Brave Linda: I’m up for Full Monty

Covid-hit model joins stars for cancer awareness strip

LINDA Lusardi will seal her bounceback from her Covid-19 ordeal by stripping off for The Real Full Monty.

The model and actress, 61, was in hospital with the killer virus in spring and her husband Sam Kane confirmed that she had been “at death’s door”.

But she is now back to full health and has signed up for the annual ITV show raising awareness of cancer symptoms.

And as it takes place on ice this year, we can expect great things – she came sixth in Dancing on Ice in 2008.

Linda, who had a cancer scare in 2016, has said of her coronavirus fight: “There were some very dark moments where I didn’t think I was going to make it.” She

will be joined on The Real Full Monty by breast cancer survivor Dame Jenni Murray, 70, who recently quit Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour after 33 years as host.

Actress Hayley Tamaddon, 43, Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips, 26, and This Morning’s Dr Zoe Williams, 40, complete the women’s team – again led by Daily Mirror agony aunt Coleen Nolan, 55.

Baring all for the men will be rugby star Gareth Thomas, 46, actor Jamie L omas, 45, singer Jake

Quickenden,

32, jockey Bob Champion, 72, Diversity’s Perri Kiely, 24, and Love Island’s Chris Hughes, 27. The men will again be led by Ashley Banjo, 32, and this year the two 90-minute shows will air at Christmas. All the stars, stripping to encourage viewers to check themselves for breast and testicular cancer, have stories about how the disease affected them or loved ones. Coleen said: “I keep saying ‘never again’ but the response we get from women who feel empowered to check themselves after watching is incredible, so here we go again.

“This year is

more personal than ever as two of my sisters are battling cancer once more.

“But as it’s on ice, let’s hope we don’t get frostbite on our unmentionables.”

The Bafta-nominated programme is now in its fourth year and with fewer health checks taking place during lockdown for early diagnosis, the message is particularly important.

Ashley said: “We are so proud of what this show has achieved in reminding people to check themselves. We’re going all out to get that message across.”

ITV factual commissioner Kate Teckman added: “A check is five minutes that could save your life.”

MEDICAL SPIRIT TV doctor Zoe Williams will join team DARING TO BARE Dame Jenni Murray, Gareth Thomas, Hayley Tamaddon and Chris Hughes VIRUS BATTLE Linda was in hospital with Covid in April

TEAM Mirror’s Coleen Nolan