Gary Lucy shot to fame as Hollyoaks hearthrob Luke Morgan, a role which won him Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards 2000.

He’s continued to make his name playing pretty boy characters in Footballers’ Wives, The Bill and most recently played bed-hopping bisexual Danny Pennant in EastEnders, so Gary, 33, is certainly bringing a bit of glamour to the part of down-at-heel ex-steelworker Gaz in The Full Monty tour.

“I’m a little bit rough around the edges, a bit unshaven. It wouldn’t be right if he was all clean-cut with chiselled hair,” says Gary unconvincingly.

While he may make a more youthful Gaz than Robert Carlyle did in the film, Gary brings a wealth of experience to the part when it comes to revealing all. His stint in Hollyoaks was at the height of the show’s popularity, an era which spawned the flesh-baring Hollyoaks Hunks calendars.

It was all good preparation, as Gary has reportedly already been fully exposed to one theatre crowd during the tour’s run so far, thanks to a lighting gaffe.

“I believe so, in Manchester. I think it might have happened a few times to be honest but we try not to think too much about that,” he says.

“In Hollyoaks it was all par for the course, but I think this is slightly different – a live audience and nowhere to hide. It’s part of the story and you just hope the lighting guys do their job right at the end – and if they don’t then everyone leaves with a smile on their face anyway.”

“Safe is boring,” says Gary of his attitude to his work. “I think it’s important to challenge yourself and try different things. I’ve been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to do that. The male rape storyline was the first time it had been done on British TV and it was handled really sensitively. When we set about doing the story it was ‘if you can help one person, it’s a job well done’, and the letters I got from people thanking us for covering the subject – it was fantastic.”

Joking aside, Gary has never been afraid to take risks in his acting career. As a newcomer he took on the first ever TV male rape storyline in Hollyoaks, playing the victim of the crime and recently he was in the headlines again for a gay kiss in EastEnders.

His successes haven’t all been in TV soap either. Among Gary’s other projects have been a 2004 film with Ray Winstone, She’s Gone.

“Ray was amazing, a joy to work with,”says Gary.

“It was his production company and it was his first production he’d put together. He’s someone that I’ve always looked up to as an actor and he was a really lovely, down-to-earth guy.”

Gary’s got nothing but praise for his Full Monty co-stars, which include Dinnerladies’ Andrew Dunn as Gerald, Brookside’s Louis Emerick as Horse and Corrie’s Rupert Hill as Guy among others.

“It sounds cliched but all of them are really nice guys. We all have different but fun relationships and we all get on really well. It’s lucky we do, because I imagine it would be very difficult doing a show like this if you don’t,” says Gary. “There’s plenty of shenanigans and also a lot of support, too.”

The fun’s not all off-stage though: “On-stage, I like the relationship Gaz has got with Dave, who’s his best mate. It’s a bit Laurel and Hardy really.”

“Gaz is likeable, a bit of a chancer,” says Gary of his character in The Full Monty, an unemployed former steelworker who has fallen behind on maintenance payments and risks losing contact with his son Nathan.

“He’s had everything taken away from him, as all the guys have. They’re all unemployed and there’s quite a lot of resentment at the situation they find themselves in and the lack of opportunities career-wise and financially.”

“Gaz pulls everyone together for the love of his son. He needs to get some money together so that he can continue to see him, as he’s got a court order to pay maintenance money which he hasn’t got. Because of the camaraderie he creates to encourage the men to strip, there’s a big pay-off at the end.”

A father’s love is a powerful motivator that Gary, who lives in London, understands well. He and his wife Natasha Gray have two children, India, nine, and Elvis, three.

He says: “I do miss them terribly when I’m away all week, but I try to commute back home when I can. If I can’t then I get back as quickly as I can on the Saturday night so that I can spend Sunday and Monday with them.”

Gary and Natasha have been together for many years and finally got married in November last year.

EASTEND U-TURN?

There have been rumours that Danny Pennant, the character Gary played in EastEnders, could be developed in a return to the show later, but he’s remaining tight-lipped if that’s the case.

He says “It’s not something I’m really thinking about to be honest. The character was quite complex, and there was quite a lot that could be done there, but whether that’s something I’ll be revisiting or not, who knows?”

HOW TO BOOK

The Full Monty is at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells from Monday, March 9, until Saturday, March 14. Tickets cost from £16.50. Visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

It returns to Dartford’s Orchard Theatre from Monday, April 20, until Saturday, April 25. Tickets cost from £11. Visit www.orchardtheatre.co.uk