The Full Monty (2023)

On Disney+, there's an eight-part TV comedy drama based on the heroes of the 1997 award-garlanded film The Full Monty, in which desperate Sheffield men turned strippers memorably disrobed to Donna Summer's Hot Stuff.

Again scripted by Simon Beaufoy (aided by Alice Nutter), the story is moved forward 26 years, "seven prime ministers and eight northern regenerations". Most of the gang are present, including Mark Addy and Lesley Sharp as Dave and Jean, Steve Huison as Lomper (now married to marvellously supercilious Dennis, played by Paul Clayton), Tom Wilkinson as Gerald and Paul Barber as "Horse", struggling on a mobility scooter. They're led by Robert Carlyle as Gaz, salt-of-the-earth grifter who first appears trying to get on a bus with a mattress.

Gaz has a wayward daughter and a disabled grandson. Elsewhere, personal problems abound (loss, sorrow, an affair), as do socioeconomic struggles exacerbated by the cruel welfare system. Social injustice is frequently crowbarred in (though one tragic storyline is concluded with jaw-dropping originality) and there are times when it feels like a glummer, aged-up Brassic. Nor is there any "full monty" striptease climax (not so much as a tweak of a dingy vest strap). Still, there are glimmers of the grit and sweetness of the film, and this is a cast with charm to burn.

TV review: Staged; The Full Monty; Queen Of Oz

Staged: Tennant is still magnificently annoying, a human bluebottle of a man, while grumpy Sheen makes Eeyore look like Bruno Tonioli.

Queen Of Oz: I was reminded of one of Tate's genuinely funny creations, dear old Nana, and wondered what she would make of this. "You spent my licence fee on this load of old rubbish? What a ******* liberty!"

The Full Monty: Not too shabby. On the sugary side, there is an actual shaggy dog and Sheffield is suspiciously sunny for much of the time.

Robert Carlyle "would welcome" The Full Monty Series 2

Disney Plus won't continue the series "for the sake of bringing it back".

Mark Addy on The Full Monty

Mark Addy also talks about the special experience he had making A Knight's Tale, and the joy of working with both dogs and kids.

The Full Monty review

Wacky plots, endlessly irritating characters and a distinct lack of stripping - this Disney+ series isn't a patch on the film.

The Full Monty review

Warning: contains no nudity! This TV sequel is a politically enraged portrait of a community fighting back under siege.

The Full Monty review

Less stripping, more social commentary.

The Full Monty review

The 2023 version of the beloved film is a litany of social ills, but lacks the instant uplift of the original.

The Full Monty: How Disney's new sequel series deals with austerity

A number of the show's stars have spoken out about what fans can expect from the series' exploration of Conservative-driven austerity.

Robert Carlyle on The Full Monty's return: 'If you don't laugh, you'll cry'

A quarter of a century may have passed, but not much has changed. And despite the 1997 film's uplifting ending, it turns out that most of the six friends have only narrowly avoided dereliction themselves.