Your new movie RocknRolla is another gangster film, but it's been eight years since Snatch. How do you keep the material up to date?
We've got a couple of writers who were professional criminals. Actually, am I allowed to say that? I don't know if they'd like to be referred to as such! Let's just say we have some "consultants"! The world of crime has changed. But once you enquire, you find out about these things.

How do you know them?
I've known them a long time. One helped me out with Snatch. I told them I wanted to make RocknRolla and asked if they knew what was occurring. So I met all his mates and found out what was going on. We all ended up down the pub!

You haven't gravitated to posh celeb hangouts despite your wife. How come you're still a fan of the normal boozer?
Well I did buy one! It's called the Punchbowl in Mayfair, West London. It's funny, but I've never really drifted away from the pub culture!

Do you spend time behind the bar, maybe with Madge collecting the glasses?
Ha! Not a great deal. I can't pretend to be a full-time landlord. But come down, it's a really non-faffy pub!

There's a football club-owning billionaire in RocknRolla who is clearly Roman Abramovich...
Who says that? Ha ha! It's really supposed to be a commentary on the influence of Russian oligarchs in the UK. So it's not supposed to by specifically about Mr Abramovich. It's about property developers and football magnates in general.

Admittedly, the stadium is red rather than blue - was that to distance it from Chelsea?
It's Wembley! We were the first film crew in there when they finished. We were trying to get caught up in the zeitgeist. London is a very significant place to live - it's the capital of the world!

So to clarify, it's not a comment on Abramovich stealing the soul of your favourite football club?
I like the fact that football has become a glamourous game with loads of money attached to it. Going to Stamford Bridge used to be a much rougher experience than it is now. I have no complaints, because it's not just Chelsea it's happened to. I went to a few matches last year but I don't really follow the game. If push comes to shove, I'm still a Chelsea fan. I've just got other things on my mind now.

Your last two films, Swept Away and Revolver, totally bombed. Was that a kick in the teeth?
I think with Revolver it was inevitable, because we made a film about something the human mind doesn't like - the fact you don't like yourself. I knew what I was getting into. It was a rough ride and we knew it wasn't going to be successful. But I love it. It's my favourite film of the ones I've done. As for Swept Away, it's so long ago I can't really remember!

Are those two flops the reason you've now returned to your familiar Lock, Stock territory?
If it's not broke, don't fix it! Listen, it's easy, it's fun, I like it and everyone else seems to like it. But the idea now is just to make loads of movies. I was waiting to be inspired. You have to be very clear about what you want to do. And now I'm clear.

So clear, in fact, that you've already planned two RocknRolla sequels!
Yeah. This one's RocknRolla, then I'll do The Real RocknRolla and the last one is going to be called RocknRolla Suicide.

Do you ever play football for Hollywood FC with the other famous Brits abroad?
No, but I know quite a lot of the lads in it. I dunno if Jason Statham still plays. Vinnie Jones does, obviously. And Robbie Williams. To be honest, I like ju-jitsu. I train every single day - I've got the best trainer in the world! Ultimate Fighting stuff, too. I love all that. I'd much rather watch that than football. Roger Gracie is the best fighter there is at the moment. He's got his own gym in the UK, so I take advantage and train with him.

Do you spar together?
Yeah. He's a dirty trickster! You can quote me on that. The fact that he wins is purely by accident.

How much of the stuff the tabloids write about you and Madonna is actually true?
Well I don't read anything about myself, so I can't find anything true or false. But it comes and it goes.

So we can write anything?
As long as I sound cool, you can write whatever you like!

RocknRolla is in cinemas on 5 September

PUB FACT: Guy Ritchie has a brown belt in Brazilian ju-jitsu