'I'll have a word!' Chris Hughes hoping for role in Dominic West's Red Rum film

Former 'Love Island' star Chris Hughes is chomping at the bit to expand his fledgling film career - with a cameo in Dominic West's new movie about legendary racehorse Red Rum.

The ITV Racing presenter - who played a football fan in Vinnie Jones' 2021 movie 'Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins' - would love to combine his love of horses with another big screen role, and believes it is "only fitting" he joins the cast.

He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I spoke to Dominic about the film, and he told me the plans about it, and it sounds amazing.

"I think it's only fitting if I have some kind or role in there. I'll have to have a word with him. I'll get my agent on it."

Chris first spoke to 'The Wire' actor Dominic, 53, about the project at Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside, in April, for ITV Racing ahead of the Grand National.

The actor admitted he was on a "bit of a research exercise" and in the "very early stages" of a film about the equine, who is the only horse to win the annual National Hunt race three times.

Chris added: "The film would be a great way of showcasing the sport as a whole. Anything that highlights the sport is good for the sport, so having a film made about Red Rum would be great.

"It's a great story, and he was obviously a legend of a horse."

Chris recently called for horse racing opposers to go along to National Racehorse Week to help "educate themselves" about the sport.

The star - who has co-hosted ITV's racing coverage since 2019 - is working alongside Great British Racing to promote this year's National Racehorse Week, during which racehorse training yards, studs and retraining centres open their doors to the public to give them behind-the-scenes access to the sport.

He said: "You can see how well received horse racing is in aspects like that from other people's comments on that situation.

"I'm educated on the sport, I've grown up with horses and racehorses from being 10 years old, so I know about the care and what goes on.

"But I know for sure that certain other people who have opinions on it have no idea.

"Not everybody wants to educate themselves. They don't want to learn. That's one of the issues with the generation really.

"But this is what National Racehorse Week is there for, and hopefully it will have a positive impact on many people.

"It's inclusive to everybody. It's there for people who just want to experience something they're not educated on, and they haven't seen before.

"It's not something we would turn anybody away from. It's a matter of hoping that people want to educate themselves on the situation and come down and see for themselves."

From 9-17 September 2023, in an experience like no other, over 130 events across the country, including training yards, studs and retraining centres, will open their doors to the public to show what life as a racehorse is really like. Places are mostly free and you can book your tickets to attend at nationalracehorseweek.uk.