If you're furious because your bloke has turned you into a football widow this month, get ready for some red hot action with a band of raunchy male strippers, writes GEMMA SIMMS.

The Ultimate Fantasy Show is coming to Oxford's Apollo Theatre for its World Cup Widows' Tour to delight, thrill and cheer up the hundreds of bored women who are at a loss for something to do.

The four saucy golden-tanned lads come in a few assor- ted fantasy uniforms, from firemen to the man from the Diet Coke break advert, to get those pulses racing and hearts pumping!

I caught up with them for a chat (perk of the job - someone had to do it) and with these semi-naked muscley hunks getting changed and talking to me while they were bursting out of their skimpy pants, it was hard to concentrate.

Simon Santana has been a stripper for the past 12 years. The strapping 34-year-old is the most experienced stripper and loves the buzz he gets from flinging his clothes off on stage and driving the girls crazy.

But before you get the wrong idea, the Ultimate Fantasy boys claim they are not sleazy and don't do things to upset or embarrass the female audience, although it's strictly for over-18's only. Simon, or Top Gun as he is known to his audience of screaming girls, said: "I wear a see-through G-string so you get to see everything but as a male stripper going the Full Monty, it becomes what you do and there's nothing sordid in what we do."

The lads claim the recent TV documentary on strippers did not help their reputation but all agree Neil Sands, the compere for the night, puts all nervous girls at ease and promises they will enjoy what they are about to see.

"We are by far the best British dance troup and we all sing, dance and strip. The exhilaration is that I'm paid to get the girls to stand up and enjoy themselves and if they do, I've succeeded," Simon added.

Neil Sands not only comperes the show, it is HIS show and he is very proud of the boys.

He said: "Certainly there are sleazy shows and strippers, but we pride ourselves that it is a good fun night. Our show is not sleazy and the feel-good factor is high. It is a great night, all done in the best possible taste. Girls who come to our show for the first time may be feeling a little nervous. It's not a full strip show, but it's everything but!"

The strippers admit they do go the Full Monty for some performances but it depends on the venue. If they perform on stage in a club they usually have no problem but have to be a little careful in many theatres.

Simon, a former Butlin's Red Coat, added: "This has been a full-time career for me from Day One. I wish the World Cup was every year because this is our busiest time. It's a splendid opportunity on the back of The Full Monty film." Andy White, who dresses as a builder, said: "The film The Full Monty gave us a new lease of life - and it started a new breed of women. Sometimes you go out on stage and there are rows and rows of old ladies!"

Simon has been married for seven years but his wife is fine about his job and doesn't mind the thought of hundreds of women swooning over her naked man.

"My wife was a centrefold for Penthouse, so we are in the same line of work," he grins proudly. "We have to sit back and prepare ourselves to justify what we do. It's not like we think we are beautiful, but we make sure we do our hair and our teeth are white and we go to the gym four days a week.

"We have to make the effort for these women, but it stops when we leave the stage door. You get some guys who do this job solely for kicks."

The Ultimate Fantasy group have to deal with all kinds of women, those who want to see more of them and those who want to chat after performances.

Richard said: "A fair percentage of the time we get a few women who have had too much to drink. Sometimes they come up to you and get a bit frisky.

"We just try to PR with women who give us abuse. There are times when women are out of order and some have a fetish for trying to mark you, so it's not all glamour and love."

And the strippers don't care too much about missing World Cup matches while they were performing.

"Fortunately we won't be missing any England matches, but that's only through luck, and two of us don't even like football," laughed Richard.

The Ultimate Fantasy World Cup Widows Tour will be coming to the Apollo on Wednesday, June 24. Tickets are £10. Telephone 01865 244544 to book. If you dare...

CAN YOU DO IT?

Wanted - a young male to go on tour with the popular dance troupe. Applicants should not be shy, be willing to get their kit off and not be averse to baby oil.

Yes, a search has been launched for bold young men with neat torsos and trim bottoms who are willing to join do the Full Monty.

Extroverts with that vital ingredient - the nerve to bare all - could find themselves starring in the Ultimate Fantasy Show, shortly to appear in this area.

Brian Dixon, managing director of Knockout Productions, based in Birkenhead, said: "Our show has been so successful we have not got enough men to do all the dates we have got on the tour."

"It is really packing them in, especially with the huge success of the film The Full Monty.

He added: "We are looking for someone local to appear on stage and, depending on their capabilities, whoever is successful can tour with the show if they want to.

"They can earn good money. This sort of thing is very popular at the moment."

The Ultimate Fantasy show is promoted as "the most sensational girls' night out ever starring superstars of erotic dance."

Anyone who thinks they fit the bill should send a photograph to: Fiona Tarrant, Women's Editor, Oxford Mail, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ. And the way it is going, applicants should get their names in quickly.

Already we have tracked down several contenders for the role.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.