BRITAIN’S got the pop factor...and so has Handforth.

Local lad Karl Lucas, 36, helped to write and performs in comedy legend Peter Kay’s latest offering which hits the small screen this weekend.

Britain’s Got the Pop Factor is a parody of the ubiquitous TV talent contest and casts Karl as the husband of a member of the fictional band Two Up Two Down.

And Karl’s time in the national spotlight is certainly being celebrated in his hometown by his mum – who’s a bigger celebrity than him in Handforth.

Sister Debbie, 45, said: "My mum (June) has run Threshers in Handforth for 29 years and everyone knows her. My sister Lorna and I will be going round to my mums and having a bit of a party to celebrate Karl being on TV."

The Lucas’ may be raising a glass to Karl’s celebrity but he has been a stalwart of the Manchester comedy and music scene since his university days.

The former St Benedict’s Primary School pupil has been a DJ at Coleen Rooney’s 21st birthday, been the Sticker Vicar for Galaxy radio and done the warm up comedy for Ant and Dec and more recently Loose Women.

Not only that but he has worked with Bolton funnyman Kay on several projects including Phoenix Nights, the Comic Relief "Amarillo" video and Max & Paddy’s Power of Two after hitting it off at Salford University.

The two comics have a lot in common as they both have Irish mothers and both lost their fathers at a young age.

Debbie said: "Mum, Karl, Peter and his mum all go out together quite a lot and they all get on famously. As far as the show goes I was chatting to someone in the gym the other day and they told me Karl was really respected in the industry. Hopefully Britain’s Got The Pop Factor will get him the same recognition from the public."

The show airs this Sunday, October 12 at 8pm on Channel 4.