The Real Full Monty is a series of British television specials that began airing on ITV on 15 June 2017. The series airs annual specials that feature celebrities stripping to raise money for cancer charities. Ashley Banjo appears in every special to coach the celebrities and choreograph. Since 2018, local versions of the franchise have also been produced in Australia, Italy and Spain, with a United States version planned for release in 2024. On 30 September 2024, ITV announced that the show had been cancelled and will not return.
Production In 2017, ITV announced the commissioning of The Real Full Monty. A television special in which a group of male celebrities would be stripping to raise awareness for cancer and money for charity. In 2018, the show aired a Ladies Night special. The show has since aired one-off specials annually, with several of the episodes being themed around television shows including Dancing on Ice and Strictly Come Dancing.
Series overview The Real Full Monty (2017) The first episode, titled The Real Full Monty aired on 15 June 2017 featuring eight male celebrities.
Celebrity Known for Alexander Armstrong Actor & television presenter Danny John-Jules Stage & screen actor Dominic Littlewood Journalist & television presenter Elliott Wright The Only Way Is Essex star Harry Judd McFly drummer Mark Foster Former Olympic swimmer Matthew Wolfenden Emmerdale actor Wayne Sleep Dancer & choreographer
The Real Full Monty and The Real Full Monty: Ladies' Night (2018) The Real Full Monty and The Real Full Monty: Ladies' Night aired on 28 and 29 March 2018.
Celebrity Known for Ainsley Harriott Chef & television presenter Alexander Armstrong Actor & television presenter Coleen Nolan Singer & Loose Women panellist Helen Lederer Actress & comedian James "Arg" Argent The Only Way Is Essex star Jeff Brazier Television presenter John Hartson Former Wales footballer & pundit John Partridge Former EastEnders actor Megan McKenna Television personality & singer Michelle Heaton Former Liberty X singer Ruth Madoc Hi-de-Hi! actress Sally Dexter Stage & screen actress Sarah-Jane Crawford Television & radio presenter Tom Parker The Wanted singer Ugo Monye Former England rugby player & pundit Victoria Derbyshire Journalist & television presenter
The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins (2019) The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins aired on 6 and 7 May 2019.
Celebrity Known for Coleen Nolan Singer & Loose Women panellist Crissy Rock Benidorm actress & comedian Danielle Armstrong The Only Way Is Essex star Gorka Márquez Strictly Come Dancing professional Jack Fincham Love Island winner Jason Cundy Former footballer Joe Pasquale Comedian Kelvin Fletcher Former Emmerdale actor & racing driver Laurie Brett Former EastEnders & Waterloo Road actress Lisa Maffia Former So Solid Crew singer Martina Navratilova Former tennis player Matt Evers Dancing on Ice professional Megan Barton Hanson Love Island finalist Rav Wilding Television presenter Victoria Derbyshire Journalist & television presenter Willie Thorne Former snooker player
The Real Full Monty on Ice (2020) The Real Full Monty on Ice featured two specials aired on 14 and 15 December 2020, themed around Dancing on Ice.
Celebrity Known for Bob Champion Former jump jockey Chris Hughes Love Island finalist Gareth Thomas Former Wales rugby player Hayley Tamaddon Former Emmerdale & Coronation Street actress Jake Quickenden Singer & reality television star Jamie Lomas Hollyoaks actor Jenni Murray Journalist & broadcaster Linda Lusardi Model & actress Perri Kiely Diversity dancer Shaughna Phillips Love Island contestant Zoe Williams Television doctor
Strictly The Real Full Monty (2021) Strictly The Real Full Monty featured two specials aired on 13 and 14 December 2021, themed around Strictly Come Dancing.
Celebrity Known for Brenda Edwards Singer & Loose Women panellist Christine McGuinness Model & The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Colin Jackson Former Olympic hurdler Demi Jones Love Island finalist Duncan James Blue singer & actor James Jordan Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Laila Morse Former EastEnders actress Martin Roberts Homes Under the Hammer presenter Ola Jordan Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Teddy Soares Love Island finalist
The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls (2023) The Real Full Monty returned for a new series in December 2023. Coleen Nolan returned alongside Banjo to coach the celebrities. Celebrity Known for Ashley Cain Former footballer Ben Cohen Former England rugby player Ella Vaday Drag queen & RuPaul's Drag Race UK finalist Gemma Collins Media personality & businesswoman Julia Bradbury Television presenter Paul Burrell Former Royal Household butler & author Pete Wicks Former The Only Way Is Essex star Sherrie Hewson Actress & television personality Vanessa Bauer Dancing on Ice professional Victoria Ekanoye Former Coronation Street actress
Reception The Real Full Monty was ranked 3 out of 5 stars by Michael Hogan of the Daily Telegraph, who described the 2018 special as not being "the slickest production" adding that "hats fell off, red G-strings malfunctioned, and awkward pauses occurred". However noted that the special was "whole-hearted" and [struck] the right balance between worthy and entertaining". Barbara Ellen of The Guardian described The Real Full Monty: Ladies Night as "brave", but argued that the message a female charity striptease [sent] out was "complicated and unhelpful". The Real Full Monty on Ice was described as an "excellent cause" by Carol Midgley of The Times.
International versions The TV format created in the United Kingdom, was exported in four countries around the world.
Country Name Host(s) Network Year aired The Real Full Monty Shane Jacobson Seven Network 2018–2020 Nudi per la vita Mara Maionchi Rai 2 2022 Desnudos por la vida Jesús Vázquez Telecinco 2023 The Real Full Monty Anthony Anderson Fox 2024
Versions have also sold in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and other countries.
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