Few people can explain crime like those who lived it. On London Real, former mobsters, smugglers, traders and prisoners tell Brian Rose how they got in, what prison was really like and how they rebuilt their lives. Detectives, prosecutors and violence prevention workers add the view from the other side. These conversations cover the Mafia, drug smuggling, white-collar crime, Guantanamo Bay, street violence and what it takes to change. Every full interview is free to watch.
From former Colombo crime family captain Michael Franzese and ex-Gambino underboss Sammy “The Bull” Gravano to Mr Nice author Howard Marks, reformed drug kingpin Shaun Attwood, Watson Fit founder Wes Watson and the real-life Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort: crime, punishment and life after prison.
Michael Franzese, a former caporegime in the Colombo crime family, has been back several times. He explains how he ran scams on the edge of legitimate business and became one of the highest-earning gangsters of his era. In a later episode he argues that modern governments now behave like a mob racket. Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, once underboss of the Gambino family, tells his story from Mafia hitman to social media personality. Jordan Belfort describes making $50 million a year by 26, losing it all and serving time. Nick Leeson, the rogue trader behind the fall of Barings Bank, explains how one man lost $1 billion and bounced back.
Wes Watson spent ten years in California prisons. He tells Brian how jail taught him gratitude and discipline, and how a strict daily routine changed his life. Shaun Attwood, a British ex-drug dealer, was arrested in Arizona in 2002 and faced a 200-year sentence. He describes surviving one of America’s toughest jails. Howard Marks talks smuggling, MI6, prison and drug law reform. Simon Mann, the former SAS officer, recalls the failed Equatorial Guinea coup, his prison years and his pardon. Moazzam Begg explains how Guantanamo changed him, and Christo Brand, Nelson Mandela’s warder on Robben Island, tells how a prisoner became his friend.
Preet Bharara, the former US Attorney known as the Sheriff of Wall Street, talks about doing justice, company culture and why he believes greed is sometimes not good. Peter Bleksley, a former Scotland Yard undercover detective, explains why he is hunting a killer who has been on the run for 15 years. Marc Goodman, author of Future Crimes, looks at the frontline of cybercrime. Jason Featherstone of Surviving Our Streets explains how trained “violence interrupters” work to reduce gang violence. Brian Rose has also covered London’s knife crime, and Tommy Robinson gives his account of grooming gangs and what he calls cover-ups.
Get every new episode free: watch the latest London Real interviews.
Who has London Real interviewed about crime and prison? Brian Rose has interviewed Michael Franzese, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, Howard Marks, Shaun Attwood, Wes Watson, Jordan Belfort, Nick Leeson, Simon Mann, Moazzam Begg, Christo Brand, Preet Bharara and Peter Bleksley, among others.
Can people really change after prison? Many of these guests say yes, and tell how they did it. Wes Watson credits discipline and gratitude learned inside. Shaun Attwood turned his experience into books and talks. Michael Franzese walked away from the Mafia and now speaks about the life he left.
Do the episodes cover the law enforcement side too? Yes. Former prosecutor Preet Bharara, ex-undercover detective Peter Bleksley, cybercrime author Marc Goodman and violence prevention worker Jason Featherstone explain crime from the side of those trying to stop it.
Are the full crime and prison episodes free to watch? Yes. Every full-length interview on this page can be watched free on londonreal.tv.
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