The Bank Of Dave is being turned into a musical, with Jason Manford in talks to potentially star as folk hero Dave Fishwick, the comedian has revealed.

"They're basically trying to write a musical version of The Bank Of Dave" he disclosed on his Absolute Radio show.

Manford, who has appeared in several stage musicals, including comedies The Producers and Curtains, as well as Sweeney Todd, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys And Dolls and The Wizard Of Oz, added: "So obviously they need a Northerner who can sing and act so I'm up there! And also, available."

Based on the true story of Fishwick and his founding of a community bank in Burnley after discovering that local businesses were struggling to get loans from larger banks, the tale spawned a film last year, starring Rory Kinnear (Count Arthur Strong) in the title role, with Joel Fry, Phoebe Dynevor, Hugh Bonneville, Paul Kaye and Jo Hartley.

Bank Of Dave: The Sequel, following Kinnear's Fishwick as he takes on "a new and more dangerous adversary: The Payday Lenders", will be released on Netflix next year, once again directed by Chris Foggin (Fisherman's Friends) and produced by Tempo Productions and Future Artists.