We see the impact of the gold being stolen and the extraordinary ripple effect it has

HUGH BONNEVILLE DISCUSSES THE SECOND SERIES OF BBC1 DRAMA THE GOLD AND WHY THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH. BY YOLANTHE FAWEHINMI

- YOLANTHE FAWEHINMI

AFTER the first series of The Gold, inspired by the real-life Brink's-Mat robbery, it may have seemed as though the case was shut.

But with half of the precious haul still missing, there's more for Hugh Bonneville and Charlotte Spencer's London detectives to do.

The real crime took place in 1983, when six men stole £26m worth of gold bullion from a warehouse at the Heathrow International Trading Estate.

It sparked the imagination of Scottish author and screenwriter Neil Forsyth, who went on to create the drama for the BBC.

In the first series, Micky McAvoy's gang were convicted over the theft.

Downton Abbey star Hugh, 61, is back as DCI Brian Boyce with his team, Charlotte, 33, as DI Nicki Jennings, and Scottish actor Emun Elliott, 41, as DI Tony Brightwell.

After they convict some of those involved in the robbery, and start to plan how they will handle the Brink's-Mat gold, they discover that only half has been recovered.