Gangster

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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

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GangsterBy BBC Radio 5 Live

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4.7

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