The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 3. The Land of Milk and Honey

About this episode

The episode explores the lives of the Great Train Robbery gang members who escaped, highlighting their experiences in Paris and Las Vegas amidst the challenges of being outlaws.

What price freedom? And why should you never wear crocodile shoes when you’re on the run?! While the rest of the Great Train Robbery gang are serving thirty-year sentences, the runaways are enjoying the delights of mid-sixties Paris and Las Vegas. But the life of an outlaw is not all about cabaret clubs, Frank Sinatra residencies, and sweet freedom … painful plastic surgery and familial misery is part of the package too. Credits: Presenter - Daniel Mays Producers - Phoebe McIndoe & Jude Shapiro Executive Producer - Jack Howson Associate Exec - Chris Pickard Mix Engineering - Will Fitzpatrick Additional Production Support - Ashley Clivery Commissioning Producer - Sam Proffitt Commissioning Executive - Louise Kattenhorn Commissioning Editor - Richard Maddock Contributors include: Ian Dowding, nephew of Biggs Doctor Sharonna Pearl, historian and face theorist Nick Reynolds, sculptor and son of the Great Train Robbery gang leader Noel ‘Razor’ Smith, writer and former armed robber Brian Stone, cellmate of Biggs A Peanut & Crumb production for Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

People in this episode

Host: Daniel Mays

Guests: Ian Dowding, Doctor Sharonna Pearl, Nick Reynolds, Noel ‘Razor’ Smith, Brian Stone

Topics covered

• Great Train Robbery
• outlaw life
• freedom
• Paris
• Las Vegas
• painful surgery
• familial issues

Keywords

• Great Train Robbery
• freedom
• Paris
• Las Vegas
• outlaws
• crocodile shoes
• painful surgery
• familial misery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio 5 Live, A Peanut & Crumb production, BBC Sounds

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