An interview with... the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham

From terrorising and torturing, to counting his precious taxes - we were brave enough to ask the Sheriff for a few moments of his time - and here is what he had to tell us. Why are you so villainous? Is it tiresome being so villainous all of the time? It isn't tiresome when it's second nature, being nice is such a bore! What does your role as Sheriff of Nottingham entail? My role is very important because I am very important.  I am the King’s representative in the area and it's his laws that I uphold.  As well as collect taxes on his behalf.  Of course I take a percentage for all my hard work! Mwah-ha-ha-ha!! What three interesting facts can you share with us about your home, the Galleries of Justice Museum?

• My home was once originally on this site before the courts.
• People who broke my laws were hanged in the street.
• We have the worst cells to be found in the Shire.

When you aren’t in residence at the museum – where do you most like to visit in Nottinghamshire? I like to travel everywhere around the Shire collecting tax but not Sherwood Forest, it's full of outlaws!! What three things (facts, places, secrets) do you like about Nottinghamshire which you would share with people looking to visit here? When visiting Nottingham it's worth exploring any caves that are hidden under the streets.  It's not as dangerous to visit the Shire as people think, my men keep my outlaws out of the forest.  Visit it if you dare!... What do you get up to on a typical day? I spend my day counting money, eating, drinking, counting more money, torturing poor people and counting more money.  If I'm bored, I might burn a village. What activities do you recommend visitors do whilst touring your residence during a day trip? When visiting my home, it's worth noticing the gillet in the Shire Hall hanging from the ceiling.  The last ever one used in England.  Also, if you expect to get out, don’t go in a cell because killers were buried under the exercise yard. It is claimed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Britain, have you ever witnessed anything going bump in the night at the Galleries?  You would expect a lot of ghosts in the evening.  I hear a lot of groans and screams.  Sometimes, it's the ghosts but I'm so used to leaving people moaning all the time it doesn’t upset or bother me. You have embraced social media with your very own Facebook page; do you enjoy interacting with members of the public, what do you think of visitors who come to tour your home? I do like keeping in touch with my fans using social media.  It keeps the peasants at a distance and I can still get my message across without smelling them!  People who visit my home are more than welcome as long as they bow in respect, give me lots of money and don’t speak to me unless they want to be flogged!! Find the Sheriff on Facebook or visit him, himself at Galleries of Justice Museum, Nottingham for performance led tours, if you dare.