Laurie Brett is stripping off on All New Monty TONIGHT – but why is she taking part and why did she quit EastEnders?
THE ladies are preparing to strip off for The All New Monty TONIGHT, after the men did their performance yesterday.
And EastEnders fan-favourite Laurie Brett is one of the brave ladies taking it all off for charity. Here's all you need to know about her life and career so far...
When will Laurie Brett strip on The All New Monty?
Laurie will bare all TONIGHT (May 7) as part of the line-up of The All New Monty Ladies Night: Who Bares Wins.
The ladies will be hoping to encourage women to get keep checking their breasts and to ensure they are having regular smear tests.
She will be stripping off in front of family and friends - and the TV audience at 9pm on ITV.
Coleen Nolan and Victoria Derbyshire have been guiding the gang while Ashley Banjo has helped them put together a stunning routine.
Here's who will be stripping along with Laurie:
- Love Island's Megan Barton Hanson
- Benidorm actress Crissy Rock
- US tennis legend Martina Navratilova
- Towie's Danielle Armstrong
- So Solid Crew’s Lisa Maffia
Why is Laurie taking part in The All New Monty?
Laurie recently revealed the personal reasons that motivated her to take part in the show - her best friend Diane almost died from breast cancer and her mum Anne had the disease, twice.
The former EastEnders star told the Mirror: “My reservation wasn’t about stripping off. I’ve done a million shows where you’re changing side stage and the crew see you in various states of undress.
“My concern was that I’ve never done anything that’s just talking about me. I’m quite private.”
She went on: “My mum was 48 when the first cancer arrived and 68 when the second cancer arrived. She was lucky, she found it early.
“She’s 72 this year. The first time she had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, the second time she had chemo. It knocked her for six. It was a frightening time.”
Laurie experienced a frightening scare in her twenties but the lump she found thankfully turned out to be a harmless cyst.
However, she was warned she'd need screening from the age of 40 after her mother's illness and decided to pay for scans privately.
When did Laurie Brett leave EastEnders?
Laurie first appeared as Jane in EastEnders in 2004, with her long-suffering character enjoying a romance with Ian Beale.
Jane played an integral role in the much-hyped whodunnit storyline following the murder of Lucy Beale before departing the show in 2012.
Laurie reprised her role in 2014, leaving once again in October 2017.
Speaking after her departure, she explained: "I've loved every minute of playing Jane Beale. To return to EastEnderswith such a huge storyline was an absolute gift.
"However, what I have known from the start is that with the soap gods watching us at all times, there is only so long before things go full circle.
"It's been hard keeping the secret, but the storyline has been great to play out and I have loved every minute of it."
But when asked if she could still return one day, Laurie tweeted: "Ha ha!!im looking to do some other bits and pieces.. and take some courses on something I’ve always been interested in..but, you never know at some point..."
How did Laurie Brett become an actress?
Laurie, 50, is a Scottish actress, born on March 28, 1969, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
The actress has a Scottish accent, but she can put on a London accent when its necessary for a part.
She studied at the London Studio Centre and has been across stage and TV productions.
Her career kickstarted when she took on roles in London's Burning (1993) and she has been unstoppable ever since.
Laurie is best known for the characters she has portrayed in Waterloo Road and EastEnders.
She played Christine Mulgrew in Waterloo Road between 2012 and 2015.
The actress also starred in London Kills, in which she plays Corinna Richardson.
LATEST EASTENDERS NEWS
Is she married?
Laurie secretly married fiance Dennis Longman in a low-key ceremony at the start of 2019.
Tamzin Outhwaite, who plays Mel Owen, broke the news of Laurie's nuptials to her followers.
Taking to her Instagram Story, the 48-year-old star, first of all, shared a picture of some "gorgeous wedding flowers", before sharing a snap of Laurie kissing her new husband.
Tamzin captioned the sweet photo: "Congratulations Laurie and Dan."