Paul Sykes film: Emmerdale star's wish to play Yorkshire hard man in new movie

Independent film makers, Western Edge Pictures, has hinted that work on the long-awaited movie about the life of the former Lupset boxer and long-serving prisoner could begin in the coming months.

And Michael Parr, who spent five years in the ITV soap opera, has told the Express that he wants the lead role.

Like Sykes, he has an interest in boxing, and although he is from across the Pennines, he says he has already worked on the West Yorkshire twang.

The 35-year-old actor, who has returned from living in Los Angeles, said: “I’ve always had an obsession with Paul Sykes, and when I heard they were doing the film I just thought I’d love to play him.

“These little films can really put characters like Sykes on the map.

“He was a physical specimen and I’d have to put two stone of muscle on.