warren: 4. Double Dutch—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 6 Jul 2022
5/7 A bloody gang war breaks out in Liverpool. Curtis Warren moves his operation to Holland
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Curtis Warren: 3. Tigers and Cocaine—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 6 Jul 2022
4/7 Curtis Warren and his associates enter a world of unimaginable wealth and excess
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Curtis Warren: 2. Narcos—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 6 Jul 2022
3/7 Curtis Warren brokers a major cocaine deal with a notorious Colombian cartel
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Curtis Warren: 1. Just a Lad from Tocky—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 6 Jul 2022
2/7 Curtis Warren starts to make his mark on the streets of Toxteth
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Introducing Gangster: The Story of Curtis Warren—The Story of Curtis Warren
Wed 29 Jun 2022
1/7 The story of Curtis Warren - one of Britain's biggest and wealthiest drug barons.
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Paul Massey: 5. The Assassination—The Story of Paul Massey
Mon 19 Apr 2021
6/6 An assassin lays in wait. The violent aftermath leaves an innocent victim badly injured.
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Paul Massey: 4. The Serpent—The Story of Paul Massey
Mon 19 Apr 2021
5/6 Massey has political ambitions. The police are out to get their man. A gang war erupts.
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Paul Massey: 3. Steak Night—The Story of Paul Massey
Mon 19 Apr 2021
4/6 A night out changes Paul Massey's life forever. A rival has to be dealt with.
