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BBC The Gold's real life characters and fictional figures analysed
BBC The Gold's real life characters and fictional figures analysed
BBC's The Gold mixes fact and fiction creating compelling drama
The Gold - Series 2 Trailer - BBC
Season two of The Gold returns to the BBC today (June 8) with audiences getting to see the continuing hunt for the rest of the Brink's-Mat haul.
The drama recounts the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery – an infamous heist where three tonnes of gold bullion was nabbed and much of it remains untraced, reports the Express.
Each episode of season one opened with a disclaimer noting that certain "characters and elements" were "created or changed" to enhance the story, with something similar expected in season two.
Addressing the mixing together of fact and fiction, the show's creator Neil Forsyth said: 'We do a huge amount of research with The Gold, but then we have to tell a cohesive version of a very complicated story, so of course creative licence is used for that and other reasons. But the series is very much inspired by real events.'
Again, The Gold will feature a real mix of real-life figures and characters created for the show - here's a look at who really existed and who is just a flourish of fiction.
The Gold features fictional and real-life characters
(Image: BBC )
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Who are the real and fictional figures in The Gold?
Season two introduces some fictional characters in the form of Douglas Baxter (Joshua McGuire), an Isle of Man financial advisor who is brought into the story by Charlie Miller (Sam Spruell).
Forsyth confirmed he was a composite 'inspired by some of those involved in the Brink's-Mat story.'
The writer teased how Baxter would end up becoming a link in an 'extensive money laundering chain that stretches all the way to the Caribbean'.
The second big composite character is Logan Campbell (Tom Hughes), who was inspired by of some of those involved with the Brink's-Mat criminal enterprises and laundering money from the heist's proceeds.
Forsyth said of the character: 'He was already criminally minded, laundering money for a South American drug cartel in the Caribbean. As a result, his involvement creates a very complicated and very dangerous turn in the Brink's-Mat story.'
Joshua McGuire as fictional character Douglas Baxter in The Gold
(Image: BBC )
He said the character was 'fascinating', given he was a 'well-respected member of the expat community', who was laundering Brink's-Mat money.
In season one, two main characters were fictional composites, blending traits from several real individuals: police woman Nicki Jennings (played by Charlotte Spencer) and lawyer Edwyn Cooper (Dominic Cooper).
There were some futher fictional characters in the form of Edwyn's wife Isabelle Cooper (portrayed by Ruth Bradley) and his partner Sienna Rose (played by Ellora Torchia).
Regarding his blend of reality and fiction, Forsyth commented: "With all our characters, it was about doing as much research as we could, speaking to those who had interactions with them and trying to be accurate with our portrayal within the boundaries of a dramatisation."
Tom Hughes as fictional character Logan Campbell
(Image: BBC )
Delving deeper into his research process, Forsyth stated: "I spoke to a large number of people who were involved in the story in different ways.
"By and large, they were very open and happy to talk about their experiences.
"By far, the most important person that we tracked down and spoke to was Brian Boyce.
"It was very helpful getting his insight into the police investigation and it made a big difference with us feeling we were getting the story right."
Forsyth shared that despite wanting to incorporate more details from the actual robbery, the makers were limited by the constraints of television format.
Together with researcher Thomas Turner, Forsyth has gone on to co-author a book elaborating on the Brink's-Mat robbery. The book delves into the finer points discovered during their research for the show which were ultimately deemed excessive for the televised storyline.
Hugh Bonneville as Brian Boyce in The Gold series 2
(Image: BBC )
Here's a look at some of the real-life figures
The cast of The Gold includes Hugh Bonneville as retired officer Brian Boyce, now in his eighties, who has provided Forsyth with valuable insights on the case. Other notable characters based on real-life counterparts are played by Jack Lowden (Kenneth Noye), Tom Cullen (John Palmer), Stefanie Martini (Marnie Palmer), Emun Elliott (Tony Brightwell), Adam Nagaitis (Micky McAvoy), Lily Knight (Jackie McAvoy), Sean Harris (Gordon Parry), Dorothy Atkinson (Jeannie Savage), Frankie Wilson (Brian Robinson), James Nelson-Joyce (Brian Reader), and Hadley Fraser (John Fordham).
Kenneth Noye
Noye, now a free man, is reportedly penning a book after previously maintaining a cautious distance from journalists and the media.
John Palmer
Palmer met his end in an unsolved assassination-style murder in his own back garden in 2015.
Marnie Palmer
Marnie, who had two children with John, chronicled her marriage in her 2018 book Goldfinger and Me: Bullets, Bullion and Betrayal: John Palmer's True Story.
Micky McAvoy in BBC's The Gold
(Image: BBC )
Tony Brightwell
After the Brink's-Mat incident, Brightwell continued with the police for some time before it's believed he transitioned to the private sector, working for security companies.
Micky McAvoy
After serving his sentence for Brink's-Mat, McAvoy relocated to Spain where he passed away in January of this year.
Gordon Parry
Parry, having served his time for Brink's-Mat, is now reportedly residing in a nine-bedroom mock-Tudor mansion in Kent with his wife Irene.
John Fordham
As portrayed in The Gold, Fordham was fatally stabbed by Noye on the latter's property during a surveillance operation.
The Gold seasons 1 & 2 are streaming on the BBC iPlayer now
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The Gold: The real story behind Brink's-Mat by Neil Forsyth and Thomas Turner is currently available (Ebury Spotlight)
