Gangster: The Story of John Palmer

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Gangster

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Factual: Crime & Justice: True Crime

The boxer turned bouncer who was gunned down on Tyneside in 1993

Viv Graham ran a pub and club protection empire which spanned Newcastle and beyond.

How did he build his fearsome reputation, and what led to his brutal, unsolved murder?

A new series of Gangster tells the story of Viv Graham, a man who ran a protection empire which spanned Newcastle and beyond.

Viv Graham, a 17-stone man mountain, a man feared and revered in equal measure, came to dominate Tyneside’s nightlife through brutal and uncompromising violence.

His murder, in an organised hit on New Year’s Eve 1993, sparked recriminations and repercussions which echo to this day. It remains one of the country’s most notorious unsolved murders.

The Story of John Palmer

Gangster: The Story of John Palmer: John Palmer: 1. Palmer Nova

John Palmer: 1. Palmer Nova

BBC Radio 5 Live - Gangster, The Story of John Palmer, John Palmer: 1. Palmer Nova

The Brink’s-Mat gold robbery changes a young John Palmer’s world forever.

A young John Palmer starts to make a name for himself in the criminal underworld - and the Brink’s-Mat gold robbery provides him with a life-changing opportunity.

From the streets of post-war Birmingham, a young John Palmer - unable to read or write - starts to make a name for himself in the criminal underworld, wheeler-dealing jewellery and smelting gold. But it’s the Brink’s-Mat gold heist - the biggest armed robbery of all time - that provides him with the opportunity of a lifetime.

This podcast includes strong language and descriptions of violence. 

Presenter: Livvy Haydock 
Series producer: Mick Tucker
Producer: Patrick Kiteley
Technical production and sound design: Nicky Edwards 
Additional technical production: Richard Hannaford
Journalism Assistant: Tim Fernley
Production Manager: Sarah Payton
Commissioning editors: Richard Maddock and Dylan Haskins
Editor and executive producer: Carl Johnston.

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The story of John Palmer - a Godfather figure who became as rich as the Queen.

The story of John 'Goldfinger' Palmer - a criminal who smelted the gold from the Brink's Mat bullion robbery and went on to mastermind the biggest time share fraud in history.

Livvy Haydock travels from the streets of post-war Birmingham to the sun-kissed beaches of Tenerife - following the rise and fall of one of Britain's richest, and most wanted, serious organised criminals.

It's a story of violence, mystery, murder and police corruption - of how an illiterate lad from a broken home went on to become as rich as the Queen - leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Palmer owned a Learjet, a yacht, helicopters, a collection of fast cars and a chateau in France. A wheeler dealer jeweller who started by selling paraffin from the back of a lorry and was catapulted to the top of the criminal world after the Brink's Mat heist in 1983 - the largest armed robbery in British history. He smelted millions of pounds worth of the gold, earning himself the moniker 'Goldfinger.' He then went on to mastermind a multi-million pound time share fraud on Tenerife, scamming thousands of innocent victims who lost their life savings.

In a series of exclusive interviews, Livvy hears from his associates and his victims - many of whom have never spoken before. And she meets the detectives who were tasked with bringing him to justice.

This podcast includes strong language and descriptions of violence.

Presenter: Livvy Haydock

Series producer: Mick Tucker

Producer: Patrick Kiteley

Technical production and sound design: Nicky Edwards

Additional technical production: Richard Hannaford

Journalism Assistant: Tim Fernley

Production Manager: Sarah Payton

Commissioning editors: Richard Maddock and Dylan Haskins

Editor and executive producer: Carl Johnston

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The Story of John Palmer

John Palmer: 1. Palmer Nova

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