Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain: The British Connection (Sky History, September 10, 2024)

The British Connection, the first episode of Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain, premieres on Sky History at 9pm on 10 September 2024. In this documentary series, actor and documentary maker Ross Kemp explores Britain’s deep and surprising ties to the Mafia, a notorious organised crime syndicate.

Contrary to popular belief, Britain has a complex and sinister history with the Mafia, dating back to the 1920s. Because the UK does not recognise membership of the Mafia as a crime, the country has served as a safe haven for high-ranking members, soldiers and hitmen, who have hidden in unexpected places, from caravan parks to newsagents.

Kemp begins his journey in London, where he reflects on the 1982 death of Roberto Calvi, the ‘God’s Banker’, who was found under Blackfriars Bridge with pockets full of foreign currency. From there he embarks on a global odyssey, travelling to New York, Italy, Sicily, Colombia and Spain before returning to London.

Through interviews with people close to mafia bosses, organised crime investigators and affected individuals, Kemp uncovers the intricate web of money, drugs and criminality linked to the UK. He creates a historical map and timeline that shows how the mafia has quietly embedded itself in the British underworld over the course of almost a century.

Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain, The British Connection airs on Sky History on Tuesday 10 September 2024 at 9:00pm.