Watching starkers TV stars will always be very funny – especially this chaotic lot. But there’s also a deep sadness behind this strip show
The annual spectacle, since 2017, of The Real Full Monty, presented by Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan and the Diversity creator Ashley Banjo, is the most British thing you will ever see. A jolly crew of celebrities get together to do the worst thing in the British world – strip off in front of a crowd – for a good cause, in this case raising awareness of cancer prevention, especially by checking your unmentionables. All the celebrities or a close family member have been affected by the disease. The Real Full Monty is camp, emotional, moving, ridiculous and now a Christmas staple.
This year is even more chaotic than normal. So many of the participants fall ill or have unavoidable commitments – including, in some cases, treatment for cancer – that the only time the whole group will perform the routine that will end with them starkers is on the night of the show itself. No matter. Clever camerawork will cut enough together for the audience at home and the tide of goodwill in the theatre will carry them safely ashore.
