Stephen Gillen joins Ross Kemp in new organised crime series and launches his own gripping documentaries

Stephen Gillen, once a notorious figure among the UK’s most wanted gang members, now joins Ross Kemp on our screens in a new revealing series about organised crime, Ross Kemp: The Mafia and Britain. The record-breaking five-part series for Sky History. Gillen is now a filmmaker, capturing the gripping true crime stories of other ex-gangsters in tales of redemption and transformation. Gillen is currently filming on location in Sicily about the Sicilian Mafia and will soon be filming in New York about the notorious crime families there in his own two-season true crime series.

At 52, Gillen, a reformed London mafioso, has dramatically changed the trajectory of his life. Now a CEO, a prominent television personality, and an internationally recognized nominee for the title of Ambassador for Peace, he is committed to sharing powerful stories of change.

“I know all too well how you can become a career criminal and get caught up in a life of crime that becomes increasingly difficult to escape,” says Gillen. “These documentaries explore how people escape a life of crime when they are at the top of major criminal organisations and what they do after they get out.” Gillen also played a prominent role in the production of Sky’s The Essex MurdersGillen will be doing more presenting work for other true crime documentaries later this year.

Gillen, who also served as an advisor on the new season 2 of the award-winning Genglish from london British action thriller crime series produced by Sky Atlantic. Stephen Gillen served as the inspiration and alleged model for the series’ character Finn Wallace.

Earlier this year, Gillen released his autobiography, Extraordinary: Stephen Gillen – The Search for a Life Worth Living. The book, which vividly chronicles his phenomenal journey of transformation and redemption, is set to be made into a film. In this revealing book, Gillen delves into the demons that have haunted him since a traumatic childhood. At the tender age of 9, he witnessed the gruesome murder of a man amidst the unrest of the early 1970s in Belfast. His path eventually led him to the streets of London, where he was groomed for a life steeped in serious, organised crime, culminating in a daunting 17-year prison sentence.

Gillen’s upcoming documentaries are a natural extension of his mission to highlight and inspire stories of change. The first project, filmed in Sicily, delves deep into the world of the Sicilian mafia, exploring its historical roots and the paths of individuals who have managed to free themselves from its clutches. Gillen will then shift his focus to New York, documenting the complex and storied lives of the city’s crime families.

These documentaries aim to provide a rare, insider perspective on organized crime, offering viewers an intimate look into the lives of those who have lived through and survived its darkest corners. Gillen’s unique background and deep understanding of this world position him perfectly to tell these stories with authenticity and compassion.

Gillen’s work is not just about the sensationalism of crime; it is about understanding the human capacity for change and the extraordinary journeys of individuals who find their way back to redemption. His stories promise to be as compelling as they are inspiring, shedding light on the potential for transformation even in the most challenging circumstances.