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Gangster

Introducing Blood on the Dance Floor

Gangster

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, True Crime

4.81.4K Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2023

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Journalist Jordan Dunbar joins Gangster's Livvy Haydock for a special introduction episode to the captivating podcast series Blood on the Dance Floor.

Livvy and Jordan discuss true crime investigative reporting, the city of Belfast, and the dark underbelly of organised crime.

Blood on the Dance Floor

The untold story of the murder of a gay police officer in Northern Ireland in 1997

Belfast 1997. But not just any part of Belfast, gay Belfast. A place you've probably never heard of before. Cigarette smoke, aftershave and expectation fill the air in the only gay bar in the country. Sat having a drink on a night out is Darren Bradshaw. He was just 24 years old when he was shot dead in front of hundreds of people. His brutal murder by terrorists sparked fears of a return to all out violence as the new Labour government under Tony Blair sought to bring peace to Northern Ireland - on the road to the Good Friday Agreement.

This is the untold story of his life and murder. A story of both love and eventually betrayal.

Presenter Jordan Dunbar grew up in the city, he was a comedian and drag performer on the Belfast scene and yet this murder and Darren's life was never talked about.

Following Darren's story brings to life the struggle of being gay in The Troubles, how Belfast got its first Pride parade only in 1991 and its very first openly gay club in 1994 -The Parliament bar where Darren was tragically shot dead.

It's a community surviving as well as thriving against a backdrop of violence and discrimination. He meets the original drag queens, DJs and club pioneers determined to claim back the city centre from the terrorists and create a safe place of their own.

Determined to piece together for the first time how Darren was killed that night and why, Jordan uncovers stories of bigotry, bravery and betrayal.

Host: Livvy Haydock Reporter: Jordan Dunbar Series Producer: Paul Grant Producer: Patrick Kiteley Technical Production and Sound Design: Craig Boardman Additional technical production: Nicky Edwards and Richard Hannaford Journalism Assistants: Tim Fernley and Jordan King Production Manager: Sarah Payton Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editors: Richard Maddock and Dylan Haskins Editor and Executive Producer: Carl Johnston

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Lock yourself away with a true crime podcast.

0:04.8

Who is it that's missing?

0:06.1

It's my dad.

0:07.4

Dead man running.

0:08.6

They're now searching for a wanted man who may have staged his disappearance to escape justice.

0:14.6

Intrigue to catch a scorpion.

0:17.0

I'm going to try to track down one of the biggest players in this trade and desperate people.

0:22.2

A very British cult.

0:24.0

They are brainwashing people.

0:26.0

For most wanted podcasts,

0:28.0

listen on BBC Sounds.

0:30.0

BBC Sounds.

0:32.0

Music Radio Podcasts. BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.

0:34.7

I'm Livy Haydock and I've been listening to Blood on the Dance Floor with Jordan Dunbar.

0:39.7

It's an incredible story about a young policeman who was murdered on the dance floor back in

0:46.2

1997 and the music, the soundtrack, the vibe, it takes you back onto that dance floor. The scene is alive, it's exciting and

0:56.7

then you hear this terrible tale of a young man whose life was cut so short and

1:02.1

what he stood up for and I'm actually here

1:05.3

with Jordan now. Jordan it's an incredible podcast. Thank you Lively for listening.

1:11.2

It's I've enjoyed it Iinged it. I am well I was walking the dog when I started it

1:16.5

did my cleaning hadn't quite finished the podcast I had to take the poor dog for

1:21.5

another walk his legs are now two inches shorter.

...

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