GLAMOROUS Abi Titmuss laughs at the thought that she has single-handedly encouraged men along to a show solely about sisterhood.

There’s now a steady stream of chaps among the riotous girls at The Naked Truth, an uplifiting comedy about being a woman described as a cross between Calendar Girls and Stepping Out.

“It’s still mostly women,” she giggles. “But yes we have seen a few men in the audience from time to time!”

It’s hardly surprising since Abi’s latest role is as a pole-dancing teacher who attempts to teach five very different women to conquer a routine for a charity event... with hilarious consequences.

But despite the lightness of this stage role, which plays in Bournemouth for three days from Monday, the 33-year-old now sees herself as a serious actor and has forthcoming parts in Hotel Babylon, a British film and a TV series playing a nun.

She became a glamour model after becoming well-known as the partner of Blue Peter presenter John Leslie, whose television career began to crumble after being linked to a rape allegation in Ulrika Jonsson’s autobiography – a claim he strenuously denied.

Abi’s profile, on the other hand, had been raised, partly through an infamous sex tape, to such an extent that she was able to give up her job as a staff nurse at a London hospital and concentrate on life as a professional celebrity.

She appeared on no less than 38 magazine covers in 12 months and has since become a household name.

“People are usually surprised and a little dismissive to see me on stage, but why would they know I trained as an actor ten years ago? When things went a bit mad in my life and I came into the public eye, I enjoyed working as a glamour model, but that had a certain shelf life and wasn’t what I really wanted to do,” she told me.

“I’ve always enjoyed acting and three years ago I thought I wanted to go back to it.

“I have been back to basics in a few roles and I’m really pleased to be cast in this tour alongside Lisa Riley.

“I thought it would be a lot of fun and it is!

“I would definitely like people to give me a chance and not make assumptions about me, but I don’t think the world owes me a living or anything. I’m full of respect for other actors and willing to learn. I’m just so happy being on stage.”

Abi studied acting at London's Central School of Speech and Drama and Kensington & Chelsea College.

She has appeared on reality shows including Hell’s Kitchen and Love Island and published two successful books, Ten Fantasies and The Secret Diaries of Abigail Titmuss.

Abi’s first stage role was in 2006 in Arthur Miller’s Two Way Mirror, for which she won the award of Best West End Debut from theatre critics.

She now takes on the role of Gabby, the gorgeous pole-dancing teacher whose apparent strength, compassion and confidence hides a guilty secret about love and the harsh realities of mixing business and pleasure.

For a woman whose life has had plenty of twists and turns, how does she view sisterhood and her relationships with her closest friends?

“Oh, they’re the most important thing ever. Men may come and go, but your best friends will always be there for you. There are moments when you forget that, but it’s really important to never take your friends for granted.”

l The Naked Truth also stars presenter and Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley and one half of the infamous Grange Hill terrible twins and Hollyoaks mainstay Julie Buckfield, as well as Trudie Goodwin (The Bill’s regular June Ackland) and Emily Aston from Coronation Street. It runs from Monday to Wednesday at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre. For tickets, call 0844 576 3000. or visit bic.co.uk