Britain’s master forger Shaun Greenhalgh is returning to Bolton Museum for a rare public interview to coincide with a new BBC series.
Mr Greenhalgh will be talking exclusively to Museum Collections Manager Sam Elliott about his past and forthcoming BBC Four series ‘Handmade in Bolton’.
He created four historical objects for the programme using traditional methods and materials.
All four items - a jewelled eagle brooch, an alabaster carving, a ceramic plate, and a rock crystal bottle - will be on display in Bolton Museum’s foyer from October 7 to coincide with the broadcast of the show.
Mr Greenhalgh’s question and answer session will take place on Friday, October 11 from 7pm to 8.30pm, in Bolton Library.
Tickets for the interview are £5 and all proceeds will go to the Mayor’s charities.
To reserve your seat visit https://shaungreenhalgh.eventbrite.co.uk or book in at Bolton Central Library. Places are limited.
Mr Greenhalgh will also be signing copies of his book, A Forger’s Tale: Confessions of the Bolton Forger, which will be available to purchase after the interview.
It is only the third time Mr Greenhalgh has set foot inside the museum, following his release from prison in 2010.
He created several hundred forgeries, which were sold to many museums as well as royalty and even an American president.
Among his forgeries was the infamous ‘Amarna Princess’, which was acquired by Bolton Council. A British Museum report authenticated the figure as 3,300 years old.
Mr Greenhalgh has apologised for what he did. He said: “Bolton Museum is the place that inspired my love and interest in art.
“I am sorry for what I did and so grateful for this opportunity to give something back.
“I hope the pieces I have made will bring in even more people to my hometown museum, which is a fantastic place that everyone should come and visit.”
In July this year, Mr Greenhalgh visited the museum with a film crew and director Waldemar Janusczak to get inspiration for the ceramic plate he was making for the BBC show.
The BBC Four series will air October 7, 9, 10, and 13 at 7.30pm.
The museum reopened last September following a £3.8m refurbishment and has attracted more than 275,000 visitors in just one year.
Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Martyn Cox, added: “Mr Greenhalgh committed a serious offence for which he has served a considerable prison sentence.
“We know that the ‘Amarna Princess’, which is one of the centrepieces of our new Egyptology gallery, has attracted thousands of people who want to see it in real life. We hope that his new pieces will do the same.”