Netflix Film Tells The Story Of Freddie Foreman, One Of UK's Most Notorious Gangsters

While a great deal of the true crime shows doing the rounds on streaming services have been focusing on American serial killers, it's easy to forget that there's much, much more to the genre than Ted Bundy - even on UK shores.

Take Fred Foreman, who was a notorious London gangster in the 60s, known for his associations with the famed crime duo, the Kray Twins - and now also the subject of his very own doc.

But Fred: The Godfather of British Crime isn't a film talking posthumously about his crimes; it comes straight from the horse's mouth, as half a century after his alleged crimes, the ex-gangster is eager to talk us through what went down.

A heavyweight villain with an unbelievably bloody past, Freddie is one of the last living members of the Krays' seedy London underworld.

Lionsgate

Once a ruthless criminal, he is still feared and revered to this day despite now living in a retirement home alone, with only the memories of his former life to look back on.

With strained family relations and declining health, Freddie finally felt it was time to tell all and revisits his old London haunts.

The biopic strives to understand what pushed him towards a life of crime - from his poverty-stricken childhood, to traumatic memories of the Blitz and WWII. But can a man accused of over 40 murders, known as the 'Godfather of London', really find redemption?

In the trailer, we're told: "They used to say about him: don't mess with Fred or you're brown-bread - dead."

Fred adds: "It was only business - my wife didn't know anything about what I was doing.

"All I wanted to do was make money so we could live a decent life.

"The worst crime a man can commit is bringing up his family in poverty so I don't regret any of my actions.

"I'd like to set the record straight on a lot of things."

Lionsgate

Netflix says: "This is a sombre examination into the psyche of former London gangster Freddie Foreman: 85 years old, allegedly responsible for multiple murders, and nearing the end of his life. Fred is the only gangster who lived through the turbulent history of the British underworld and survived to tell the tale."

Fred: The Godfather of British Crime is written and directed by Paul Van Carter (The Guv'nor) and is available to watch on Netflix.

Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment, Netflix

Amelia Jones

Amelia is a freelance journalist and editor specialising in beauty, health, fitness and lifestyle. She has previously worked for titles including Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, Red and the Mail on Sunday.

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