Thank you for agreeing to meet with the Ledbury Portal today, Mr Shadow.

Just 'Shadow', not 'Mr'. My pleasure.

How would you describe your role in the Community, Shadow?

As a reporter you mean? Citizen Journalism is an empowering concept but those who participate have sole responsibility for what they write on The Portal. They don't have the backing of, for instance, a giant media-based employer protecting them and supporting them in saying what they are being paid to say. This can make new Citizen Journalists nervous about tackling issues of a sensitive nature. Some things need saying though and that's where The Shadow steps in.

Do you always refer to yourself in the third person?

Only occasionally. It's an affectation.

Why The Shadow?

Because I am The Shadow.

Do you have a real name?

Everybody has a real name.

How old are you, Shadow?

Age is just a number. If you're trying to suggest that Shadowhood is some kind of response to mid-life crisis then I can assure you that you're barking up the wrong tree.

Right. Favourite film?

Watchmen. NO, NOT THAT, the other one... the one with the singing nun.

Family man?

The Community is my family.

You don't give much away, do you Shadow?

There's a sort of clue in the name.

Favourite colour?

What kind of dumb question is that? I am The Shadow.

I'll take that as black then. Music?

I have eclectic musical tastes but I do find kazoos particularly irritating, except where required to elevate the humour of a passage. A young local gentleman by the name of Ragtime Ewan is the only modern-day kazoo practitioner to be relied upon to get this right every time.

Pet hates?

Ragtime Ewan's woolly jumper. Does he ever wash it?

What is your worst fault?

Vanity, probably. I spend four hours each morning adjusting my hat in the mirror.

Ah yes, your image. In the picture, you look like you've been Photoshopped into the scene somehow.

I get this a lot. No. If Photoshop was involved, I could just pink myself up a bit, could I not? I'm just of a naturally grey complexion. It goes with the job.

Thanks for your time, Shadow.

You're welcome.

Next time, an interview with The Torch...