Legends and lies: The perilous life of an undercover cop
Before he became an actor, Liam Thomas spent years as an undercover detective, infiltrating dangerous criminal gangs. Creating convincing characters would save his life.
Liam Thomas is an expert at pretending to be someone else. For many years he was an undercover detective, creating characters 鈥� or legends 鈥� to infiltrate criminal gangs. It was dangerous work 鈥� if his cover was blown, he could be killed. These days Liam is an actor. But creating convincing characters was a skill he鈥檇 learned as a little boy, trying to survive in an abusive home.
Liam鈥檚 written a book called The Buyer: The making and breaking of an undercover detective.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Maryam Maruf
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
(Photo: Liam Thomas in a still from his film, The Tide. Credit: Courtesy of Liam Thomas)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 26 Apr 2023 11:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
- Wed 26 Apr 2023 17:06GMT大象传媒 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Wed 26 Apr 2023 21:06GMT大象传媒 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 27 Apr 2023 02:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else鈥檚 life and expect the unexpected