IT was lights, camera, action... and CUT when hairdresser Lee Elliot found himself starring in the follow-up to The Full Monty.

Lee thought he would only be seen in the background when he went along as an extra during shooting for the comedy, about the highly competitive world of top crimpers.

But his flamboyant style soon caught the director's eye and he was swiftly moved next to the main action on the London film set.

With his model Lisa Brosnan, Lee got to work creating a wacky hairdo as the cameras rolled.

His "fanfayre" creation was a multi-coloured affair made up of a bright red crown, maroon front and blonde streaks.

"I went a bit further with my styling than some of the others and they seemed to like that," said Lee, who owns a Fair Oak salon.

The movie, Never Better, used the same writer and features many of the cast from the award-winning Full Monty. The main difference this time is the actors keep all their clothes on.

But Lee's barefaced attempt to steal more of the limelight brought a "thanks but no thanks" response from the director.

"I offered to be one of the stars but they just laughed," said the 51-year-old. The crimper, who is the local director of competitions for the National Hairdressers Federation, is hoping his efforts won't end up on the cutting room floor.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.