Back in 1997, The Full Monty arrived on the back of Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, Secrets & Lies and Brassed Off as whole host of low-fi UK Brit hits made themselves noticed both sides of the Pond. I think all of them were surprise successes in the scheme of their approach, but you can see why they worked then and even more so today. In the case of The Full Monty, it told the tale of ordinary men, and was more forward thinking than we might have appreciated at the time, talking about body shaming and self-worth, mental health, and social injustices. The film gave us everyday folk a chance to dream, an opportunity to delve into the feel-good whilst also offering a deeper dive into the class system divide, something the UK is always obsessed with – and rightly so to be fair.

Now it’s 2023, and the gap between the super-rich and the rest of us grows ever larger, there’s little doubt society is slanting to one side, so the majority of us continue to try and fight on by either being given lucky opportunities or maybe just being born on the ‘right’ side of the tracks. With this new 8-part The Full Monty series, it offers a welcome return to those original characters to see where they’re at now, some 25 years after stripping for their local Sheffield crowd to much amusement and some self-improvement achieved but, like every moment in life, where did it take them afterwards – or did it move them forwards at all?

With original screenwriter Simon Beaufoy bringing back the characters played by Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Lesley Sharp, Hugo Speer, Paul Barber, Steve Huison, Wim Snape, and Tom Wilkinson, he’s joined by co-writer Alice Nutter for this mini-series that explores where the now older band of brothers have ended up. They’ve remained somewhat in each other’s lives, but also definitely still navigating Sheffield to the best of their ability, with whatever funds they have and – in many ways – some of those resources have dwindled into desperate situations, even if they’re not always sharing the truth outwardly.

With a focus on a crumbling healthcare system, flooded classrooms with overworked teachers and a budget of zero, the employment sectors aren’t much better off, even if the academy schools are trying their best to teach the kids there and hopefully inspire them towards a life that’s worth pursuing. But with the addition of food banks to a life that was already difficult, and even with the vague optimism of always endeavouring to endure, The Full Monty 2023 finds our boys in various states of the unknown – and what’s even stranger (and equally concerning really) is that the pre-97 UK wasn’t in a great place for the everyday man and woman, and it’s nosedived there again after the political chaos of recent years, by successive governments, that’s led the country to a concerning place right now.

While there’s definitely natural comedy, and the much-needed gallows humour, within today’s The Full Monty, it’s clear times have changed and I found this series really unique in telling that story, and in a way that feels valuable as well. I wouldn’t say it’s delicate in these points, but I also haven’t seen anything this direct on TV in this vein for a while – and it even holds hints of the rawer work of the likes of Jimmy McGovern in its themes – speaking directly of the reality so many of us find ourselves in today. That being said, there are positives here, including recognising how far forward we’ve moved in the world of gender and sexuality, with it now being clear that gay couple Lomper (Huison) and Dennis (Paul Clayton) have been married for years, and the only issue is the secrets they hold about some financial irregularities. As everyday as it should be.

The big difference with The Full Monty series is the newcomers, which is mainly the younger cast members that includes the kids from the school, and the children of some of the main characters. Mark Addy’s Dave now works as a caretaker/dogsbody for whatever job comes up in the local school, and he takes under his wing a young lad nicknamed Twiglet, who’s brought to life by Aiden Cook and has some genuinely tough storylines amongst the lighter moments – but it’s vital to tell them. There’s also moments for an elderly Gerald (Wilkinson), who’s certainly confused by the tech world, and also a poignant arc for Paul Barber‘s Horse, who may well be stuck in the loop of tech and the old school, but could also be left out of both sides.

Robert Carlyle’s Gaz also has a daughter, Destiny, who’s a big part of the future move here, played exquisitely by Talitha Wing, and she’s undoubtedly a key part of the storytelling but also an interesting reflection of Gaz, but has a bit more going for her, if Gaz can realise what he needs to do to encourage her in a positive way. She’s a powerhouse, and I absolutely loved her taking that character and making it instantly vital for ‘now’. Other newcomers to the series include Miles Jupp, Sophie Stanton, Phillip Rhys Chaudhary, Dominic Sharkey, Natalie Davies, Arnold Oceng, and Tupele Dorgu, and each additional story has a part to play in the direction we move.

An unexpectedly timely TV series, with character emotions high, in a world that seems like their prospects are low, but can they keep on moving forwards through adversity with the support of each other? After all, this is what brought them together in the first place and now, even 25 years later, family and friends could be more vital than ever.

As a general overview, I won’t delve into spoilers, but I’d definitely say it might not be what you think it is, and this for more than for the better. Stellar performances and genuinely important generational discussions aplenty – The Full Monty: The TV Series? You’re alright you know, kiddo.

New Original series The Full Monty, streams exclusively on Disney+ now