Huge ITV show shelved after bosses fail to recruit celebrities in time

A huge ITV show won't be returning to screens this year after bosses failed to recruit celebrities in time for filming.

The Real Full Monty featured two groups of stars - one of women and one of men - as they strip-teased to a theatre audience in a bid to raise money for cancer.

The groups would take to the stage in front of 2,000 people at the London Palladium, baring all at the end of the racy performance.

As they strip down naked, they open up about cancer and continue to check themselves to raise awareness for the disease. 

But the charity series seems not to have attracted sufficient talent, forcing bosses to shelve it until 2025.

Ashley Banjo became a regular, bringing his choreography skills to the stage - while the likes of Coleen Nolan, Gemma Collins, Linda Lusardi, Pete Wicks, James Jordan and Christine McGuinness all appeared on the show.

'Getting celebrities to agree to take off all their clothes in front of not only a live audience, but millions more thanks to the cameras, is no small task,' a source told The Mirror.

'Even Coleen Nolan, who has been involved for many years, has told how absolutely terrifying she finds it. 

'So the decision has been made to give it a break. It does not mean it will never come back, but there are no plans in the pipeline at this point.'

Meanwhile an ITV spokesperson confirmed the news and said: 'The Real Full Monty has taken a number of guises over the past few years from the original men-only line-up, to a version on ice, in order to raise awareness around cancer. We are resting the format this year.'

However according to ITV bosses, it doesn't seem as if the show is going to get the chop anytime soon, but has been ratherbeen shelved temporarily.

During last year's Christmas special  fans hailed the 'inspirational' celebrities, with hosting duo Ashley Banjo and Coleen Nolan back to take the troup of brave celebrities by the hand and put them through their paces.

Pete Wicks appeared on The Real Full Monty's Christmas special along with a whole host of other stars, including Gemma Collins, Julia Bradbury and Ben Cohen.

Vanessa Bauer, Paul Burrell and Ashley Cain took their clothes off alongside other stars to raise awareness for life-saving cancer checks.

As well as following the celebs as they overcome their fears and insecurities about performing and baring all, the show will reveal the deeply personal and significant reasons why each person has decided to take part in raising awareness of cancer.

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TV presenter Julia, 53, revealed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later underwent a single mastectomy to have a 6cm tumour removed.

Former royal butler Paul Burrell, 65, was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and is currently undergoing treatment.

Also joining the line-up was footballer and TV personality Ashley Cain, 32, who tragically lost his infant daughter to cancer.

Azaylia died when she lost her battle with acute myeloid leukaemia in April 2021, when she was just eight months old.

Ex England rugby international Ben Cohen, 44, als took part in order to support his ex-wife Abby - who he split from after 11 years of marriage in 2016.

Last month, Abby revealed she's been diagnosed with cancer and shared photos of herself in hospital after an operation to have a stoma bag fitted.

TOWIE star Gemma previously spoke to MailOnline about what it was like stripping off for the ITV show. 

After overcoming a somewhat awkward first encounter with fellow celebs, Gemma said she has embraced her naked self.

When asked if she would strip nude again, she told MailOnline: 'It has to be for a good cause where other people can benefit.

'But other than that, Playboy would have to pay me a good couple of mill. If they want to put the call in, then you know, who knows? I could do Playboy.