Gypsy Blood, Channel 4

Photographer Leo Maguire discovered that film was the only way to unlock the emotional truth of male gypsies' life - and in their own words.Gypsy Blood

Production company ClearStory

Length 1 x 72 minutes

TX 10pm, 19 January, Channel 4

Commissioning editor Anna Miralis

Executive producers Russell Barnes, Molly Milton

Composer Jack Ketch

Assistant editor Gemma Appleton

Editor Joby Gee

Producer Rob Wilkins

Film-maker/director Leo Maguire

Summary Documentary following two traveller families and their tradition of bare-knuckle fighting, focusing on a seven-year-old boy and a man who nearly dies in a machete attack.

Leo MaguireDirector

Years ago, I read King of the Gypsies, a biography of champion gypsy bare-knuckle fighter Bartley Gorman. I was fascinated by the brutal and violent life that he led, based on ancient traditions passed down from his father and grandfather.

In 2007, I started trying to photograph gypsy and traveller fighters as part of a Getty Images project. But after nine months, I still had nothing. Gaining the gypsies' trust was a very slow process. One person would introduce me to another and gradually, bit by bit, I went deeper into their world, getting to know some key families and individuals.

I also realised I just couldn't capture all the texture of what I was experiencing through photographs. I remember in 2008 being in a pub with a group of gypsy men who had returned from hare-coursing. The men were singing in turn, while others listened quietly and respectfully. It was a beautiful scene and I wanted to film it. I had a Canon 5d camera and began to use its video function.

It started from there. Every time I was with the gypsies I found myself shooting more and more video. Eventually I showed some clips to an editor friend and he helped...