A Burnley businessman and Netflix star has addressed rumours he is set to appear on this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Dave Fishwick, whose life story inspired Netflix film Bank of Dave, was rumoured to be taking part in the BBC dancing competition this year.

In a disappointing update, filmed from his Sabden home, Dave confirmed that he had been approached by Strictly bosses but says he is unable to take part this year due to prior work commitments.

Dave, who recently revealed that Bank of Dave:The Musical is in the works, said he is still in talks with BBC producers about taking part in 2025.

Dave said: “A lot of people have been asking me if I am taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year.

“I have been speaking to Strcitly and they are wonderful people to talk to. I am really struggling to make the dates fit.

“There are 30-40 hours of training per week. Some of the dates Strictly need to film live overlap with some of the contracts I have already signed for me to go to America.

“We tried very hard to make the new things fit… I do not want to let anybody down. In the end, we have just had to accept that the dates are what they are.”

Dave said producers even offered to send a professional dancer up to Lancashire in order to make training easier.

He said: “Strictly even offered to send a lady to dance with me. I couldn’t have asked for any more.

“Because I signed the contracts in America I just can’t make it fit this year.

“Strictly said they could maybe pop me into the show next year. I have looked at my diary next year and it would be an awful lot easier to make the dates fit next year.

“I have a musical that comes out in 2025 and my new Netflix movies coming out.

“Just maybe I will get Mrs Fishwick to buy me a set of dancing shoes for 2025. Very exciting times are ahead.”

Dave Fishwick has announced that Bank of Dave: The Musical will air next year adding that he is currently looking at scripts.

Comedian and singer Jason Manford is currently tipped to play Dave in the musical.

Dave says the show will premiere somewhere in the north of England, as written into his contract before being shown in London’s West End.

It is hoped that the musical will feature original songs and Dave wants his friends from rock band Def Leppard, who appeared in his Netflix biopic, to write a song.

The musical will be based on the hit Netflix film Bank of Dave, starring Rory Kinnear, of James Bond fame, Joel Fry, best known for his role in Plebs, and Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor.

The Netflix biopic was loosely based on Dave’s experience in fighting the banks to set up a community bank in Burnley.

It was number one on Netflix's most streamed movies for a time after it first appeared on the platform in 2023.

Bank of Dave: The Sequel is also being made and film crews descended on East Lancashire to film earlier this year.

Two years after founding Britain’s very first community bank, Dave Fishwick (Rory Kinnear) takes on an even more dangerous and formidable opponent than the big banks – payday loan companies.