Only Fools and Horses stage show star Sam Lupton to play Dave Fishwick in Bank of Dave
From Del Boy to Dave, musical theatre star Sam Lupton is swapping Peckham for Pendle as he steps into the shoes of Burnley legend Dave Fishwick in the upcoming production of Bank of Dave: The Musical.
Lupton, best known to audiences for his acclaimed portrayal of Del Boy in the stage adaptation of Only Fools and Horses, will take on the lead role in the new show, which charts the remarkable story of the Burnley businessman who challenged the banking system to support his community.
The musical, based on Fishwick’s real-life journey and the hit 2023 Netflix film Bank of Dave, is set to premiere at The Lowry in May 2026 before transferring to Leicester.
A delighted Dave said: “It’s great news that Sam has been chosen to play me. He played Del Boy, probably one of the most famous and loved comedy characters of all time and now he’s playing me! The producers wanted a true musical theatre performer and that’s what we’ve got with Sam.”
Dave, who grew up in Nelson, rose from leaving school at 16 with no qualifications to becoming one of the UK’s leading minibus suppliers, before launching Burnley Savings and Loans – Bank on Dave – to help residents access fair finance.
The production has been developed by writer Rob Madge and composer Pippa Cleary, the creative team behind several acclaimed stage works, and promises to bring a mix of comedy, drama and music to the stage.
Fans of the original film, which starred Rory Kinnear as Fishwick, will recognise the story of a man who took on high street banks to support small businesses in Burnley and beyond.
Dave recently appeared on the nation’s screens last Saturday evening with his wife Nicky when they enjoyed a spectacular evening at the Manchester Arena, performing in front of 12,000 people at BBC One’s The Big Night of Musicals hosted by Jason Manford.
The cameras followed Dave, his right-hand man David Henshaw, and the team at Burnley Savings and Loans around their HQ in Keirby Walk, capturing the town’s streets and local faces, as well as previewing his musical.