Reports emerged last week that former rocker and ex-Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman is backing a bid for the TVR brand name, the factory and workforce. This comes after Melling Sports Cars, of which Wakeman is a director, told the Transport and General Workers Union last week it was tabling a bid for the TVR business. The union said it had been told by Melling's founder Al Melling that TVR's skilled workers would be a prime asset. “These skills are all important,” said Melling who also confirmed he would want to keep making the TVR cars in Blackpool alongside some of his firm's own models with a view to capitalising on the lucrative US market. Even if his bid fails, Melling said he was keen to attract some of the former TVR workers to join him in Rochdale. Administrators are reported to have received more than 30 companies registering an interest in the car firm. Unions welcomed the news with T&G regional industrial organiser Andy Robertson describing it as “a huge boost in confidence”. Both the union and Melling warned, however, that success in the bidding process was not guaranteed as administrators for TVR were operating a closed-bid system, choosing the one that gives the best financial return to creditors. The outcome of the bidding process will be known on 23 February. It is understood former owner Nikolai Smolenski, who acquired the company for £15m in 2001, has also lodged a bid for the firm. Last year Smolenski announced plans to outsource TVR production of car bodies abroad with engine manufacturing staying in the UK. However, the bulk of TVR's assets were transferred to Blackpool Automotive just before it went into administration at Christmas.