New Amazon Prime documentary explores the incredible story of Birmingham’s ‘Fake Sheikh’

Notorious investigative newspaper reporter Mazher Mahmood had lots of names, including the ‘Fake Sheikh’ and the ‘King of Sting’.

And now his undercover exposes are going under the spotlight themselves in a new documentary.

Described by some as a ‘national institution’, the hugely controversial journalist, who grew up in Birmingham, tricked his way into the circles of some of the country’s most powerful people so provide some of the biggets stories during the early 2000s.

The Fake Sheikh, from Voltage TV and on Amazon Prime, tells the thrilling story of the maverick undercover journalist whose stories generated headlines all over the world by his use of false identities.

During his time at the News of the World and the Sunday Times, he was responsible for numerous investigations, including a reputed 94 that led to criminal convictions.

A Page 3 model, the manager of the England football team Sven-Göran Eriksson, Victoria Beckham and even members of the Royal Family were targeted by Mahmood.

What’s the documentary about?

The three-part original documentary series will track Mahmood’s meteoric rise to the highest ranks of the tabloid press - twice winning Reporter of The Year at The British Press Awards - and his subsequent downfall and imprisonment.

Mazher Mahmood was born in Birmingham and grew up in Small Heath. He first gained employment as a journalist at the age of 18, exposing family friends who sold pirate videos. This gained him two weeks’ work at the now shut down News of the World, where he made his name as a ‘ruthless’ reporter who was highly admired among colleagues who worked for the tabloids for his ability to get shocking exclusives.

The interviewees in the four-part series include those within Mahmood’s inner circle who, in some cases, are talking for the first time about the operation and tactics of the reporter, with never-before-broadcast footage of the so-called King of the Sting in action.

The series will also give a voice to those who were stung, so that they will have the chance to tell their side on well-known tabloid stories that in many cases had devastating effects on their lives.

How can I watch the series?

The Amazon Prime series started on Tuesday, September 26.

It’s currently available to watch on the platform here: Amazon Prime Fake Sheikh