Rephonic
Artwork for Gangster
Encrochat
Viv Graham
Hooliganism
Linda Calvey
Drug Trafficking
Metropolitan Police
Football Hooliganism
Gang Violence
Organized Crime
London
Glasgow
Crime
Mickey Calvey
Wo Shing Wo
Lyons Crime Family
Football
Georgie Pai
Newcastle
Ecstasy
Money Laundering

Uncovering the real-life stories of gang bosses and criminal kingpins. New Series: Gangster: The Story of Georgie Pai

From the back alleys of Hong Kong to the neon-lit Chinatowns of Britain, Georgie Pai built a nationwide criminal empire through his Triad gang Wo Shing Wo. With a network of protection rackets, gambling dens and an army of loyal followers, he controlled his turf with threats, viole... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes86Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryTrue CrimeSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Gangster

Latest Episodes

In 1963, a small-time South London carpenter joins the biggest robbery in British history for one reason — he knows a retired train driver who is semi-competent. And yet Ronnie Biggs will, for the next fifty years, be far more famous than the man who... more

How did a small-time carpenter with a minor and fumbled role in a 1963 violent heist become Britain’s most famous fugitive and - for many - an unlikely folk hero? From gangland tea boy to Brazilian playboy, this series recounts the controversial roll... more

It’s the 1990s and Wo Shing Wo gangsters think they’re untouchable. Georgie Pai is fighting yet another deportation order after being caught in the UK again. He’s granted bail on the condition that he reports weekly to a local police station.

Meanwh... more

A video war is raging across Britain’s Chinatowns, fuelled by a booming market for Hong Kong films and soaps, copied and rented out for huge profit. In Manchester, Wo Shing Wo quickly seizes control, establishing a near-monopoly on the lucrative vide... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ronnie Biggs
Former criminal, central figure in the Great Train Robbery
British criminal history / incarcerated in period
Episode: Introducing Gangster Presents: The Story of Ronnie Biggs
Jane Goodwin
Nurse who witnessed treatment of a triad-linked patient
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Episode: 6. Losing Face
Vanessa (Waitress at Orient Rendezvous)
Former employee who interacts with Georgie Pai
Orient Rendezvous (Cheltenham)
Episode: 6. Losing Face
Stuart Burton
Former Triad gangster
Glasgow Triads
Episode: 5. Video Wars
Mark Halton
Kung Fu master and martial arts expert
Self/Global Martial Arts
Episode: 5. Video Wars
Simon Keenan
Community liaison police officer
Glasgow Police
Episode: 5. Video Wars
Alan Chan
Face of Georgie Pai's Manchester empire, restaurant front
Wo Shing Wo/Georgie Pai's circle
Episode: 4. The Northern Powerhouse
Woody (Grand Master Woody)
Muay Thai champion turned enforcer for Triads
Wo Shing Wo
Episode: 4. The Northern Powerhouse
Phil Scarrett
Detective, Greater Manchester Police (GMP)
GMP
Episode: 4. The Northern Powerhouse

Hosts

Livvy Haydock
Host of Gangster; investigative journalist and presenter
Amber Haque
Presenter and journalist; hosts Gangster Presents

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Super good!

    A highly recommended listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TreeLV
    United States16 days ago
  • Love this!!

    Love this podcast! Well researched and an eye opener into the criminal underworld.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AmyJane235
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Slow and littered with racialised tropes

    I’ve only listened to Season 12 and found it immensely boring, deathly slow, packed with inaccuracies, and alarmingly littered with racialised tropes about Hong Kong and Chinese people ranging from the music choices to the laboured, orientalising descriptions of Hong Kong. The narrator has absolutely no idea what she is talking about when she talks about the latter areas, even calling colonial Hong Kong a “nation” at one point. Absolute and utter garbage with no redeeming features.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MrMHurst
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Enjoy but….

    The background sounds and music that are all built in to create the scene and the sense of drama get to be too much, to the point that I’ve stopped listening to the episodes/series in some cases because it’s just not enjoyable. The story is lost in them.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JC2late
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent research and honest reporting

    The stories are always well researched speaking, first-hand to those involved. Livvy doesn’t shy away from asking questions which makes the Podcast very well balanced.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kitmeister
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise meticulous research and powerful storytelling.
Many appreciate the firsthand interviews and investigative rigor.
Some listeners critique pacing or production choices but still find the content compelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#29
United Kingdom/True Crime
Spotify
#185
United Kingdom/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#111
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#11
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#221
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#109
Italy/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing Gangster Presents: The Story of Ronnie Biggs
Q: What is the point of having extradition treaties if instead of observing them, you send over a bunch of strong armed men who kidnap somebody?
The host raises a question about extradition and state power; the guest's line suggests scrutiny of how such actions occurred, reflecting on legal and ethical tensions around pursuit and capture.
The Black Widow: 2. A Widow's Vow
Q: What does that mean to you, Neil?
It broke my heart. It still does to this day.
The Black Widow: 2. A Widow's Vow
Q: Did you tell the children about what happened?
We never told them that he was dead till after Christmas, because we said we're not going to spell their Christmas.
The Daniels and the Lyons: 3. Pay the Piper
Q: What impact does a public shooting like this have on the gang feud?
It deepens the blood feud, as gangs perceive any sign of weakness as an invitation for further violence.
Catching the Kingpins: 6. Final Reckoning
Q: Why is it difficult to assess the impact of the EncroChat operation on drug markets?
The primary factor driving drug supply remains demand, and even significant operations may not drastically reduce drug use or market size, as new dealers often fill the gaps left by arrests.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Gangster

What is Gangster about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series centers on real-world organized crime networks, with a focus on the Wo Shing Wo Triad and its British influence. It weaves interviews with journalists, former Triad members, law enforcement, and community voices to chart how protection rackets, gambling dens, and intimidation shaped Chinatowns across the UK and beyond. The production is highly cinematic, using firsthand testimonies, reconstructions, and archival material to illuminate power, loyalty, and fear in a transnational underworld. A standout element is the blend of investigative journalism with intimate, on-the-ground perspectives, offering both historical context and contemporary reflections on crime, policing, and community resilience. This makes it especially compell... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Gangster?

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How many listeners does Gangster get?

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How many subscribers and views does Gangster have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Gangster has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Gangster?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Gangster:

1. Terry Stone Connection
2. Anything Goes with James English
3. Crime Next Door
4. Dodge Woodall Network
5. Kinahans Downfall

How many episodes of Gangster are there?

Gangster launched 5 years ago and published 86 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Gangster?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Gangster?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Gangster from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Gangster. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Gangster?

Recent guests on Gangster include:

1. Ronnie Biggs
2. Jane Goodwin
3. Vanessa (Waitress at Orient Rendezvous)
4. Stuart Burton
5. Mark Halton
6. Simon Keenan
7. Alan Chan
8. Woody (Grand Master Woody)

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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