THE BRITISH GODFATHER
Daily Mirror UK
|October 23, 2025
He was known as the Godfather of Britain, a criminal mastermind who was even feared by the Krays.
But in contrast to the brutal East End twins, Billy Hill maintained a low profile, both in life and in death.
Psychologist Serena Simmons says: "He was highly dangerous, a functioning psychopath and a skilled manipulatorbut extremely charming and very clever.
"Billy operated in an underground manner. He kept himself under the radar.
"And he always wanted to control the narrative he understood the less we know, the more intrigued we are." Billy's story features in a new four-part Sky History series, Original Gangsters, narrated by Sean Bean. It takes a deep dive into some of the biggest crime names on both sides of the Atlantic, including AI Capone and the Birmingham gangs who inspired the TV series Peaky Blinders.
Serena, a senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, says: "We're fascinated by gangsters. As humans we want to understand why people do what they do.
"We're hardwired to enjoy stories - and the stories around gangsters are fascinating. Truth can be stranger than fiction." Billy was born in 1911 in the slums of London, his father a thief, his mum a fence and sister a shoplifter - while he soon became a skilled burglar.
In other circumstances, Serena feels he could have become a businessman. "He was able to get others to do his bidding, he was a skilled manipulator and felt no remorse those traits lend themselves to leadership," she says.
Instead, aged 16, he went to borstal for three years for burglary.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 23, 2025-Ausgabe von Daily Mirror UK.
Abonnieren Sie Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierter Premium-Geschichten und über 9.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Sie sind bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON Daily Mirror UK
Daily Mirror UK
Patient, 34, cancer plea for youths
A FARMER who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 33 has urged other young people to get any symptoms checked out by a doctor.
1 min
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
MATT FINISH MAKES REDS CONTENDERS
MATTY JAMES' first goal for nine months was worth the wait as a fourth straight win pushed Wrexham into playoff contention.
1 mins
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
JOSH CAN THRIVE AT WOLVES
WARRINGTON WOLVES' new signing Josh Smith says he will be doing everything in his power to establish himself as a Super League regular after arriving as a relative unknown.
1 mins
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
One hundred and atey
Littler blows £150 on pizza after £1m world title win
1 min
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
VAUGHAN: I'M SO FRUSTRATED BY ZAK'S LAPSES IN CONCENTRATION
ON a day when supporters vented their frustration at ground staff and umpires over an early finish, Michael Vaughan was left just as perplexed by Zak Crawley.
2 mins
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
It's Prof Green Tea-Bag
PROFESSOR
1 min
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
YAH BOO DUCKS TO YOU
Fed-up Frank's ref rap as arvin rubs it in to flagging Sky Blues
2 mins
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
Bang goes Cup peace
BANGLADESH have asked to play their upcoming T20 World Cup fixtures outside of India amid strained relations between the countries.
1 min
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
Starmer warns over Reform's threat at next general election
KEIR Starmer has branded Labour's battle against Reform UK as the “fight of our times”.
1 mins
January 05, 2026
Daily Mirror UK
Uninsured drivers face higher fines
UNINSURED drivers may face higher fines and tougher penalties under new plans.
1 min
January 05, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size
