Coronation Street star Tony Hirst has disclosed the extreme measures some of his male co-stars took to prepare for a nude scene on the ITV soap. The actor, who played Paul Kershaw from 2010 to 2013, recalled a 'Full Monty style scene' in the Bistro where characters stripped for a fundraising event.
Co-stars avoided water for two days
Speaking to the Daily Star, Hirst said: 'I remember doing a Full Monty style scene on Coronation Street where we had to be naked. Some of the younger lads purposefully didn’t drink water for two days beforehand so they wouldn’t be bloated, and others were in the gym, trying to look as buff as possible.'
Hirst's soap career and praise for soap acting
Hirst, who also played Mike Barnes on Hollyoaks from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2016 to 2017, praised soap actors for their demanding work. 'A lot of the best actors have experience working in soaps,' he said. 'It’s seriously hard work. If you don’t make quick choices in a soap opera, you’re either going to look absolutely silly or you’re going to be gone.' He emphasized the need to think quickly, make good choices, and handle up to 12 scripts shot out of order with little direction.
Impact of extreme preparation
The revelation highlights the lengths actors go to for body image on screen, with dehydration and intense gym sessions used to achieve a lean look. Hirst's comments underscore the pressures of soap acting, where rapid filming schedules demand both physical and mental agility.
