He's probably best known for his role in one of the biggest heist in British history so it's no surprise to hear that Ronnie Biggs is to be immortalised on screen yet again this evening in a brand new BBC drama that will air just hours after his death.
The 84-year-old died in the early hours of this morning and his passing was announced by his publicists: "Sadly we lost Ron during the night" they said "As always, his timing was perfect to the end. Keep him and his family in your thoughts." And in doing so quite a few people have raised questions about whether or not the new drama should still be aired this evening?
However, writer Chris Chibnall has defended the BBC's decision to plough ahead with the broadcast, arguing that neither of the two episodes (which will air across tonight and tomorrow night) actually focus on Biggs himself, with the first being told from the perspective of criminal mastermind Bruce Reynolds, and the other through the eyes of the authorities.
"With anything like this your thoughts have to be with the family on a day like today," he said. "He has children and obviously it's going to be a very difficult day for them."
