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Episode details

Radio 5 Live,07 May 2026,38 mins,

Series The Story of Ronnie Biggs

6. The White Cliffs of Dover

Gangster
Contains strong language and some violent scenes.

Available for over a year

The Great Train Robber fugitive faces a stark choice: depression, debt and death in Rio ... or surrender to the UK justice system. Twenty-five years ago, Britain Most Wanted septuagenarian ceremoniously flew home on a private jet chartered by The Sun newspaper, after 35 years on the run. Some celebrated him as a hero, others demanded he live the rest of his days in Belmarsh Prison. As the series comes to a close, actor Daniel Mays reflects on how and why Britain built-up the Ronnie Biggs myth. Credits: Presenter - Daniel Mays Producers - Phoebe McIndoe & Jude Shapiro Executive Producer - Jack Howson Associate Exec - Chris Pickard Mix Engineering - Will Fitzpatrick Commissioning鈥疨roducer - Sam Proffitt Commissioning鈥疎xecutive -鈥疞ouise Kattenhorn Commissioning鈥疎ditor - Richard Maddock Contributors include: Ursula and Chris Crocker, ex-housemates of Biggs Professor Dick Hobbs, criminologist Colin MacKenzie, crime reporter for the Daily Express Professor Ruth Penfold-Mounce, celebrity crime expert Chris Pickard, ghostwriter for Biggs Nick Reynolds, sculptor and son of the Great Train Robbery gang leader Jim Shreim, documentarian and neighbour of Biggs Noel 鈥楻azor鈥� Smith, writer and former armed robber Brian Stone, cellmate of Biggs Mike Sullivan, crime editor for The Sun Reverend Dave Tomlinson, officiant at Biggs's funeral A Peanut & Crumb production for Radio 5 Live and 麻豆社 Sounds

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