An East Lancashire businessman and former mini bus salesman whose life story was made into a Netflix biopic earlier this year said he has turned down an offer to appear on a major ITV show.

Dave Fishwick, of Bank of Dave fame, was asked to participate in this year's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, but had to politely decline as he "couldn't make it fit in his diary".

Lancashire Telegraph: I'm a CelebI'm a Celeb (Image: ITV)

Dave, who also appears on ITV's This Morning as a finance guru, said: "I was kindly asked to consider participating in this year's Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here but politely declined as I just couldn't make it fit in my diary in November and December due to my current contracted filming dates and speaking engagements, and also important meetings with Netflix about my new movie."

Dave said that appearing on I'm a Celebrity would have been brilliant had he been able to make it work as "speaking to Nigel Farage (who is also appearing on the show) would have been interesting".

Lancashire Telegraph: Dave with Kevin Hollinrake, MP Jo Gideon and members of the Treasury Dave with Kevin Hollinrake, MP Jo Gideon and members of the Treasury (Image: Dave Fishwick)

The Burnley salesman, who founded independent bank, Burnley Savings and Loans in 2011, shot to worldwide fame earlier this year after the Netflix movie about his life, entitled Bank of Dave, went number one in several countries.

And the streaming site is now set to produce a sequel, aptly titled, Bank of Dave 2, catapulting the entrepreneur and helicopter enthusiast to even higher heights. 

Dave is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with important people though, as just last week he met with business minister Kevin Hollinrake and MP Jo Gideon as well as several members of the government and HM Treasury, and the banking regulators in parliament.

Lancashire Telegraph: Dave with Kevin Hollinrake Dave with Kevin Hollinrake (Image: Dave Fishwick)

He said: "They wanted my thoughts on how government could open community banks, like what myself and David Henshaw and our team have built in Burnley.

"Savings and loans can be replicated all across the UK to improve banking nationally for everyone.

"The Minister said, 'it was a very productive meeting with Dave Fishwick and the financial regulators yesterday. His drive to serve his community and increase access to finance for small and medium sized businesses is one we share in government and I'm keen to support him in his mission in Lancashire'."

Netflix has confirmed a Bank of Dave sequel is on the cards but a release date is yet to be announced.

The second outing is expected to follow Dave’s crusade against payday lenders, echoing his appearance in 2014 Channel 4 series Dave: Loan Ranger.