Huge ITV show ‘rested’ by channel for this year

'The Real Full Monty' has been rested.

The ITV show, in which celebrities strip off to raise awareness of cancer, will not be returning this year after the channel decided to shelve it for now.

An ITV spokesperson confirmed: "'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."

Ashley Banjo has been involved in every version of the show, which started with an all-male version in 2017.

But it's said to have been increasingly difficult to find stars willing to bare all for the programme.

One source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "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.

"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."

The grand finale of the show sees the stars strip off to bare all.

While the programme has been shelved for now, ITV hasn't ruled out a possible return in the future.

An insider added to the publication: "We are always open to new ideas for 'The Real Full Monty'."

Last year, a festive edition, 'The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls', featured 'TOWIE' stars Gemma Collins and Pete Wicks, 'Dancing on Ice' professional Vanessa Bauer, and ex-England rugby player Ben Cohen.