The Real Full Monty Christmas Special cast: Who is in the line-up for Jingle Balls on ITV?
THE line-up for The Real Full Monty Christmas special has finally been announced.
Some famous faces will be getting their kit off to raise awareness for cancer checks - with Towie and Dancing on Ice stars among the roster of names.
Who is in the cast of The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls?
Gemma Collins
Baring all in the name of charity is Gemma Collins, after it was revealed the TOWIE star signed up to the show.
The GC is famed for her time on various reality shows, graduating from Towie to the likes of MasterChef, Big Brother and her own reality show, Gemma Collins: Diva.
In preparation for the show, Gemma said: "I'm really proud of my body.
"I'm proud that my body's not perfect, that's OK. I'm still beautiful."
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Pete Wicks
Gemma is not the only Essex face to take part - Pete Wicks has also bravely accepted a place on the show.
The star has been speaking out recently about his best mate and 'brother' - Sam Thompson - who was crowned King of the Jungle on I'm A Celebrity.
But outside of that he is known as a Towie star, who has also competed on reality shows Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Sherrie Hewson
Benidorm legend Sherrie Hewson has also signed up to take part in this year's Real Full Monty.
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Other than being on the ITV drama, she played Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street, and had small roles in Crossroads and Emmerdale.
She is stripping off in honour of her brother Brett Hutchinson, who passed away from a brain tumour in April 2020.
A source told The Sun: "When Sherrie was first asked to do the show she had a few reservations - could she really strip off in front of the nation?
“It’s been three years since she lost Brett and after talking to her family it felt like the right time to do something to raise awareness."
Ashley Cain
Former footballer and TV personality Ashley Cain is also taking part in the show, for another tragic reason.
The star's daughter, Azaylia, died of leukaemia aged just eight months old.
Ashley has also revealed another world challenge he'll be doing for his daughter, honouring her by raising money in a 2,400 mile challenge on foot, by bike and by kayak.
Victoria Ekanoye
Death in Paradise's Victoria Ekanoye will be taking part in the challenge after her very personal connection to cancer was revealed.
Victoria took time out of acting after being diagnosed with breast cancer - undergoing a double mastectomy.
She returned to our screens in the ITV show in 2022, and is now stripping off to raise awareness.
Ben Cohen
Rugby ace Ben Cohen is best known for his incredible career as a winger, earning 57 caps for England.
But he is no stranger to the TV spotlight, having dazzled fans on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2013.
It was there he met his former dance partner and now romantic partner, Kristina Rihanoff, with whom he now has a daughter.
Julia Bradbury
Countryfile star Julia Bradbury is also a cancer survivor, having previously battled breast cancer.
She underwent a double mastectomy and has now agreed to strip down to raise awareness of the disease.
Outside her raising awareness she is known for presenting shows like Watchdog and Planet Earth Live.
Paul Burrell
Former Royal Butler Paul Burrell is also taking part, and is also no stranger to reality TV, having taken part in I'm A Celebrity and Through the Keyhole.
However he also has a personal connection to the cause, having recently recovered from prostate cancer.
Paul said it was thanks to his participation in the All Stars edition of I'm A Celeb that he found out about his condition, having been diagnosed during a routine medical before taking part.
He told The Sun: "If I hadn’t been doing the jungle, I would never have known and I would be in the late stages now.
“I could have been gone now and not even known what was wrong with me.”
Vanessa Bauer
Dancing on Ice veteran Vanessa Bauer has signed up for the Real Full Monty, in honour of her father, Marco, who died in 2021 aged 62.
She told The Sun of her dad's passing: "My dad and I were really close. Just before he passed he said that he would survive that round of chemotherapy...
"I have not entirely healed yet, The Real Full Monty has been a huge part of the process."
For her, the show has allowed her to grow personally, having been forced to 'unpack' her father's death again.
Nick Collier, AKA Ella Vaday
RuPaul's Drag Race star Nick Collier - aka Ella Vaday - has also signed up.
Nick is best known for his appearance on the iconic drag show as Ella Vaday, but has also starred in British movie Sumotherhood alongside supermodel Leomie Anderson and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Writing on Instagram, Nick said of the Real Full Monty: "An unforgettable experience working with an incredible team, all united to raise awareness for a cause close to our hearts."
What is The Real Full Monty?
It's all to raise awareness of cancer and urge the public to get themselves checked regularly.
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Viewers will watch as the famous faces put on a festive dance performance before throwing off their costumes.
They are taken through the process by Ashley Banjo, their choreographer, and for the first year former participant Coleen Nolan, who will work as a 'nudity mentor.'