Singing soldiers story may be a film

The story of a serving soldier from Failsworth who became a chart star could get the Hollywood treatment.

Talks begin next week about filming the story of The Soldiers, the singing trio which includes Failsworth-born Staff Sergeant Richie Maddocks.

Actor Bruce Willis, famous for the “Die Hard” films, is tipped to play one of the men in a film about their lives.

The group, LCpl Ryan Idzi, Sgt Maddocks and Sgt Major Gary Chilton, have released two albums since getting together as The Soldiers.

Nick Patrick, one of the production team who put the group together, said: “It’s just come out of the blue, it’s amazing.

“I’m going out to the US next week to talk about it.

“We’ve had names bandied about like Bruce Willis and Matt Damon.”

Former North Chadderton School pupil Sgt Maddocks (38) joined the Army at 16 and was a medic in the first Gulf War.

An instructor at the Royal Military College of Music, he now lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife Nicci, but still has family in Oldham.

Mr Patrick said: “I think it is an extraordinary story and the thing is these guys have another life going on as well.

“They are all serving soldiers and Ryan is very likely to be in Afghanistan next year.

“I think their rise also coincided with a huge outpouring of warmth towards the forces.”

The group, who released their second album, “Letters Home”, earlier this month, have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities including Help for Heroes.