Gary Barlow 'in talks' to write soundtrack for planned Eddie the Eagle biopic

The film will be about British Olympic ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards

Take That singer Gary Barlow (Getty)

Gary Barlow is reportedly in advanced talks to write the soundtrack for a new film about Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.

The Take That singer has been asked to compose Eighties-themed songs for the movie about the British Olympic ski jumper, who crashed and burned at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, according to The Sun.

A source told the newspaper: "Gary loves the Eddie the Eagle story and Eighties music so it’s a perfect match.

"It’s also the first time he would have written an entire soundtrack, so it’s an exciting project to be involved in."

Edwards is best remembered for finishing last in the 70m and 90m events in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Organisers panned his dire performance but the public loved the geeky, bespectacled plasterer from Cheltenham and Edwards went on to enjoy huge commercial success.

Bad by global standards, Edwards was nevertheless the British ski jumping record holder at the time. He has since released a book called On the Piste, appeared in a number of advertising campaigns, including for Churchill car insurance, and co-hosted a show on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Last year he won ITV’s celebrity diving programme, Splash! and in January he commentated on Channel 4’s The Jump show.

The Eddie the Eagle movie has been in the works for some time. As of yet the cast has not yet been announced.