McFly’s Harry Judd bares all with celeb hunks in Full Monty tribute strip show
AS a hunky boyband star, HARRY JUDD was never going to be short of offers to help him get ready to strip off on ITV’s The Real Full Monty.
But the McFly drummer probably wasn’t banking on the show’s oldest contestant, dancer WAYNE SLEEP, spending “ages” fiddling with his flimsy underwear.
In an exclusive interview, Harry revealed: “Wayne did up my thong for me before the performance – it took him ages. Wayne was in charge of the thongs.”
The one-off show, which starts tonight, gets celebrities to learn the moves of the film which marks its 20th anniversary this year.
Harry and Wayne are joined Towie’s ELLIOTT WRIGHT, Emmerdale’s MATT WOLFENDEN, former Olympic swimmer MARK FOSTER, telly presenter DOM LITTLEWOOD, Pointless host ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG, Red Dwarf’s Cat DANNY JOHN-JULES.
With the expert coaching of Diversity star ASHLEY BANJO the star cast performed two gigs — mimicking the journey of the unemployed workers turned strippers from the 1997 movie.
And viewers are in for a treat, as I can reveal the lads get totally starkers tonight — with the help of a few tasteful camera angles.
They perform at the film’s original venue, the Shiregreen Working Men’s Club in Sheffield, and also at the London Palladium.
As well as marking the film’s anniversary, the documentary aims to raise awareness for prostate cancer, a condition which has affected both Wayne and Dom.
Wayne, who is an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, said: “It’s not just a dance routine, it’s also about being naked. It’s quite a lot to deal with. We’ve all seen each other’s private parts and that’s what bonded us. That’s why we work so well together as a group.
Meanwhile Harry didn’t think twice about getting his kit off when he got the call, adding: “I’ve learned so much about prostate cancer, I didn’t know much about it before doing this.
“It’s highlighted so much to me and I’m happy to be here to help.
“I always feel that when you’re doing something for a good cause.”
And he’s already set upon passing his knowledge on to his bandmates — once tonight is out the way.
He said: “I don’t think there is any way of further putting yourself out there than doing this. I’ll be getting the McFly boys to check for prostate cancer, but I don’t want them to watch the show.”
With millions expected to tune in tonight on ITV at 8.30pm, I wouldn’t bank on it. Sorry, Harry.
Wayne’s whirl
DANCER WAYNE SLEEP says his fellow strippers on The Real Full Monty became firm friends after baring all together.
Wayne said: “We’ve all seen each other’s private parts and that’s what bonded us.
“In the beginning, I didn’t want to take my clothes off at all. I knew I was overweight.
“Once you’ve been naked in front of each other, it’s a shortcut to becoming firm friends.
“You’ve got nothing to hide. I’d like to have been much closer.”
Mark in a swim
HE once wore budgie smugglers for a living but ex-swimming champ MARK FOSTER was uneasy about stripping off for the show.
He revealed: “It was over a decade ago that I was swimming in the Olympics. My body has changed a lot and I’m not as confident.”
He was inspired to sign up for the challenge after fellow Olympian STEVE PARRY was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
And Mark said: “Seeing someone so young get such a terrible disease was quite a shock. He’s a very fit person.”
SOAPBOX
THE Taylor family arrive on EASTENDERS – causing trouble right from the start.
The five-strong clan, headed up by loudmouth mum Karen, are set to ruffle a few feathers on Albert Square.
Elsewhere, with Father’s Day on the horizon, Steven overhears Ian telling Jane he isn’t the same as Peter or Lucy. And Jack finally goes about finding a nanny to help him out.
Meanwhile, over on EMMERDALE, Paddy meets up with Pierce and tells him about Rhona’s painkiller relapse – completely unaware of her rape ordeal.
And while Paddy begs Pierce to return to the village, it remains to be seen how Rhona will react when she finds her estranged husband in her living room.
Julia’s Riviera dream
JULIA STILES, star of the glamorous new Sky thriller Riviera, is keen to direct some episodes of the show if it gets a second series.
The American actress plays a billionaire art dealer in the South of France whose husband dies in a mysterious explosion on a super-yacht.
She then embarks on a mission to uncover the dark and seedy underbelly of her gilded world.
The ten-part series also stars Without A Trace’s ANTHONY LAPAGLIA and Swedish actress LENA OLIN.
In an exclusive interview ahead of the show’s launch tonight on Sky Atlantic at 9pm, Julia said: “The attitude toward women directing is slowly changing. There is an interest in having us behind the camera in Hollywood.
“I’ve directed a couple of short films and I would like to direct something longer.
“I think the producing experience helps a lot with acting – to be in an editing room and seeing how it all comes together.”
The New Yorker has been acting since the age of 11, taking major roles in the Bourne movies and co-starring with the late Heath Ledger in 1999 romcom Ten Things I Hate About You.
Julia, above, added: “I hope there will be a second series of Riviera. There is room for the story to progress.”
I’m sure filming in the South of France for six months is a decent incentive too.