Gangster

BBC Radio 5 Live

4.8 (44)
TRUE CRIME
WEEKLY SERIES

New Series: The story of the Black Widow, Linda Calvey - the UK's most notorious female gangster. Gangster dives into the gritty depths of the criminal underworld, uncovering the real-life stories of gang bosses and notorious kingpins such as Paul Massey, Curtis Warren and John 'Goldfinger' Palmer.

EPISODE 1

Introducing Gangster: The Story of the Black Widow

Livvy Haydock explores the extraordinary life of Linda Calvey, the woman they call "the Black Widow." She rose through the ranks of London’s criminal underworld to become the UK’s most notorious female gangster. We follow her journey from humble beginnings in East London to time served in the infamous H Wing, alongside killers like Myra Hindley and Rose West. It’s a story of love, loyalty, betrayal and murder, of a woman who fell for a bank robber and ended up leading a gang of her own. Linda was a young mum living in the East End when her husband Mickey was shot dead by police during a robbery. After his death, she stepped into his world. What followed was a descent into armed robberies and organised crime, culminating in a killing that would result in a life sentence in prison. She was nicknamed the Black Widow by a police officer, as all her husbands and lovers ended up either dead or behind bars. Now 76, Linda tells her story in her own words. And for the first time her children, Melanie and Neil, speak out about the lasting consequences of her criminal past. We also hear from detectives in the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad, aka The Sweeney, the men and women who were tasked with bringing criminals like Linda to justice. This podcast includes strong language and descriptions of violence. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

3 min
EPISODE 2

The Black Widow: 1. Spinning the Web

Linda Welford was raised in London's East End in the 1960s; a tight and tough community with a reputation for a thriving criminal underworld, ruled with an iron fist by gangsters like the Kray twins. One of nine children, Linda lived a sheltered life with her family in Stepney until she met armed robber Mickey Calvey. This was the so-called golden age of armed robbery and Mickey was making a fortune sticking up banks and Post Offices with a sawn-off shotgun. When Mickey and Linda got married, she was allowed a front seat to Mickey's 'work,' as his gang begin planning robberies around their kitchen table. Not content with just making the teas, Linda starts to make suggestions and finds she has a taste for a life of crime. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

31 min
EPISODE 3

The Black Widow: 2. A Widow's Vow

Linda, Mickey and the kids are living the high life when he agrees to take on a job with a new gang - a raid on a cash collection at a London supermarket just before Christmas. As Linda waits at home, armed police are lying in wait outside the supermarket. When the police rush towards them, the rest of Mickey's team flee, leaving him alone on the crowded street clutching his weapon. He is shot dead. When Linda hears of her husband's death something inside her snaps and at his graveside she makes a vow to provide for their two young kids by carrying on his "work" as an armed robber. But before she can get started, another man comes on the scene - someone altogether more deadly and dangerous. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

29 min
EPISODE 4

The Black Widow: 3. Cops and Robbers

Linda discovers Ronnie's dark side as he lets slip a shocking secret about the day Mickey died. She can't leave Ronnie, because he's too dangerous. But luckily for Linda, the police solve that problem for her - catching Ronnie red handed trying to pull off a million pound heist. With Ronnie out of the way, Linda begins her mission to become an armed robber in an underworld ruled by men. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

30 min
EPISODE 5

The Black Widow: 4. The Two Minute Rule

A partial fingerprint at the scene of a violent robbery puts the flying squad on Linda's trail. While they watch, she continues to live the high life funding by a spate of terrifying armed raids. A team of officers recall the day they caught Linda red handed at yet another Post Office heist, and when Linda finds herself at the wrong end of the barrel of a gun, she knows her time is up. But her time inside takes an unexpected turn, as she finds a life for herself inside Holloway. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

28 min
EPISODE 6

The Black Widow: 5. Spilt Milk

After being released from prison, Linda's living the quiet life catching up on lost time with her two kids. Trouble soon finds her again as Ronnie Cook's sentence also comes to an end. When Linda brings Ronnie home for a visit, the couple are confronted by a hitman and Linda's small kitchen is turned into a brutal murder scene. But as police begin to question Linda, they discover that the 'The Black Widow' could have her boyfriend's blood on her hands in more ways than one. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

31 min
EPISODE 7

The Black Widow: 6. Til Death Do Us Part

Linda spends the next 18 years behind bars with some of the UK's most notorious female killers. She shares stories of a life inside, a shock prison wedding and returning back to reality and a life on the straight and narrow. With her criminal past behind her, Linda reflects on the effect of her crimes both on the victims, and on her two children left to grow up without their parents. Credits Presenter: Livvy Haydock Series Producer: Kate West Producers: Patrick Kiteley and Matthew Bone Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Ellie Dover Drama Writer: Paul Jones Sound Design: Richard Hannaford Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock Editors and Executive Producers: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

29 min

See All Season 10 (7)

Livvy Haydock

Host

4.8

out of 5

44 Ratings

Excellent

2024-01-21

lk5555555552

Love this podcast!! Well written, excellent narration. So good. Livvy Haydock delivers fantastic podcasts
Brilliant season (death row)

2023-10-14

kaydog6969

I have three inmate penpals but only one on death row He is guilty and admits that. We don’t talk about his crime. We talk about his life and his regrets. We talk about his daily routine. Being in Florida with no air conditioning, two showers a week if the guards feel generous, his fights for grass in their “outdoor” space (they lost) and his loneliness. It’s ironic to me that people are fighting for fetuses but they support legal murder of actual humans. I haven’t been hoodwinked. My penpal has done HORRIBLE and unforgivable acts but some humanity goes a long way. Legally Killing people does not deter crime. That’s a fact. If one in 8 death row inmates are innocent … would you be ok if that “one” was your family member or friend for the sake of your beliefs? I would think not. Great show.

New Series: The story of the Black Widow, Linda Calvey - the UK's most notorious female gangster. Gangster dives into the gritty depths of the criminal underworld, uncovering the real-life stories of gang bosses and notorious kingpins such as Paul Massey, Curtis Warren and John 'Goldfinger' Palmer.