Visitors to Bolton were thrilled to see the new series of The Full Monty being filmed.

Philip Richards captured some of the cast as they were preparing to film and even got a glimpse of Hollywood star Robert Carlyle.

The Full Monty cast returned to Bolton town centre for a third day to film a new series, inspired by their 1997 box office hit.

Film crews could be spotted in Victoria Square inside the old Specsavers unit in Crompton Place Shopping Centre, where onlookers tried to catch a glimpse.

The Fully Monty stars come to town to film new series

Many of Bolton residents were fans of the original and were really looking forward to seeing the series.

The Bolton News: The Full Monty picture by Philip RichardsThe Full Monty picture by Philip Richards

Dawn Brayshaw, who has lived in Bolton for more than 20 years, was ecstatic to see it after she says she hadn’t been to the town centre for a while.

She said: “There used to be so many shops and I’ve seen so many shops change.

“I was so excited when I saw them filming something, because there haven’t been many people coming into the town.

“There’s quite a lot filmed in Bolton, and some really famous Bolton actors.

“The Full Monty to me means the film that came out all those years ago.

“I will definitely see it.”

Another local resident, Kevan Greenhalgh said: “I remember The Full Monty when it came out and I think I still have it on DVD.

The Bolton News: The Full Monty castThe Full Monty cast

“I am supportive of it, but it depends if there is a modern twist or if it is similar to the film.”

Olwen Beck says, ‘it’s good for Bolton’, and she is ‘especially looking forward to seeing the strippers’.

During its release the film was once the highest grossing in the country.

The original storyline follows a group of unemployed men from Sheffield, who become male strippers to make ends meet.

The sequel will premiere on Disney+ as an eight-part original series, bringing all the original main cast back to our screens in the near future.

The series will look at how the character’s lives have changed since all those years ago.

The Bolton News: The Full Monty. Pictures by Philip RichardsThe Full Monty. Pictures by Philip Richards

Deputy leader of Bolton Council Cllr Hilary Fairclough, whose remit include cultural services, said: "It's a really exciting time for us to have them here.

“We're getting lots now we're almost becoming blasé about it.

"It's really good because it's nostalgic for a lot of people in Bolton."

There isn’t an official release date that has been set, but filming has been going on since March 28.