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Becoming Gamal, part 1: Magic and misadventure

Gamal Turawa has lived many lives - but never fitted in

Gamal Turawa has lived many lives - but never fitted in

As the first openly gay black officer in London's Metropolitan Police, he struggled to find his way while reckoning with his past. Adopted into a white family as a baby, Gamal was hoodwinked by his father as a boy and ended up living as a teenage beggar on the streets of Lagos, until a chance encounter saw him find work as a magician's assistant, hyping up crowds across West Africa.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producers: Charlie Towler and Harry Graham
Editor: Laura Thomas

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31 minutes

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  • Lives Less Ordinary

    Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Extraordinary personal stories