How to look good semi-naked: Sheridan Smith egged on by Gok Wan as she strips to her suspenders on stage for charity

By Georgina Littlejohn

Last updated at 7:34 PM on 5th September 2011

He's best known for boosting self-esteem among his female fans as he encourages them to bare all for all the world to see.

But it would appear that Gok Wan is not content in just making the general public feel comfortable in their own skin and has now turned his attentions to his celebrity friends.

One of those being actress Sheridan Smith, who was given a helping hand by the TV presenter and style guru to strip to her waist live on stage.

Legally Bare: Actress Sheridan Smith tries to protect her modesty as she strips on stage next to Gok Wan for a charity event in London last night

However, the embarrassed and shocked look on her face once she dared to bare for her audience may have suggested that this was something she would not be doing again in a hurry.

Smith, 30, was snapped covering her breasts with her hands as she stood, semi-naked in just knickers, suspenders and stockings, in front of 1,000 people in London last night.

But this was not a saucy new show to hit London's West End but a charity event - and a daring one at that - to raise money for the Make A Difference Trust.

Are you ready? Gok helps Sheridan lift her dress as she keeps her back to the audience

Smith, who recently starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical, was helped out of her dress by Wan, who is best known for presenting How To Look Good Naked.

With her back to the audience, it was hard to tell just how nervous she was until she turned round, her face a mixture of feigned shock and delight.

Earlier, she had posted on her Twitter page: 'Well that was terrifying! Me & @therealgokwan have done the 1st show.The cast are so talented & really showing some flesh tonight!'

Ta da! Sheridan whips round, her blonde hair flying, as she faces the crowd semi-naked

Joined by her former cast mates and about 100 other people who work in London's theatreland, the night was described as one of 'fun, flesh and fashion'.

As well as Sheridan and her former colleagues getting their kit off, other
West End stars including Shrek's Amanda Holden, The Wizard of Oz's Michael Crawford, and David Tennant and Catherine Tate, who are starring in Much Ado About Nothing, signed unique pieces of underwear which were paraded on the catwalk.

The charity, which tackles poverty and ill-health in the UK and Africa as well as providing help for industry members who've fallen on hard times due to sickness, is believed to have raised £35,000 from the event.