Inside starstruck Judy Garland’s night with Ronnie and Reggie Kray as she performed in family home

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Judy Garland spent the evening with Ronnie and Reggie Kray, and performed for their mum at their London home, a new series has found.

The twins have gone down in history as some of the most notorious gangsters in the UK.

A new documentary exploring the real lives of the criminals is set to be premiere on BritBox this month, charting the rise and fall of the siblings – with interviews and testimony from those who knew them best.

In an exclusive clip obtained by Metro.co.uk, those closest to the family revealed how they would often rub shoulders with the biggest stars, who would line up for pictures with the gangsters.

‘Judy Garland, they had in the club and then they took around to Vallance Road,’ a pal recalled. 

‘Can you imagine when she told me, Mrs Kray. “Guess who came here, I’ve met Judy Garland, and I sat her down and gave her a cup of tea”.

‘Ronnie said, “You know that song you sing, you sang in the film, that’s my mother’s favourite song”. And she’d say, “Your mum don’t want to hear me sing, there’s no music or anything”. 

‘Not that she needed it, and she sat down and sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow for Mrs Kray.’

Discussing their allure to the rich and famous, another interviewee added: ‘The Krays were extremely violent people, but there’s a glamour to crime as much as there is a glamour to somebody from the theatre or film. 

‘It’s clear that certain people saw it as a badge of honour to have their picture with the Krays, as much as the Krays saw it as having a picture with them.’

The Kray twins caused chaos throughout London in the 50s and 60s, before they were eventually charged and handed separate life sentences. 

Ronnie was committed to Broadmoor Hospital in 1979, and remained there until his death in 1995, while Reggie was released in Wayland in 2000, weeks before he died following a battle with bladder cancer.

Secrets of the Krays, made by ITN Productions, explores the origins of the Krays, who went on to become two of the most notorious gangsters in London.

As well as interviews with people who knew the pair best, filmmakers were also given access to Reggie’s personal scrapbook, and discussed Ronnie’s mental health issues.

The three-part series reveals the influences which led them to ‘rule through fear whilst also craving power, influence and fame’. 

All episodes of Secrets of The Krays will be available exclusively on BritBox on May 13.

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