A plumber who landed a record deal when he was overheard singing on the job now has Hollywood producers interested in his story.
Kev Crane was fitting a bathroom for local record producer Paul Conneally, who owns New Reality Records in Loughborough, when he was overheard singing along to the radio.
The 50-year-old, who lives in Quorn, Leicestershire, with his wife and dog, had already been working on songwriting in his own time.
Paul realised Kev was destined to sing and it was not long before he had signed a deal and released his debut album, Leicestershire Live reports.
The 1980s-influenced Why Can’t I Be You? was written and produced by the man himself.
And after Kev's story was shared online across the world, he was contacted by Los Angeles-based filmmaker Stacy Sherman and American screenwriter and producer Billy Ray.
Kev has now signed another contract - for his story to be told on the big screen.
Ray wrote the screenplay for the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games, and now has the rights to Kev's story.
Describing how surreal his journey has been, Kev said it was like "watching it happen to someone else".
"Not for one minute did I think this could happen to me," he said.
"I’ve had some sleepless nights thinking about this whole story – the record deal and now the film. It’s so exciting."
Paul, who first saw Kev's star potential while his bathroom was being fitted, added: "We know the story won’t follow our life stories exactly but will be based on it, and we can’t wait to see exactly what they do with it".
Paul is himself an internationally acclaimed haiku poet.
A script has been written by legendary British sitcom and film writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, who wrote hit comedies including The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - shows Kev said he grew up watching.
The project is now at screenplay stage, with input from screenwriter Billy Ray, who wrote the 2019 sixth instalment of the Terminator series, Terminator: Dark Fate, and the Academy-Award nominated screenplay for the 2013 film Captain Phillips.
"It feels unreal to be now working with the creators of those and having Zoom calls with them in LA and to think it’s our story that they’re working on," Kev said.
When asked who might play the bathroom fitter and record company owner, Paul said: "I think actors like Simon Pegg and Nick Frost might work, not because they look like us but because like Kev and I, they work well together and they’re English."
"Other names suggested by various people we are working with include Jude Law, Colin Firth, Jason Statham and Ricky Gervais," Kev laughed.
Producer Stacy Sherman said: "This is a story about the human spirit and music. What could be better? Sinks fixed, dreams dashed, heartache, hope and UK music. I mean..."
While there is no release date set for the film just yet, Paul and Kev are learning about the work that goes into a Hollywood production.
Meanwhile, Kev is still fitting bathrooms around the East Midlands, has a new record out on April 1, and is currently working with LA producer Jesse Irwin and Paul on his next album.
