Stars may be used to baring their souls on chat or reality shows, but two groups are baring all for the best possible cause this week – stripping off to save lives.
ITV are devoting two nights this week to raising cancer awareness with their All New Monty programmes.
Coleen Nolan and Victoria Derbyshire are on hand as female celebrities shed both their clothes and inhibitions in a 90-minute special, Ladies Night.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, EastEnders’ star Laurie Brett and Benidorm’s Crissy Rock are among those taking part. Each have their own reason for getting involved with the show, which has previously won a Bafta.
“It was to honour my friends I have known over the years who have suffered,” says Martina, who won 20 Wimbledons. “Some have been successful, some have not.
“It’s possible that our great champion Jana Novotna would still be alive had she got to the doctors sooner.”
The hope is that women will be encouraged to examine their breasts and have regular cervical smear tests.
Diversity star Ashley Banjo takes them through the routine and Martina says female bonding was vitally important, although she admits she was, unsurprisingly, worried about actually taking her clothes off. “I feel confident and terrified!”
But she loved a filming trip up north.
“Blackpool was great fun,” says Martina. “Coleen’s roots are there and seeing her dance on stage with The Nolan Sisters was an incredible moment.”
Ashley is with Alexander Armstrong the night before with Who Bares Wins, persuading a new batch of male celebrities to get their kit off.
The aim is to get men to think more about prostate and testicular cancer.
Dancing On Ice skater Matt Evers, Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher and Crimewatch’s Rav Wilding are among this year’s intake.
During rehearsals, snooker player Willie Thorne tells Alexander how watching The Real Full Monty two years ago resulted in his own diagnosis of prostate cancer, for which he is still being treated.
“Two years ago I watched the first programme and saw everybody take their clothes off. I thought, gee whiz, I’d better have a little check-up,” says Willie.
“I had a routine blood test and had to go in again. I know what cancer does because I lost my brother six years ago and now I’m thinking, ‘Am I going to go through the same thing?’”
The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins, Mon-Tues, 9pm, ITV
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