Alexander Armstrong reveals James ‘Arg’ Argent’s fears about stripping for The Real Full Monty
Brave stars will strip off to raise awareness about cancer checks
Alexander Armstrong was initially sceptical about repeating The Real Full Monty – but the show was so successful, and so important, that he knew he had to do it again.
“I thought: ‘Haven’t we done this?’” says the 48-year-old presenter.
“But the uptake of cancer checks across the UK [after the show] was unprecedented – it really got under people’s skins and we literally saved lives, which is the most moving and wonderful measure of the programme.
"And by bringing new people in, you have a different experience.”
The popularity of the strip show did mean that all the famous faces knew what they were signing up for this year, which comes live from Sheffield City Hall, and features footage of the eight celebs practising their routine.
“Last time people were surprised that they were actually going to have to take their kit off,” says Alexander, who hosts and strips.
“That’s now settled. We haven’t struggled to persuade people to do it.
“The weird thing we discovered this year is how there’s a vulnerability that men aren’t allowed to show.
"People don’t mind getting their kit off, what people are worried about is their upper bodies.
"We had issues with Arg [James Argent]… They know they should have six packs and not wobbly moobs; this
is what we have absorbed from the world around us.
"We impose it on ourselves. There is desperate insecurity among men about what they look like, and it’s more about above the waist. Mad, isn’t it?”
Alexander’s hope is that seeing the celebs “make idiots of ourselves” will save more lives by encouraging viewers to check themselves and see their GPs if they’re worried.
“Testicular cancer is a massive killer of men and prostate cancer in the older gentleman, but the biggest killer is this fear of owning up to, or discovering, what they have inside,” he shares.
“We have to do something eye catching to make people think and talk about it the next day.
"If you catch prostate cancer in time it’s curable. It’s not a postponement of a death sentence, you can sort it out.”
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