The Real Full Monty


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.
CelebrityKnown for
Alexander ArmstrongActor & television presenter
Danny John-JulesStage & screen actor
Dominic LittlewoodJournalist & television presenter
Elliott WrightThe Only Way Is Essex star
Harry JuddMcFly drummer
Mark FosterFormer Olympic swimmer
Matthew WolfendenEmmerdale actor
Wayne SleepDancer & 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.
CelebrityKnown for
Ainsley HarriottChef & television presenter
Alexander ArmstrongActor & television presenter
Coleen NolanSinger & Loose Women panellist
Helen LedererActress & comedian
James "Arg" ArgentThe Only Way Is Essex star
Jeff BrazierTelevision presenter
John HartsonFormer Wales footballer & pundit
John PartridgeFormer EastEnders actor
Megan McKennaTelevision personality & singer
Michelle HeatonFormer Liberty X singer
Ruth MadocHi-de-Hi! actress
Sally DexterStage & screen actress
Sarah-Jane CrawfordTelevision & radio presenter
Tom ParkerThe Wanted singer
Ugo MonyeFormer England rugby player & pundit
Victoria DerbyshireJournalist & television presenter

''The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins'' (2019)

The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins aired on 6 and 7 May 2019.
CelebrityKnown for
Coleen NolanSinger & Loose Women panellist
Crissy RockBenidorm actress & comedian
Danielle ArmstrongThe Only Way Is Essex star
Gorka MárquezStrictly Come Dancing professional
Jack FinchamLove Island winner
Jason CundyFormer footballer
Joe PasqualeComedian
Kelvin FletcherFormer Emmerdale actor & racing driver
Laurie BrettFormer EastEnders & Waterloo Road actress
Lisa MaffiaFormer So Solid Crew singer
Martina NavratilovaFormer tennis player
Matt EversDancing on Ice professional
Megan Barton HansonLove Island finalist
Rav WildingTelevision presenter
Victoria DerbyshireJournalist & television presenter
Willie ThorneFormer 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.
CelebrityKnown for
Bob ChampionFormer jump jockey
Chris HughesLove Island finalist
Gareth ThomasFormer Wales rugby player
Hayley TamaddonFormer Emmerdale & Coronation Street actress
Jake QuickendenSinger & reality television star
Jamie LomasHollyoaks actor
Jenni MurrayJournalist & broadcaster
Linda LusardiModel & actress
Perri KielyDiversity dancer
Shaughna PhillipsLove Island contestant
Zoe WilliamsTelevision 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.
CelebrityKnown for
Brenda EdwardsSinger & Loose Women panellist
Christine McGuinnessModel & The Real Housewives of Cheshire star
Colin JacksonFormer Olympic hurdler
Demi JonesLove Island finalist
Duncan JamesBlue singer & actor
James JordanFormer Strictly Come Dancing professional
Laila MorseFormer EastEnders actress
Martin RobertsHomes Under the Hammer presenter
Ola JordanFormer Strictly Come Dancing professional
Teddy SoaresLove 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.
CelebrityKnown for
Ashley CainFormer footballer
Ben CohenFormer England rugby player
Ella VadayDrag queen & RuPaul's Drag Race UK finalist
Gemma CollinsMedia personality & businesswoman
Julia BradburyTelevision presenter
Paul BurrellFormer Royal Household butler & author
Pete WicksFormer The Only Way Is Essex star
Sherrie HewsonActress & television personality
Vanessa BauerDancing on Ice professional
Victoria EkanoyeFormer 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 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 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.
CountryNameHostNetworkYear aired
Australia