Zumo Bishop: local thug; gang leader; devoted grandson; loving brother. The residents of Carrigstown know Zumo to be a hooligan who is not afraid to dabble in stolen property, on to intimidate an OAP; but as far as his little sister is concerned he is her hero.

Good guy or bad guy? Patrick Fitzpatrick answers your questions.

Do you enjoy playing a thug and do you get much abuse from the public?
Yes, I do enjoy playing a thug because it's different to what I am really like. No, I don't get a lot of abuse from the public.

What preparation do you do to get into the character of Zumo?
I study the script and the storyline carefully before I go on to set.

Your character is the toughest man in Carrigstown. But, if all the cast of Fair City were to have a fight in McCoy's, who would come out on top?
Zumo thinks he is the toughest but if everyone was in a fight in McCoy's, I think Damien would come out on top because of all his built-up frustration.

Is it enjoyable playing the part of Zumo?
Yes, because it is always a challenge and I never know what Zumo will do next.

Do you share any traits with Zumo?
Just like Zumo I can be very stubborn at times and very set in my ways. We also share a family loyalty.

What are Zumo's best and worst qualities?
Zumo's best quality is that he always puts his family first, no matter what. His worst quality is his anger; he smacks first and asks questions later.

Do you think Zumo really is the tough guy he's portrayed as or do you think there's a softer side to him?
I think Zumo is a tough guy but when it comes to his younger sister, Charlotte, he shows compassion and his softer side comes out.

We've seen a softer side to Zumo recently with the current storyline with his sister Charlotte; would you like to see this side of him explored more?
Yes, I would like to explore his softer side a bit more but I wouldn't like him to lose his tough guy image.

Tell us about your tattoos, from your point of view, and what they mean?
To me family is important, and my tattoos portray the people that mean the most to me in life.

Who do you go for a pint with in the cast?
I get along with all the cast equally, so we could all go for a pint anytime.

Who makes you laugh in the cast?
Maclean Burke who plays Damien always has everyone laughing with his crazy jokes.

What is Tommy O'Neill like to work with?
I enjoy working with Tommy O'Neill (Deegan). He takes his work seriously, is always there to lend a hand, and gives me great advice on any queries I have.

Who do you enjoy working with most on Fair City?
I enjoy working with my onscreen sister, Charlotte, the most. She makes my job easier because she is a very talented young girl.

If there was one character Zumo could have more scenes with, who would it be and why?
I would like Zumo to have more scenes with Bob Charles. I think they have a very good onscreen relationship.

Will we ever meet Zumo's father?
Maybe when his father is released, he will meet him, but I don't know if Zumo would want a relationship with him.

I really enjoy the relationship between Zumo and his mother. Where would you like to see that storyline go?
I would like Zumo's mother to stay in his life and rekindle the family bond that he missed out on.

Would you like Zumo to find a girlfriend and if so, can you describe who you would like her to be?
Yes, I would like Zumo to find a girlfriend eventually. Zumo's girlfriend would have to be tough and be able to stand up for herself. She would also have to be clever to keep up with Zumo.

Will we see Zumo reunited with his brothers any time soon?
Yes, I think he will be, but I don't think he'll be too happy with them because they didn't want to help Charlotte.

I think Zumo should team up with Bob, could be a great twosome, what do you think?
Yes, I agree they do make a great twosome. The two characters bounce off each other.

If you could write one storyline for Zumo, what would it be and why?
I would like for Zumo to confront his father about all the things he has allegedly done to his mother. I would also like Zumo to show his father he is now man of the house and there is no messing with him.

What has been your favourite Zumo scene of all time?
My favourite scene of all time would be when Zumo attempted to shoot Mark Halpin. Zumo showed he was someone who was not to be messed with.

Thank you for your questions.