Stephen Gillen, once a notorious figure among the UK’s most wanted gang members, has joined Ross Kemp hitting our screens in a new revealing organised crime series, Ross Kemp: The Mafia & Britain. The five-part series for Sky History is breaking all the records. Gillen is now a filmmaker, capturing the gripping, true crime stories of other ex-gangsters in tales of redemption and transformation. Currently filming on location in Sicily about the Sicilian mafia, Gillen will soon be filming in New York about the infamous crime families there in his own two-season true crime series.
At 52, Gillen, a reformed London mobster, has dramatically changed his life’s trajectory. Now serving as a CEO, a prominent TV personality, and an internationally recognised nominee for the ‘Ambassador for Peace’ title, he is committed to sharing powerful stories of change.
“I know only too well how one can become a career criminal and get caught up in a life of crime that gets increasingly hard to leave,” says Gillen. “These documentaries will explore how people escape a life of crime when they were at the top of large criminal organisations and what they do after they leave.” Gillen also had a prominent role in the production of Sky’s The Essex Murders. Gillen is scheduled to do more presenting work later this year on other true crime documentaries.
Gillen, who also worked as a consultant on the new Season 2 of the award-winning Gangs of London British action thriller crime TV series, produced by Sky Atlantic. Stephen Gillen served as an inspiration for 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 depicts his phenomenal journey of transformation and redemption, is set to be adapted into a major film. In this tell-all book, Gillen delves into the demons haunting him from a traumatic childhood. At the tender age of 9, he witnessed the horrific murder of a man amidst the turmoil of early ’70s Belfast. His path eventually led to the streets of London, where he was groomed for a life entrenched 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, dives deep into the world of the Sicilian mafia, exploring its historical roots and the paths of individuals who have managed to break free from its grasp. Following this, Gillen will shift his focus to New York, chronicling the complex and storied lives of the city’s crime families.
These documentaries aim to provide a rare, insider perspective on organised crime, offering viewers an intimate look at the lives of those who have experienced 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 storytelling promises to be as compelling as it is inspiring, shedding light on the potential for transformation even in the most challenging of circumstances.
