Following the conclusion of Happy Valley, fans are searching for their next crime series to sink their teeth into, and BBC’s The Gold is guaranteed to pique their interest.
The Gold, which takes over the timeslot vacated by that long-running series, is a compelling six-part series based on an astounding real-life theft that has consequences even now.
The Gold is written by Neil Forsyth, the Scottish journalist behind shows like Guilt, and details the historic 1983 Brink’s-Mat theft, in which £26 million in gold bullion, gems, and cash were stolen from a warehouse near Heathrow Airport.
It was the largest heist in history at the time.
The individuals engaged in the robbery, as well as many others related to the case, are now at the centre of a fresh crime thriller 40 years later.
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Dominic Cooper (The Preacher), Charlotte Spencer (The Duke), Tom Cullen (Becoming Elizabeth), and Sean Harris star (Southcliffe).
Before you tune in on Sunday to BBC and iPlayer, here’s all you need to know about the narrative the series is based on.
What was the Brink’s-Mat robbery?

Six armed men broke into the Brink’s-Mat security facility at London’s Heathrow Airport on November 26, 1983, and were mistakenly left with gold bullion worth £26 million.
Expecting to find £1 million in foreign cash, what they discovered astonished even them, but put them in a bind to begin with.
What began as a “normal Old Kent Road armed robbery,” according to cops at the time, evolved into a watershed moment in British criminal history.
Not only is the robbery notable for its size, which was the largest in global history, but its broader legacy goes on today.
The sale of gold bullion spawned large-scale international money laundering, and the unlawful profits fueled the housing boom in London Dockland.
Because they took so much gold, if you bought gold jewellery in the UK after 1984, it’s likely to include traces of the gold taken from the Brink’s-Mat.
The majority of the gold was never found.
What happened to those involved?

The theft, which brought together blue and white-collar criminals, was so large that the gang had to enlist the help of many others to figure out what to do with the cash.
They were left with a tremendous dilemma after receiving gold bullions instead of the cash they expected, and ended up visiting a senior underworld figure simply known as ‘The Fox,’ who could assist them smelt down and divide the gold.
With the help of one of London’s most known crime syndicates, a jewellers agreed to sell the melted down products.
While the network of individuals involved is extremely convoluted, made even more so by the so-called curse that resulted in the deaths of some of those involved, the gang was commanded by Brian Robinson and Mickey McAvoy.
McAvoy and Robinson were both sentenced to 25 years in prison for their roles in the crime.
Then, in 1995, the High Court ordered McAvoy to pay £27,488,299, making him liable for the whole money stolen; however, by that time, much of his portion had allegedly vanished.
In the year 2000, he was freed from jail.
With writers conducting significant research and conversations with some of those engaged in these events, BBC commissioning editor Tommy Bulfin says audiences will be “in for a great treat” when it airs.
The Gold Sunday 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.