‘Bank of Dave’ wins top TV award

The first series of the popular Channel 4 programme was nominated for the nations and regions awards at the prestigious Royal Television Society awards.

But the hit show, which pulled in millions of viewers, was pronounced the winner on the night to the delight of Mr Fishwick who was presented the accolade.

He took to Twitter after the glitzy award ceremony to thank his army of fans.

He said: “Thank you for your kind words about us winning the Royal Television Society Awards last night. Well done too all the team!! And thanks for all your support.

“It was amazing but very humbling being on the same stage as Ant and Dec, Sean Bean, Keith Lemon, the Coronation Street cast and many more.”

The award-winning first series followed the Sabden-based businessman’s battle to set up a “tiny bank” in his home town of Burnley.

The minibus salesman, who built up David Fishwick Minibus Sales in Colne, fought tooth and nail with the FSA to open Burnley Savings and Loans in his hometown of Burnley.

The ground-breaking series transformed Mr Fishwick into an over-night sensation in his campaign to bring better banking to Britain.

The success of the show has gone global with news coverage around the world from Russian and German TV to Al Jazeera in the Middle East. An extended four-part “Bank of Dave” series was premiered by American network CNBC showing Mr Fishwick’s work in his hometown of Burnley.

The show was also nominated for a Scottish BAFTA award in the “features and factual entertainment” category last year but just missed out.

Mr Fishwick’s new programme “Bank of Dave: Fighting the Fat Cats” also proved a huge hit when it aired last month.