The Gold

[Targetted]

I binge watched it on iPlayer, so I've no idea if it's current. Sorry.

It tells the story of the police investigation into the Brinks Matt robbery and I really enjoyed it.

However, I have since discovered that a key character, the female detective from the same background as the robbers, was entirely fictional.

Why? Why do they do that? Surely it's a good story in it's own right? Obviously there'll always be some artistic licence and gaps to fill, but to completely change something that's supposed to be based on a true story?

Now I'm wondering if the Freemasonary aspect is all fiction too?

@Targetted , it's shown in BBC1 on Sundays and this coming Sunday is episode 4. There is a thread at tv pace.
Yes the female police person is fictional as is the Dominic Cooper character. It adds to the storyline. I've finished the series and enjoyed it , there is a podcast on BBC Sounds about John Palmer that I'm going to listen to.

I enjoyed it too. But it was pretty obvious that the female character (and I’m assuming the older senior woman) was fictional. Such a shame that programmers feel compelled to adjust the, sometimes uncomfortable, past to make it more ‘inclusive’, when actually it just hides the progress that we have made and is a false reflection of the time.

It did seem unlikely that a woman from the rough side of town woukd not only succeed but be respected by her colleagues, but naively I thought that was what made it such a good story !

Poor boy marrying into the aristocracy and becoming a successful, if crooked, lawyer is also not true? [Shock]

I did enjoy it, but I rolled my eyes hard at the Robin Hooding up of Kenneth Noyes who at most charitable, can be described as a desperate cunt of a man. The cheeky chappy salt of the Earth 'bit dodgy' types were probably very very nasty men.

The idea that the female detective would have made it into the Flying squad when her dad was also a bit of a sort is just laughable.

The John Palmer podcast is well worth listening to and leaves you in no doubt that there was nothing Robin Hoodish about either Palmer or Noye.

I've only seen one episode but completely rolled my eyes at the young attractive female detective from the wrong side of the tracks. AS IF that would ever have happened.

TV makers have quotas to fill now and they would have been pulled up for not having enough interesting female characters. But it just doesn't ring true - so that kinda puts you off the programme as a whole.

I've just finished watching it and did enjoy as straight forward story telling (even with fictional characters).

But did not appreciate the way the author(s) decided that they would give all those shown of disposing of the Gold as being motived by having traumatising working class childhoods, and saw what they were doing as getting back at the establishment.

Some may have felt that, but in fact the focus of the story was on those already bending the rules capitalising on the fact that the actual robbers got more than what the bargained for.

And that the police didn't realise until the end over half of the gold had gone somewhere else and they had not idea who had it. Or will there be Gold 2?!

But on another point interesting to see so may actors / actresses who used to have lead roles now taking on small character parts.

Does anyone know of either a tv or radio documentary about the actual robbery?

There is a really good podcast on the iplayer, it focuses on John Palmer.

I did enjoy it, but I rolled my eyes hard at the Robin Hooding up of Kenneth Noyes who at most charitable, can be described as a desperate cunt of a man. The cheeky chappy salt of the Earth 'bit dodgy' types were probably very very nasty men.

I've met people who knew him, 'desperate cunt' is an understatement.

What a brilliant series with terrific acting and a fascinating insight into the case. Totally agree that it it did downplay the evil nature of Noye and some of the others and implied that the British class system was to blame - the depiction of Edwyn’s wife Isabelle was a bit off, I can’t imagine anyone actually saying the things she said. Whilst its true that people do have to battle class discrimination in order to get on, I think we need to remember that this alone does not make a person turn to crime and we are in danger of romanticising the psyche of some of these monsters if we make them Robin Hood figures.

Exactly, I read a book on palmer he was one nasty bastard and the same for Noye who is utterly ruthless.

I think Mr Cooper was based on a real person wasn't he? I’m sure I read that they had a dodgy solicitor involved. The female copper was such an irritating unbelievable character.

Quite often a fictional character is put in to give viewers a point of view / insight. Her character allows us to see where the robbers came from and the peer pressure in that background. Without her there would probably need to be flashbacks to get that background.

Does anyone know of either a tv or radio documentary about the actual robbery?

Yes, it popped up on my TV after I watched Gold. The Gold: The Inside Story it should be on iplayer.

Don't know about TV docs, the book John palmer gold finger gives an account of the robbery and further crimes that were financed through proceeds and murders that happened because people were siphoning money that wasn't theirs. Also good account of Palmers money laundering and time share business.

I think Mr Cooper was based on a real person wasn't he? I’m sure I read that they had a dodgy solicitor involved. The female copper was such an irritating unbelievable character.

I agree. I can see why she might have been added, but it jarred so much. So unbelievable.