Gangster Number 1: The Freddie Foreman Story (Full Documentary) | Real Crime

Attached to almost every unsolved gangland murder in London over the last 50 years - to Britain's criminal underworld Freddie Foreman is "The Godfather". In this special documentary, Foreman reveals the audacious details of the heists, double crossings, shootouts, murders and betrayals he was involved in and ultimately, what has made him 'Gangster No. 1'.
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From "Gangster No 1 - The Freddie Foreman Story"
Content licensed from Revelation Film to Little Dot Studios.
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[@Pobsta-de7hb]

The quote from Only fools and horses that granddad said is actually very precise, they promised us homes fit for heroes, instead they give us heroes fit for homes

[@bigrobbo75]

thank you Freddie Foreman , your autobiography answered a mystery about my late grandfather Alexander Thomson. my family here in New Zealand thank you for calling him a man of honour , to us and me in particular he was a true man of honour. your son Jamie is a great actor as well :)

[@boum62]

My mum and dad went through the blitz. My dad fought in Korea... but like most cockneys he was not a gangster terrorising his neighbours.

[@DemocracyManifest]

Interesting fella. Listening to him talk is like listening to an overexcited 5 year old kid telling you stories...there's no full stops and the story keeps rolling taking unpredictable turns

[@twinkle3026]

Many thanks for another great interview, Bernard! You have a very good rapport, with Mr Foreman. You totally put him at his ease. I wish you all the best for your future projects. xxxx

[@carolokbrblol]

My father was a bare knuckle fighter in the day. He never harmed anyone and done things to help the poor, he fed them by means of stealing. He never once bragged and did his time.

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

He most likely harmed people by stealing. Just saying

[@carolokbrblol]

@Tbo1235 no in our days we were in abject poverty. He stole to feed his family. Not stealing makeup, coffee to fund any habit. To feed his children.

[@Sol-Cutta]

Great documentary..I'm not into true crime things but this was in my recommend from vague association with other stuff I'd watched.. got to say I'm pleased curiousity got better of me, not knowing who he was until it got going and it became evident.. well made.. interesting. concise. Historically important..thanks..

[@harrycallahan9143]

Freddie reminds me of Mr Wolf from Pulp Fiction, a man with contacts and who gets things done but seems an ok kind of guy.

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

He wasn't a bad fella in his day. Did his crime and time. Could fight a bit then eat the sausage sandwich

[@djmightymurph]

Makes me laugh when he was moaning the police broke the law taking him back to the UK 😂

[@wyverntheterrible]

Imagine being proud of being 'a friend of the Krays'. Like being one of Jimmy Saviles pals. Pathetic stuff.

[@donaldstewart9827]

It must be awful to have stolen the property that belonged to other people who worked very hard to own it.

[@mally9226]

like the banks he might have robbed foreman didn't do house breaking, he stole from the big institutions that are still robbing the public today.

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Freddie brother George was a heavyweight boxer and mean machine. Bought one of his Grills in 2012 so i did

[@chrisprobert5340]

I don't agree with glamourising crooks but I didn't go through a war...

[@Dee-l2g]

Freddie Foreman aka The Managing Director OF British Crime 💪

[@joshualifetree5398]

I liked listening about the history of London before, during and, after the war.

[@leonptr]

I've never understood the idolising of criminals. Quite sad really.

[@theofarmmanager267]

Well said.

[@Mic.check1.2.1.2]

You came to this video though 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@theofarmmanager267]

@@Mic.check1.2.1.2 and left it very quickly

[@theirishninja8199]

Likewise sad and pathetic 👌🙏

[@carlosdeno]

Agree 100% the majority are thick as mince and Frankie Fraser was an absolute c##t. A coward and robbing his own countrymen during WWII, waste of oxygen like the rest of them.

[@stepickup6623]

Brilliant documentary

[@michaelpeckover6047]

Lucky for Freddie that Ron Pickering wasn't around at the same time

[@michaelhorne4742]

Can't believe people are still using this joke.

[@shauncarney8504]

Ronnie Pickering was krays right and man

[@harrycallahan9143]

Who?lol

[@pauljones8218]

@@harrycallahan9143 if you know you know

[@ellenlyons4090]

So why did the Krays call on Freddie to sort their shit out. If their right hand man was the bollocks. It’s said the Krays feared and respected Freddie. They would never take a liberty with him.

[@justonsullivan3807]

Very interesting vid, great job. I luv this channel, the good ole day'z. 👍🇺🇲🗽🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍

[@Big-Al007]

This guy Bernard weren’t a member of the Essex gang charlton leech has said it already and don’t like him either cause he’s profiting off his mates.

[@jamiecoulson1016]

Carlton

[@jmc6327]

The British godfather 😂 he was just someone's lacky. I guess if you're the last one left of the bunch, they have to make money of you somehow.

[@ellenlyons4090]

If Freddie hadn’t been a villain he would have been a brilliant comedian. I’ve read all his books and some of the stories he tells had me crying with laughter just picturing it. Freddie was old school he didn’t believe in hurting for the sake of hurting usually it was because someone took a liberty. His mistake was getting involved with the Krays had he not of he wouldn’t have got jail time. He was successful in the businesses he ran he earned good money and was comfortable. He did a lot for charity and helped people who had very little. Their are plenty of people who have nothing but good things to say about Freddie.

[@oldmanonamission8055]

If Freddie hadn’t been a villain he would have been a brilliant comedian. Yeah, he was a right joke

[@ellenlyons4090]

@@oldmanonamission8055 Bet you wouldn’t have the balls to say it to his face.

[@oldmanonamission8055]

@@ellenlyons4090 he's a fucking old man and you would lose that bet

[@ellenlyons4090]

@@oldmanonamission8055 you reckon you’d be surprised what that old man can still do.

[@oldmanonamission8055]

@@ellenlyons4090 I think you'd be surprised what any person can do. Do you think he is the hardest man in the world, or still has the balls to do his own work? Gangsters are cowards that gets others to do their work. It's why the dumbasses get caught.

[@loonylinda]

Nevertheless i like that man.

[@joesmoke9624]

Too much for a child to take. This is probably why he ended up being a gangster; coupled with a predisposition that lead him that way.

[@jboardy5439]

BROWN BREAD. Top Tier 🫡👊💯👑👏🥊

[@scottbarron6041]

Freddie's the man realest of them all

[@billstory8034]

Blighty has, evidently, some of the scariest criminals who have ever drawn breath. Take away even the most fierce American criminals' firepower and throw the two sets (if numbers were comparable) into a closed space and I have no doubt whatever who would walk out. These people, raised from children (in one of the segments of this series, the pretty seven or eight-year-old daughter of one of them was incidentally shown in a [serious] boxing cum [serious] weight-training gym, throwing, with her skinny little arms, punches against a heavy bag) to swim when deemed necessary -- and that can mean anything -- in an unimaginably violent world. These people are the germination of the phrase, "When you see me comin', better step aside". And judging from what I've seen in this series, I damn sure would . . . except I'd run.

[@johnniethepom2905]

31:05 , Christine Keeler ! Instrumental in the down fall of at least one Government Minister .

[@mrkipling2201]

The Profumo affair.

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Ginger Marks got weighed in by the firm but the man got found no guilty 😊

[@Notmehimorthem]

They do NOT know what respect is

[@gowdsake7103]

People do NOT respect thugs

[@opticalman6417]

@@gowdsake7103 they do if their wired up wrong most people fear them they control people through fear without fear they have no power over people

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

They know what respect is in their own world 🌎

[@woodennecktie]

self pity and envy are the real motive , I worked for similar characters and the stories are always amazing 😕

[@bruhmoment4978]

Thanks ovoo

[@andrewmartin3250]

Has he had his electricity cut off?

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Ginger was a silly man for getting involved with Freddie and the firm

[@trailingarm63]

Brilliant documentary. Well done.

[@charliecharles3846]

Be aware: The narrator never was (nor was there ever an ‘essex boys’) a ‘member’ of this media named ‘essex boys’ > this fella was muscle for a few toe rags and nothing more

[@Handleswag12321]

How do you know the same thing as me bouncer with forty KZbin channels milking certain people to bits .channel running dry bosh open another upload .I thought this was smithing new but it’s BM again who would have thought you can now say goodbye to you’re comment .lol cool tools has the GOLD

[@stevenguegens7047]

A wanna be plastic Gangsta ehh.......... typical

[@prayerandpractice_8247]

Without even watching, let me guess… Bernard?

[@charliecharles3846]

@Suk my Dik nicely put.. I knew these people and lived in that manor for some time sweet heart x

[@terryselectricalservices8234]

Like he knew the krays he was 9 when they was banged up

[@praytherosaryeveryday2709]

He should have lived a straight life, could have got a job on a building site and worked his way up to foreman.

[@Ironz89]

I saw Ronnie kray fart on someone’s face in foreman’s club in 1967 I was 20 years Old

[@Handleswag12321]

You missed out on life bro .that’s a terrible thing to have went through .ptsd is a bad thing please look after yourself and seek you’re doctors advice .with any luck they might get you on the horse or donkey friendly programme good luck bro it defiantly shows .peace

[@geraldswain3259]

Was there any dust or spatter ! .

[@BobbytheWolf89]

😂😂

[@michaelhorne4742]

What a claim to fame eh seeing someone fart on someone else hahaha.

[@Ironz89]

@@michaelhorne4742 it was the bum gunge that made it

[@AndrewRobertson-kl4vi]

I love Freddie Foreman. But he's not undisputed Godfather of Britain. Its a chuck up between Fred and Joey Pyle.

[@johnlewis9158]

Ronnie Oliffe a stone cold killer and the leader of the gang Foreman was in was the guvnor

[@AndrewRobertson-kl4vi]

@@johnlewis9158 Thanks for the knowledge. It's always the ones nobody knows about that are the real power.

[@johnlewis9158]

@@AndrewRobertson-kl4vi Many years ago there was a documentary called harry's out. The harry in question was Harry Haywood out of Deptford who had just been released from prison. Anyway after while the conversation got round to his brother Billy Haywood who was involved in the Mr Smith's turn out. This was when Harry told the reporter when standing back to back he and his brother Billy were unbeatable. After hearing this Ronnie turned his to friends who were watching the documentary with him and said back to back that's the way i bury them

[@johnlewis9158]

@@AndrewRobertson-kl4vi He was very well known in southeast London. Indeed in one of Freddy's books there are several pictures of Ronnie Oliffe. In fact Ronnie fell out with Freddy over the pictures that drew attention to him which he didn't appreciate

[@rayflynn162]

Absolutely bangin'! I take on what others have said, but the ending is true, that old style of a residing respect has gone, villainy these days is without character.

[@johnhathaway4343]

Is it just me or did Freddie talk for 8 plus minutes straight without saying anything. Brings to mind politicians

[@vitaliyilich]

I couldn't understand shit either

[@gowdsake7103]

He hasnt got the brains to make sense

[@raynardhymen2139]

It's just London talk, it probably wasn't on the curriculum at your posh school.

[@martinintrospective3491]

Anybody who’s never Brocken the Law . As never gone bed hungry !

[@honeysuckle4537]

Not that people idolize criminals it seems to be a fact they have led interesting life's x😮😮

[@Bluesmusicno1]

Reminds me of my grandfather here in Glasgow

[@paulmorganmorgan7541]

Great documentary.bernard 👍

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Good guy Freddie if you want crime in your area .

[@chris-rfs]

Idolising murderers and torturers...not for me! All these criminals including Foreman were just brainless animals.And yet how many turned up for the funerals of these monsters?!...the very people that may have had friends or family terrorised by the person they are giving respect to!

[@dsaword2622]

Fred a stand up guy

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Frog and bucket

[@annedalton289]

Bernard ya ur face at the rate of talking from him in first 2 mins 😂🤷‍♀️

[@GilbertoAviles-ri9gw]

London organized crime is very interesting.

[@rjsampsonrs]

I've visited him in his nursing home hes 90 k now a nice chap

[@davidpowell9713]

I’d love to go and see him I’ve always thought Freddie was a cut above the rest of them. His loyalty to the nutty Krays was his downfall sadly

[@rambo2751]

Done 30 yrs 🤣 not very professional

[@scoldedcat]

I can't help but like him.

[@rarecockneyguvnor4945]

Proper the GUVNOR !

[@Mike20216]

I read his book respect on holiday and I couldn’t put it down

[@chrisfoster9080]

Lesson #1, Respect your elders. You never know if you might get whacked.

[@Bodhidhamma108]

I like Freddie.

[@davidryley4162]

Love listening to Freddie Foreman and Albert Donoghue

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Both good men, could have a fight and eat the sausage sandwich afterwards

[@pshaw8406]

I had to stop after 5 minutes. He gave me a headache.

[@chrisdone687]

These men did what they needed to do .. simple . I wish they would have met you Peter Leon .🤭

[@davidbaker8957]

He wasn’t an Essex boy he was just a door man!!!!

[@brianmunich553]

I know, pathetic bragging about being part of the so called Essex boys firm must think it has clout cis of the success of the films My question is why doesn't carlton leach mention him? Or why isn't he in rise of the footsoldier? Surely a member of the said firm would be at least mentioned in one of the 100 rise of footsoldier movies 😂😂

[@JohnSmith-rw9dl]

@@brianmunich553 who Bernie?

[@brianmunich553]

@@JohnSmith-rw9dl yeah

[@terryselectricalservices8234]

He’s a idiot , knew the krays he was 9 when they was banged up , bloody 🛎 end

[@proudtobeageordie2926]

@@brianmunich553 thats a question av always wanted a answer to why does carlton never mention bernie and why is carlton never on bernies docs

[@joseph1980.]

Is there any southern gangsters that wasn't a "friend of the Krays"?

[@donnablackman3954]

In my experience if you have one criminal record you might as well have hundred and one ♥️ the system is designed to make criminals out of the working class ♥️

[@opticalman6417]

The system has been designed to work in favior of the darkforces that governs it and hence it will never change as result as it serving them just fine the criminal justice system is build on noting but lies and deception from the ground up they invert everything like msm becuase its the same unseen darkforces oprating though them just like these criminal justice sector workers its all about control energetic loosh under the guise of reform like everything esle linked to government offenders are just food to these probation officers in these centres they couldnt give a dam about crime their working for darkness and their behavior is evident of it

[@imnotavingthat6813]

You gotta love Brown Bread Fred Gave no fuks at all, just did what he wanted to do. Different world in those days and people of today cant understand how they could do what they did. Once he's gone its all finished with and confined to mythology. Long live Fred

[@Pobsta-de7hb]

It is weird as even much later when I was growing up, we didnt have much and lived in estates etc but they were safe as anything, everybody knew everyone and we walked in and out of each others houses like they were our own, especially as kids but even adults did, no one nicked of each other. I realise now days yea, i dont even know my next door neighbours and trust people? I do not trust anybody, lock everything as well. Its sad really

[@dhss333]

150 quid demob gratuity. And why shouldn't he shovel coal?

[@chrismccartney8668]

I understand if you listen to Freddie he has a strong family ties and was livid how his brothers who all served were treated.

[@aintmyshit]

Love the way Bernard bigs himself up as a former member of the Essex boys.... He was a bloody doorman and was just happened to be around when those events were unfolding... Otherwise, there would have been 4 bodies in the land rover thar night, one that used to speak shit in a painful to the earhole, Brummie accent....Friend of the Krays? LOL

[@dannick9442]

I know. I wouldnt be bragging about making friends with the Krays after theyd been locked up. They clearly must have both been fucked up lifers both out of the closet by the time he met them, coz they wouldve been abt 30 years older than this guy

[@missthang94parisbaby]

Stop hating...damn

[@megaman7284]

He’s a nobody and a grass but yet he thinks he’s a gangster ! He’s a plastic gangster that the underworld doesn’t like

[@jaycartwright1983]

Yeah, O'Mahoney is a t*t who's lived off the back of those 3 since they got shot. He get's peoples youtube channels shut down as well to try & protect his lies.

[@markmcnally2044]

Likes himself that's for sure. Carlton Leach calls him a grass and doesn't like him.

[@michaelscales5996]

Why don't we celebrate the people who worked hard all their lives,pay taxes,and pay their way,never breaking the law ? Instead we celebrate thugs who take what they want by violence and put two fingers up to the rest of us ! All families had members who fought in the war,many, like my father,had to survive with injuries he received.He had a bad back which often saw him doubled up in pain,but he never thought to demand money from a pub or club by threats of violence.

[@fredzep01]

Hahaha frazer a rascal, wrong choice of words. The man was an out and out wrong_un...

[@anthonyrowe6101]

Fred was more than your expectations of him

[@Sol-Cutta]

Well I got to say..I like the bloke.

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

Bernard or Freddie

[@Alanhock75]

Remember this guy when I worked at full Sutton prison in the 80s, he was always respectful and polite- a gentleman

[@gowdsake7103]

He was a fucking THUG

[@liamgreen5892]

Freddie was the most dangerous man in this country by a country mile. A legend in his own right & in a league of his own…

[@garycroft4960]

No he wasn't.

[@davidjoseph3188]

He was dangerous and very smart i aggree but not the most dangerous man in UK london there are many 100 times worse

[@garycroft4960]

@@davidjoseph3188 in every City there's dangerous people Manchester has many .

[@davidjoseph3188]

@@garycroft4960 I know the noonan brothers very dangerous

[@garycroft4960]

@@davidjoseph3188 there's alot worse than them know especially in Salford.

[@kenthnilsson9988]

Watch this important Documentary: The power brokers you never elected

[@Handleswag12321]

Just gonna watch now .you should check out the spiders web of the uk government good documentary you often think why are these still up for everyone to see how there being corralled like sheep .but they can’t see it because there now staring right in to the abyss .

[@Handleswag12321]

It’s a shame no one likes hitting links now .,I now think there’s an app that checks it for you now automatically,.peace out .

[@JanieBaxter-wm3vu]

Was his son in East Enders or am I confusing him with someone else?

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

He was Jamie good actor. Also layer cake rise of the footy solider

[@jakegibson6834]

The real deal they made the movie the long good Friday was said to be on Fred's life one true man's man

[@TurkishBenAirsoft]

Great man and a true legend.

[@gowdsake7103]

A brainless thug

[@patrickpirelli7897]

Bless him what a man a proper man Freddy was I didnt know him but we can tell he was a decent man 🥂👍

[@davidpowell9713]

He’s still alive

[@AL-PAKA]

he's a murderer you tool

[@Tom-S1981]

Still is you mean

[@edbaker515]

One thing I can say about George foreman is respect

[@nadinedavies6746]

george?

[@DemocracyManifest]

Yeah he was a great boxer and makes a mean grill

[@robhatwell4593]

Freddie

[@Handlebar-MustDash]

P, p, p, p, p, p, p, ........ Is there anyone more like Clive Dunn than this old guy?

[@seanuk7757]

Australians did the first armed blags in Britain causing the authorities to start carrying guns then Brits had to, as Freddie says.

[@carlwomersley4016]

MAXIMUM RESPECT..LOVE THEASE TRUE STORYS...THANKS....

[@ZimbaZumba]

These people are animals, do not make heroes of them out of them.

[@myhorsethesenet33]

And here comes the excuses and hero worshipping

[@timwoodger7896]

Gangster no. 1 is an awesome film.

[@johnstephens2510]

good documentary, when was it made?

[@stephanblack4558]

Gay.

[@CathyTurnerartfromtheheart]

You need to take a breath, your constantly speaking, stop and breathhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeee

[@RadicalRoots23]

'did he nail your head to a table?'....'No, no no....well, yeah he did do that. But he had too!'

[@davidfelix2594]

If he wrote a book to be published after his death it would make some reading and answer a lot of underworld mysteries, i would like to know why his family no longer speak to him...something serious must have came to light for that to happen because Fred and his son Jamie were extremely close.

[@Crosshatch1212]

Its legal problems that I doupt wnt come out as long as he's alive .thats as much as I know .

[@frankyhoward9197]

Was he a train robber that got away

[@frankyhoward9197]

The guy as no.mony lives of the state in a nursing home

[@davidfelix2594]

@@frankyhoward9197 He doesn't live in a nursing home,he lives in Little Venice in Maida Vale

[@davidfelix2594]

@@frankyhoward9197 That could be a possibility.

[@zenmeister4514]

This seemed to be almost more about the Kray twins than about him.

[@andrewstephens3440]

God this is boring

[@julieheywood8832]

why watch then dumb dumb ???

[@roberthemingway9553]

Why watch it then 🤦‍♂️

[@andrewstephens3440]

It didn’t have a boring warning. You may be pleased to know I didn’t watch 100% of it.

[@shauncarney8504]

HITS PART OF HISTORY NOW NOT MANY OLD SCHOOL GANGSTERS ABOUT TODAY

[@TheGrowler55]

When I grew up in the Gorbals in Glasgow in the Sixties and seventies we always watched the Men coming out of the Pubs and having a Square Go with each other, if you don't come from Glasgow a Square Go is a fair fight.

[@kelvinring5690]

Stealing from corporations is a community service

[@archenemy6893]

The bigger picture encompasses much of post war history, and offers a detailed insight into London life. There is no judgement here, more of an education, and awareness of how things were, and the evolution that's prevalent in today's society.

[@davidbrown-kx9bi]

Eddie is a g for real. 💯

[@crunchyyellowlion]

I despise criminals... that being said, this gentleman here, regardless of his crimes, he had morals. I was highly impressed with his loyalty and the thought of safety of people who weren't involved. Very few criminals have high morals to separate the family, women and kids from the person that does the indecencies against other gangsters. He may be my favorite gangster. I also liked the "you kick the dog you kick the master" part, seems he cared about his underlings as well. Proper chief here.

[@Sam-bz4hf]

Foreman just chats shi😂t from sam oates bideford and demi the dog

[@commonlawfella]

I was only at the castle before we went to the BKB 35 and met him a few times, I made him a joint when we got back to his, had a fkin great tablet someone gave me and it was the bollox, when I was off i told Dave I was going, he was moonwalking towards me and said thanks for the joint Ricky man bless ya! Last words he said to me, gutted totally gutted but I understand how he must have felt 💯 Rest in Paradise Dave see you when I get there bruv ❤ LLH&R Forever ♾ 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊💙💎👊🏼

[@billyshane3804]

Brown Bread Fred

[@TBATTIECYCLING]

RIP Ginger Tom

[@AxAx-f8o]

Most of these guys would be getting bullied up if it was now.

[@richardloring7545]

I was feared n respected n took em all on but when thermo nuclear weapons were involved i thought fack this im used to getting both barrels point blank on the cobbles thinking of pavement work.....When we see that facking great mushroom cloud over the old kent i knew get out now old son....

[@seandoughton6588]

Good interviews but nothing new, few things Bernard said were incorrect. It was jack the hats own car they put him in etc.