CLITHEROE ultimate fighter Michael Bisping will be hitting the big screen after securing a major role in a new movie.

The dad-of-three had a meeting with Bafta award-winner Noel Clarke last week and has confirmed he will begin filming next summer.

It follows his acting debut in action movie Beatdown and recent small-screen success playing bad guy Nathan in teen drama Hollyoaks Later.

Beatdown was released straight to DVD in August but the new film will be shown in cinemas in the UK and America.

The mixed martial artist, also known as The Count, said: “It’s a film about MMA which is why he wanted me in it.

“I play the champion - which is one of the leading roles.

“It’s a big movie and I’m very excited about it.

“But filming doesn’t start until next July or August so it’s still some time away and I want to focus on fighting for now.”

The middleweight, 31, beat his last opponent, Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama, in August and is waiting to hear who his next fight will be against.

Another win could put him in line for a title fight meaning he could be wearing real championship gold by the time he plays the movie champ.

Actor, director and screenwright Noel Clarke, best known for his Doctor Who role as Mickey Smith, won a BAFTA Orange Rising Star Award in 2009.

He also appeared in and wrote the screenplay for Kidulthood and wrote, directed and starred in the sequel, Adulthood.