Audiences have found it “chuffing brilliant” since 2014 and, despite several national tours, it hasn’t lost its appeal to theatregoers.

Based on the smash hit 1997 film starring Robert Carlyle, The Full Monty has been adapted for theatres by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy, who has also made films including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Salmon Fishing in Yemen and Slumdog Millionaire.

It stars Gary Lucy, who has made the part of Gaz his own, and who has taken a break from his role in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks to take it on.

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The show tells the story of six out-of-work, impoverished steelworkers from Sheffield with nothing to lose, who stage a revealing show. It also reunites Gary with fellow Hollyoaks star James Redmond, who has joined the cast, with Andrew Dunn, Louis Emerick, Joe Gill and Kai Owen.

The heartfelt production features tunes by Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones and has been directed by Rupert Hill, best known as Coronation Street’s Jamie Baldwin.

And what of that final, revealing scene? Rupert says: “It is celebratory and it works better on stage because the audience become part of the scene. The crowds go wild! I can’t imagine that I will ever experience that kind of response from an audience again.”

Read our interview with star Gary Lucy below - and see a glimpse of the show..

DETAILS

The Full Monty is at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley from Monday, October 22 to Saturday, October 27. To book tickets visit churchilltheatre.co.uk or call 020 3285 6000. It is at the Marlowe Theatre next year on Monday, January 28 and Saturday, February 2. Book at marlowetheatre.com

You've hardly been out of the Full Monty since 2014 - do you feel like you and Gaz are interchangeable?

Yes, there is a little bit of a crossover I think, Gaz is such a great character to play. Yes quite a lot of friends call me Gaz or sometimes The Luce!

What do you love so much about the show?

I love doing the show, Gaz is such a gift of a role and it’s great performing to a live audience every night. It’s such a good script and lots of fun working alongside the cast … I must love it ‘coz I keep coming back!

What's it like to be acting alongside James Redmond again?

It’s nearly 20 years since we were both in Hollyoaks. James is a lovely guy, it’s really good to be working with him again.

Your character has had a pretty tough time in Hollyoaks recently - how far in advance do you know the storylines, and would you ever say no to a storyline?

We usually get the storyline about eight weeks in advance and to be honest, I can’t really think any storyline that I would say no to as long as it was well-written and I believed in the story.

How has it been to revisit your character in Hollyoaks?

It’s good to come back, but who knows what will happen. Maybe if he’s a good boy he might be let out early for good behaviour. We’ll just have to wait and see.

When you see the tour dates ahead how does it feel?

I just love touring to all the venues both old and new. And it’s good to give fans who didn’t see it first time round the opportunity to see it now. It’s such a great show. No I’m not doing a panto, I’m looking forward the Christmas break and maybe a little holiday.

Just how excited do the audience get near the end of The Full Monty?

Extremely excited which is great. There’s nothing like live theatre, it’s really special. It can be quite interesting too, at some venues we’ve had to get the curtain in quick to stop them getting up on the stage!