Paul Workman, 74, better known as ‘Mr Shakespeare', has been a regular sight in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks., over the last eight years.
But before taking part in the town's annual Shakespeare birthday parade last month, he bowed out after Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council received a complaint.
He is accused of making offensive remarks, which are understood to have concerned “Muslims and Jews”, in a pub in February.
But before taking part in the town's annual Shakespeare birthday parade last month, he bowed out after Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council received a complaint.
He is accused of making offensive remarks, which are understood to have concerned “Muslims and Jews”, in a pub in February.
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FunTranscript
00:00My name is Paul Workman and I've lived in Stratford for 38 years and I was approached about eight years ago to be Mr Shakespeare, which is quite a daunting thought that I accepted the challenge so I became the official Mr Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon.
00:23Well it was one night in this particular pub, something was said. Apparently I said whatever I said. I don't know why I said it because there was no reason why I should have said it. There was no reason because we weren't talking about, we were just talking about art. This is where I find it confusing, I just don't remember what I said.
00:44And then next day I went back into the pub and somebody approached me and said, I'm going to report you to the council because what you said was not appropriate and Mr Shakespeare is a high profile job, you shouldn't be saying things like that.
01:04So I was just gobsmacked. I just, I thought, what's going on here? I was shocked and thinking no they won't do that and then a couple of weeks later I had the letter off the town hall saying, giving him my, sorry to hear that you've done a good job Mr Workman but sadly we've got to let you go.
01:28But in the meantime I'd heard this was going on so then I sent a resignation email to the secretary of the town hall giving him my notice as Mr Shakespeare and I did have the opportunity to put my case forward but I thought, no, if that's the way they've found me guilty before I've even put my case forward.
01:57So I backed off. Probably not a good thing, I should have actually stood my corner and said, well this is what happened and I'm sorry I did, I did apologise whether I said it or not, that's the thing.
02:11I didn't realise I'd said that particular, whether it was racist or not, I'm not sure. I'm just trying to get my life back together. This weekend or last weekend was Shakespeare's birthplace and I've heard a lot of people saying they're really upset that I wasn't there, where's Paul, where's Mr Shakespeare, he's not around, is he well?
02:31And then the story got out amongst everybody and I know a lot of people in the town and they're absolutely appalled as what's happened to me because I am Mr Shakespeare, everybody knows me as Mr Shakespeare, which is an honour.
02:49I know. The feedback I've had over the years has just been amazing and now suddenly it's been taken away from me. So that's the sad point.
02:57I feel now that I've been bullied, I feel as if I've been targeted almost and I'm a victim of this situation that's happened. I feel victimised over something really that wasn't meant and maybe a lot of hearsay but apparently there were witnesses that heard what I said.
03:23I remember everything up to me. I remember everything up to a point of talking to these two so-called friends I thought and the next thing I remember being sort of marched out of the pub.
03:41A lot of people have said to me over the last two weeks, hopefully they reinstate you again once this blows over, which would be an honour, it would be nice.