24 THE BIG INTERVIEW
Continued from page 23
“There should be rules in place and that should come from government. I don’t see why you need more than 24 hours to pay. You can move money digitally now in seconds.”
The subject of late payment is just one of the things Dave speaks passionately about. But he’s not just a good talker, the 50-year-old has a track record of getting things done.
His approach to problems has seen him working with both ITV and the BBC in recent months, dishing out his no-nonsense advice to people as the cost-of-living crunch starts to bite hard.
Then there’s the little matter of the biopic that is currently been made of his life, starring award-winning actor Rory Kinnear, known for his roles in James Bond and Ridley Road, as the man himself.
Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor is also in the star-studded cast as is Joel Fry, who recently starred as a lead in big-budget family movie Cruella. Jo Hartley, who appeared in Ricky Gervais’ hit Netflix comedy After Life is also appearing.
Filming has taken place in Burnley and in Dave and Nicola’s home in the east Lancashire countryside. The film also sees an appearance by rock legends Def Leppard.
The plot centres on Dave’s life and how he took on the finance industry and battled to open the ‘Bank of Dave’ in Burnley. He gave himself the task to create a bank and send it into profit in 180 days.
The David versus Goliath battle was well chronicled in an award-winning Channel 4 TV series and book. More than a decade later Burnley Savings
and Loans, anchored firmly in the community, has now lent more than £27m to thousands of people and businesses. Profits go to charity.
When we arrive for this interview, he is busy recording a promo for the BBC. He’s just teamed up with the broadcaster to help people struggling with debt.
It’s another sign of how his life has changed and the media’s interest in what he has to say. He’s even a social media star, his TikTok videos on how to fly a helicopter, one of Dave’s great passions, have gone viral with millions of views. Little wonder he declares: “The world is bonkers now!”
It is 10 years since he originally started out on his Bank of Dave quest – the last programme in the multi award-winning Channel 4 TV series went out more than six years ago.
He then took on the pay day lenders as the ‘Loan Ranger’, a documentary that saw him take his message to senior politicians. He says: “It was difficult to make but well worthwhile. We got things changed.”
He adds: “My name isn’t Dave Fishwick any more its Bank of Dave. Dave has become my last name!
“But I love it dearly and it’s a real honour and pleasure to be thought of and seen in that light. If you’re going to be typecast, be typecast for something cool.”
Dave started work after leaving school at 16 with no qualifications. His first job was a builder’s labourer earning £27.50 on a YTS scheme.
His rise has been well documented, from his first efforts in business cleaning up and selling cars, to the creation and growth of David Fishwick Minibuses – still based in Colne and the UK’s largest minibus supplier.
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