Melville hero said to develop foremost cookware (5,4)

I believe the answer is:

billy budd

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'melville hero' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'said to develop foremost cookware' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'develop' could be 'bud' (budding is a kind of developing) and 'bud' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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