Ross Kemp will investigate life behind bars in one of Britain’s toughest jails for a new documentary series.
The 54-year-old star has been granted "unique access" to Belmarsh prison in South East London for the upcoming ITV show, which will focus on how the inmates are offered the chance to rehabilitate with an education in setting up their own businesses in order to create more opportunities for them when they are released.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "ITV have been granted unique access to Belmarsh.
"It holds some of the country’s most dangerous prisoners – the first time cameras have been into this prison in decades.
"A focus will be on innovative ways staff attempt to rehabilitate prisoners. They educate them in business and encourage entrepreneurialism.
"The aim is to create opportunities on the outside that will keep them straight long term."
Ross will get the chance to speak with inmates – which include murderers, rapists, and terrorists – as well as staff working at the category A facility.
The insider added: "It will film Ross talking to inmates from petty thieves to hardened criminals and observe the staff, from officer to Governor."
Wile Ross shot to fame as ‘EastEnders’ hardman Grant Mitchell – who he played in more than 1,000 episodes between 1990 and 2016 in three separate stints on the BBC One soap – he recently admitted he thinks he’s now more famous for his journalistic work than his acting.
When asked if he gets more ‘Grant’ shout outs than his own moniker, he said: "People in London don’t tend to shout anything because they’re all too cool and they’re all important. But I’ve been travelling all around the UK, and I have to say it’s now more Ross than it is Grant, but I don’t mind either way. Whether it’s Grant or whether it’s Ross it’s positive and I think that a lot of the documentaries that we’ve made people have enjoyed watching and hopefully they’ll continue to watch."
Ross Kemp heading to Belmarsh
