Where Are The Real-Life Figures from The Gold Now? Their Shocking Post-Robbery Lives Revealed!

Returning with a new installment, the captivating BBC drama “The Gold” delves deeper into the incredible events that unfolded following the actual Brink’s-Mat heist.

In the upcoming season, several key characters make a comeback, including Hugh Bonneville’s character Brian Boyce and Jack Lowden’s character Kenneth Noye. However, some characters like Dominic Cooper’s Edwyn Cooper, whose storylines were concluded in season 1, will not be returning.

For this season, we’ve introduced a few fresh characters such as Stephen Campbell Moore’s character, Tony Lundy. However, regarding the individuals portrayed in the show who are based on real people, can you provide any updates on their current status?

Read on for everything you need to know.

Is Brian Boyce still alive?

Indeed, it appears that Boyce is still among us. Recently, he engaged in conversation with Bonneville and the scriptwriter, Neil Forsyth, as part of their work on the project.

Where is Brian Boyce now?

After the occurrence of The Gold incident, the real-life individual named Brian Boyce got entangled in efforts to seek justice for another significant national case – the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Back in 1999, it became known that Boyce had generously provided his expertise to the Lawrence family without any fee, even though he was no longer a police officer at the time. It’s said that he assisted barrister Michael Mansfield, QC, and solicitor Imran Khan in collecting evidence.

2012 saw him express to the Evening Standard: “I firmly believe it’s crucial that everyone responsible for Stephen Lawrence’s murder stands trial, allowing a jury to decide their guilt. This is vital not just for us as a multi-racial society, but also for upholding the finest principles of British legal justice.

Where is Kenneth Noye now?

After being found guilty of dealing with illegally obtained gold bars, Noye was given a 14-year prison term and served eight of those years, eventually being released from prison in 1994.

In 1996, exactly two years after the event, Noye attacked Stephen Cameron, who was 21 at the time, on an exit ramp from the M25 during a road rage altercation. He then escaped to Spain and was found by authorities in August 1998 after a prolonged search. The arrest took place that same month, and Noye was returned to the UK in May 1999.

In 2000, he received a life sentence for the murder committed. Despite numerous unsuccessful attempts to appeal his conviction over time, Noye was transferred to a low-security prison in 2018 and was freed in June 2019, having served 20 years.

According to the Ministry of Justice, upon release by the independent Parole Board, Kenneth Noye will continue under supervision for the rest of his life. This supervision comes with stringent rules, and if he violates them, there’s a chance he could be sent back to prison.

Lowden shared with Esquire about his approach for the role: “As an actor, I’m brought in to bring a character to life from the script, so I deliberately didn’t delve too deeply into his background and had no intention of meeting him. I’ve portrayed numerous real individuals before, some who are deceased and others who are still alive, but there’s a part of me that feels no need to meet him. My role as an actor is to embody the character as written.

Where is Michael Relton now?

It seems that the character played by Dominic Cooper, named Edwyn Cooper, appears to draw inspiration from the real person, Michael Relton, a solicitor who was found guilty of being involved in laundering money derived from a robbery.

According to The Sun, Relton is now living in the US.

Dominic Cooper’s portrayal is based on a combined character, modeled after the individuals who collaborated with bank robbers and their middlemen in financial crimes.

Where is Tony Brightwell now?

After the probe was concluded, Tony Brightwell, portrayed by Emun Elliott on the show, spent a period working with the police department. Later, he transitioned to the private sector, taking up positions at firms like Bishop Investigations and ISC Global.

He is now 76 years old.

Where is John Palmer now?

After being found not guilty for his involvement in the Brink’s-Mat heist, Palmer returned to reside in Tenerife where he eventually earned the nickname “Goldfinger.

2001 saw him given an eight-year prison term for timeshare scams, but he served only four of those years. In 2005, he was officially declared bankrupt with debts amounting to £3.9 million, and in 2007, he was detained again due to fraud accusations. He subsequently spent two years in a Spanish jail without being charged before securing bail in 2009.

Back in 2015, I tragically became a victim of a crime in Essex. A cowardly act took my life, as I was shot in the chest. The police at the time suggested that the shooting bore the telltale signs of a skilled assassin, but unfortunately, up until now, his murderer remains elusive and the case unsolved.

Where is Tony Lundy now?

In the real world, Tony Lundy handled the Brink’s-Mat case during the 1980s. Known for his unique methods, he faced criticism concerning some of his informant relationships. He has consistently refuted corruption charges and asserted that he was a victim of a defamation campaign instead.

He retired in 1988, and is reported to have gone on to live in Spain.

Where is Micky McAvoy now?

After the storyline unfolded where we witnessed Adam Nagaitis’s character McAvoy marry his second wife Kathy within prison walls, the actual McAvoy chose to reside in Spain following his discharge, accompanied by Kathy.

Kathy passed away in 2022 and McAvoy himself died in 2023 at this age of 71.

On the morning of Sunday, 8th June, at 6 am, you can catch the second season of Gold on BBC iPlayer. Later in the evening, at 9 pm, it will also be aired on BBC One.

2025-06-05 17:09