HE'S the star of Hollyoaks, The Bill, Footballers Wives and EastEnders among other high profile TV roles.

But he's never before trod the boards.

Now Gary Lucy is baring all as Gaz in the stage version of The Full Monty, which is at Mayflower Theatre next week.

"Yes he's a great character to have as my first stage role. It wasn't really a conscious decision to make my next work in theatre, but the opportunity came up and it was one I wanted to grab with both hands.

"It is leaving yourself exposed, for want of a better word. People know me from telly work, so it's been different.

"It's a fantastic show and it's been a really different experience for me. I don't know how this compares to other shows, but we've been packing out huge theatres like the Mayflower which normally have very big musicals.

"The audiences go absolutely mental for it, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night. The challenge is keeping it under control! But audience participation is part of the fun and everyone has a great time."

For the Essex lad, there's the added pressure of perfecting a Yorkshire accent in the show, about six out of work Sheffield steelworkers who turn to stripping.

But, most importantly, there's the pressure of having to take his kit off at the end of each performance.

"It's part of it, it's the pay off at the end of the show and I've got used to it now. The first couple of times I was really nervous, but it's like second nature now!"

And there hasn't even been an extra trip to the gym to hone the physique.

"Sometimes I think I should but, fortunately, we're supposed to be steel workers of all shapes and sizes, so we get away with the odd lump and bump!"

Gary is the lead in a new touring cast, playing lovable bad lad Gaz, who puts the male stripper group together because he needs the money to see his son, Nathan.

Dinnerladies star Andrew Dunn plays Gerald, the older ballroom dancing enthusiast who has to teach the group how to dance.

Brookside and Last of the Summer Wine star Louis Emerick plays Horse in the adaptation of the movie by Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar winning writer of the film.

Coronation Street actor Rupert Hill, who was born in Southampton, is on stage as Guy, while Martin Miller stars as Dave and Bobby Schofield as Lomper.

"I had crossed paths with Louis from his Brookside days and Rupert from Coronation Street, but I hadn't worked with any of them before.

"We've been really lucky as it's just worked. We all get on well and have a laugh together.

"We've been doing this since August last year now and so far we've just had a month off at Christmas as the show was extended for three months. We were so glad that the whole cast has stayed together too.

"I don't know if it's been announced yet, but in the New Year we're going to be doing another ten weeks, so I'm pretty much Full Montied at the moment!

The 33-year-old father-of-two, who is expecting his third child with wife Natasha Gray, gets home as often as possible from life on the road.

Although, when we talk, he's hot-footing it from the ITV Studios in London where he appeared on LK Today with Gaby Roslin to Stoke where The Full Monty is on this week.

"It's been a bit chaotic and it can be difficult at times, but I commute as much as I can to do that balancing act and it doesn't last forever.

"When I was in The Bill it was the first five years of my eldest's life. I left before she woke up in the morning and I was back after she'd gone to bed, but that's part of life for a lot of people in a lot of professions."

Gary wouldn't rule out a return to some of his famed TV roles or even more reality TV after success on Dancing on Ice.

"It's not something I'm looking at at the moment, but who knows what the future holds. Never say never. I really like to be challenged so anything challenging would be good.

"I'm just really hoping I continue to have as much luck and good fortune as I have with all my roles so far."

The Full Monty runs from Monday to Saturday.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk