Did you know that a new biopic about a real-life millionaire from Burnley has surprisingly shot to the top of the Netflix charts?
It’s probably not what you’d expect, but in what has proved to be an unlikely smash-hit success for the streaming service, Netflix’s newest original film, Bank of Dave, has become the number one movie on the platform, beating out some genuine heavy-hitting features.
And people are absolutely loving it.
Bank of Dave is now available to stream on Netflix / Credit: Netflix UK & Ireland
Based on the true-life experiences of Dave Fishwick, Bank of Dave tells the story of how a working class man from Burnley became a self-made millionaire and fought to set up a community bank, so that he could help the local businesses of his beloved town not only survive in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, but also thrive.
Starring BAFTA-nominated actor Rory Kinnear as the title character, in his bid to help his beloved community of Burnley, Dave has to take on the elitist financial institutions of London and fight to receive the first new banking license to be issued in over 100 years.
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The film also stars / Credit: Netflix UK & Ireland
Alongside Kinnear stars Stockport-born Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor as feisty local doctor Alexandra, and Joel Fry – who audiences may know for his roles in Yesterday, and 2021 live action Disney remake Cruella – as young London lawyer named Hugh who is hired by Dave to fight his case against the British banking system.
Legendary British actor Hugh Bonneville also stars in the film, and there’s even an unexpected cameo from rock band Def Leppard.
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As you can probably tell by the synopsis, Bank of Dave isn’t quite the film you’d imagine to have captured the hearts of audiences nationwide as much as it has.
/ Credit: Netflix UK & Ireland
But in the first week since its release, the movie has been watched millions of times and has already become on of the feel-good success of the year so far.
People who’ve had the chance to see it have been taking to social media to share how much they love the film.
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Fans are also encouraging others to give it a watch too.
Living in East Lancs we're known for poverty, football & our dodgy history with witches but how brilliant to see the real warmth of #Burnley in @netflix hit @BankofDave. It tells the story of @FishwickDavid taking on the establishment & is guaranteed to warm the❤️on a cold night
#BankofDave is a brilliant watch on @NetflixUK. Well worth a couple of hours of your time. Amazing true story and credit to everyone involved. Great example of community spirit and community power. @FishwickDavid
We’ve just finished watching #TheBankOfDave on @netflix – what a fabulous feel good film for a Friday night. Inspirational and truly beautiful – so happy for @BankofDave and all the residents of Burnley.
One enthusiastic fan wrote on Twitter: “Just watched Bank of Dave on Netflix. Fantastic. Brilliant. Feel-good film, and paints burnley for what it is – a reyt grand place.”
Another fan said on Twitter: “The Bank of Dave on Netflix is the feel good film of the year. A film about community has never been so timely. Every government minister should watch it,” while a third added: “I need a Bank Of Dave sequel immediately.
“One of THE most beautiful, heartfelt, poignant, magical and amazing films I’ve ever seen. I adore it. To everyone involved, thank you. Oh and thanks to the credits, I just found out it’s a TRUE STORY.”
Bank of Dave is now available to stream on Netflix.
John Cooper Clarke announces new UK headline tour along with new book
Danny Jones
The ‘Bard of Salford’ himself, Dr John Cooper Clarke, is back with another UK headline tour in 2026, plus a brand-new book to boot.
Now 76 and still as fiery as ever, ‘The Godfather of Punk Poetry’s career spans more than half a century, and as a Greater Manchester native and cultural icon, he’s still just as worth celebrating as ever with each passing year.
Becoming the first poet to ever headline a UK arena with his landmark Co-op Live back in March, it’s been another milestone 12 months for local legend, and he clearly has absolutely no intentions of slowing down next year either.
Revealing a raft of new tour dates on Monday, 1 December, John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his spoken word stylings and latest collection – satsifyingly titled Have It – to crowds all over the country.
Confirming a total of 20 new live shows, JCC will be kicking off his next tour in October 2026 in time for the launch of his latest title.
Following on from last year’s release, ‘WHAT‘, which became an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and his memoir (published back in 2020), this will be his fifth book to date.
2025 also saw him receive the prestigious Northern Music Award (NMAs) in recognition of his phenomenal influence in the music world and art as a whole.
As for us here at Audio North, we recently also had the incredible privilege of sitting down to chat with Cooper Clarke ourselves ahead of the announcement, so keep your eyes peeled for that one…
You can see John Cooper Clarke’s list of live shows in full down below.
JCC UK headline tour dates 2026
We’ve kindly italicised all the Northern dates for you as well.
Wed, 7 Oct – Southend Palace Theatre
Sat, 10 Oct – Poole Lighthouse
Sun, 11 Oct – Bristol Beacon
Wed, 14 Oct – Brighton Theatre Royal
Thu, 15 Oct – London Palladium
Sat, 17 Oct – Sheffield City Hall
Tue, 20 Oct – Glasgow Pavilion
Wed, 21 Oct – Carlisle Old Fire Station
Fri, 23 Oct – Stoke-On-Trent Victoria Hall
Sat, 24 Oct – Birmingham Town Hall
Wed, 28 Oct – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Sat, 31 Oct – Leeds City Varieties Music Hall
Wed, 4 Nov – Whitley Bay The Playhouse
Fri, 6 Nov – York Grand Opera House
Thu, 12 Nov – Dublin 3 Olympia
Sun, 15 Nov – Belfast Mandela Hall
Wed, 18 Nov – Blackpool Opera House
Sat, 21 Nov – Manchester O2 Apollo
Wed, 25 Nov – Leicester De Montfort Hall
Fri, 27 Nov – Edinburgh Queens Hall
Tickets for Dr John Cooper Clarke in October 2026 will be available from this Friday, 5 December at 10am via Gigs and Tours as well as his official website.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/The Manc Group
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Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Emily Sergeant -
24th January 2023 
