As the star of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and winner of Celebrity Big Brother, traveller Paddy Doherty won the hearts of a nation. But before his rise to fame, this well-loved character had already lived a rich and colourful life.

Born into a generation of travellers, as a young man Paddy carved a career as a champion bare-knuckle fighter, earning himself a legendary reputation within the tight-knit community. But underneath this hard man exterior was a soft centre that bagged him the ultimate prize -- the love of a good woman.

Together he and his wife Roseanne, living closely by the traditions of their community, became a mother and father figure to not only their own 10 children, but to a whole camp of travellers in Manchester.

Yet among the warmth and fun of traveller life there's been heartache too. Having endured the deaths of five of his children and being shot point blank in the head by a rival, Paddy is no stranger to pain in more ways than one.

Hard Knocks & Soft Spots is the story of how one man emerged from the most secretive and persecuted of societies to be unexpectedly accepted by a whole country. From King of the Gypsies to People's Champion, Paddy and his extraordinary tale are like no other.