Emmerdale stars strip for charity

Emmerdale stars Tony Audenshaw and Chris Chittell today got their kit off for charity in the run-up to this Sunday’s London Marathon.

The pair – who play Bob Hope and Eric Pollard in the soap – are running the 26-mile race to raise money for Leukaemia Research.

They stripped off after one female viewer promised to make a hefty donation to the cause if they agreed to pose as naked centrefolds.

Tony, 38, said: “Chris and I both received a letter from a female fan of the show who had heard that we are going to be running the marathon.

“She was offering to sponsor us and make a decent donation – but only if we got our kit off.

“I think it was all a bit tongue in cheek – we’re hardly the Chippendales. But it’s for a cause close to our hearts, so we didn’t need to be asked twice.”

Chris, 54, joked: “If she offers to double the money, we’ll even turn around! I’m just glad that she didn’t ask us to run the marathon like this.”

The duo are both marathon veterans – Tony has a best time of 3hrs 14mins, while Chris is hoping to beat his personal record of 4hrs 5mins.