ON DOING THE FULL MONTY ON TV I still don’t know if I can do the final reveal... I have been lying awake at night having panic attacks about it

Guitarist Ray, who has a daughter Ciara, 16, with Coleen, has been sending texts of encouragement throughout the process.

Coleen says: “We did a practice run in front of 30 people and I just couldn’t do that final reveal.

“Of course it knocks your confidence because you think, ‘What if I get to the night and can’t do it?’

“I texted Ray and said I couldn’t do it and he’s like, ‘Well don’t be an idiot and just get them out’.”

The fear of revealing her body is very real for Coleen, who says she is so shy that she does not even walk around her house in her underwear.

In April 2017 she posed nude with fellow Loose Women hosts for an un-retouched photo shoot in support of their Body Stories campaign to encourage body positivity.

She admits she was one of the last to agree to it – but that experience helped her find the confidence to take part in this show. “I haven’t met anybody whatever size they are who is 100% happy,” she says.

“Everyone has a bit they don’t like. That would still apply if I was a size 8.”

Choreographed by Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, the group are dancing to This Is Me from the film The Greatest Showman, in an emotional

Ruth Madoc

I have been baring my bosoms since you were all a twinkle in your parent’s eyes because I have been in the business a long, long time. routine designed especially for them. Their costumes are being kept firmly under wraps.

Coleen says: “There were lots of tears from the girls when we saw the routine. I didn’t cry but I wanted to scream because I loved it so much.

“A few of the girls cried because at first we were so worried about how it

Megan Mckenna

I wondered: “‘Can I do this?” But it’s raising awareness for the right things and my following is quite young. I know as a teenager I wouldn’t be sitting at home thinking I need to check my breasts.

Sarah Jane Crawford:

I discovered a breast lump in 2014. I had it removed and it wasn’t cancerous but it did need removing because potentially it could have changed into something in the future.

This is a really good way to make noise on the subject in a different way.

Helen Lederer

The reminder of what we could be achieving makes up for the embarrassment and the fear and the shame of not having the kind of figure deep down one would prefer to have. was going to come across, we didn’t want to look like strippers or like we were trying to be sexy.

“It was really important to get a powerful strong message across that all ages, all shapes of women can be affected by breast cancer.”

Her newfound single status after the heartbreaking split from Ray has also helped Coleen find her inner confidence to get over the nudity.

“I’m liking my independence,” Coleen says. “I’ve been in relationships and marriages since I was 21.

“So now at 53 I’m my own boss for the first time. The only permission I need from anyone now is from me.

“Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s just my decisions. I’ve just got to the point of as long as I’m happy I don’t have to aesthetically please anyone else.

“I think it comes with age and losing a sister who was 53. You just think life is too bloody short.

“Bernie used to go on health kicks and diets and loved life so when cancer took her you just think, you know what, life can taken away so quickly – you have to live it to the full.

“I’m training myself to see the positives, instead of thinking, ‘My second marriage has failed, I’ve got one sister who has died and my other sister’s got secondary cancer’.

“If I really thought about everything’s in my life, I probably wouldn’t come out from under the duvet.

“But I’m trying to see the positive in everything because you’re only here once – you need to make it count.”

No one knows how many of the cast will go all the way and complete the routine’s big reveal – but Coleen is optimistic that she will come through on the night.

She says: “I know Bernie will be proud. She would love it and I can’t wait for Linda to see it.

“If getting my 53-year-old breasts out saves just one life, it’s worth it.”

The Real Full Monty: Live is on ITV on Wednesday March 28 and Thursday March 29 at 9pm.