Gary Barlow has posed nude to promote 'The Girls'.

Gary Barlow

Gary Barlow

The Take That frontman and the production's writer and director, Tim Firth, were dated to strip by actresses Claire Moore and Joanna Riding - who have toured with the musical and will appear in the West End show from January - after they tired of baring all in publicity shots while the two men stood fully clothed.

And so Gary and Tim agreed to pose for a picture, though after having hair and make-up artists tend to them, insisted on a closed set for the shoot.

In a picture given to the Daily Mail newspaper, the pair's modesty was protected as they posed behind a piano, surrounded by the stars of the production, who were similarly covered.

Blushing Gary simply said afterwards: "We fulfilled the dare."

The 'Patience' singer began working with Tim on the musical four years ago after he saw a performance of stage show 'The Calendar Girls' - on which it is based - but is still making changes.

He said: "The show has been massaged and nurtured over time.

"A musical needs time to breathe. You look at it and think, 'Oh, we got that wrong.' Then you have another go, and things are obvious.

"The magic begins at rehearsals. I'm going to be there every step of the way."

After tickets for the show's run in London's West End went on sale earlier this week, Gary admitted he was feeling "nervous" about its debut.

Replying to a fan who told him she'd bought tickets for opening night, he tweeted: "Nervous already xxx (sic)"

The 'Back For Good' singer is grateful to all his fans who have purchased tickets for the production's West End run.

He tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who's booked tickets to see @thegirlsmusical and no booking fees ! #hurahhhh (sic)"