Jump directly to the content
mad about maffia

Lisa Maffia stripped off for All New Monty – but why did she take part and what happened to So Solid Crew?

LISA Maffia is making quite the comeback by starring in ITV's All New Monty, which will see her and six other female celebrities perform a strip-tease to help raise cancer awareness.

But just how well will Lisa perform during her set and what else must you know about her before the show kicks off?

 So Solid Crew’s Lisa Maffia will bare all
So Solid Crew’s Lisa Maffia will bare allCredit: Rex Features

When is Lisa Maffia taking part in the All New Monty?

Lisa Maffia took part in The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins on ITV on May 5.

The show, previously named The Real Full Monty, sees celebs take part in a striptease in the name of raising awareness of checking for signs of breast cancer.

The ladies were guided by Coleen Nolan and Victoria Derbyshire who took part in 2018's series.

And Ashley Banjo helped them put on a stunning routine.

Here's who is stripping along with Lisa:

 Back row, left to right: Megan Barton-Hanson, Laurie Brett, Danielle Armstrong, Crissy Rock, Lisa Maffia; Front row, left to right: Victoria Derbyshire, Martina Navratilova, Coleen Nolan

Why did Lisa take part in the show?

Lisa and her co-stars stripped off and put on a show to raise cancer awareness.

For Maffia, taking part in the competition seemed particularly important seeing how her mother was diagnosed with the disease.

She recalls how her mother left her smear test for five years, not realising that the cancerous cells were spreading throughout her body, which ultimately left her feeling devastated.

“My mum left her smear test for five years and in five years it had spread to her lymph node glands, collar bone, all of her cervix", she told iNews.

"Until she was diagnosed, she didn’t feel anything. The minute she knew, it tore her apart.”

 So Solid Crew consisted of 12 members in total
So Solid Crew consisted of 12 members in total

What happened to So Solid Crew?

So Solid Crew consisted of a rather large number of members, with the most notable ones being Lisa Maffia, MC Harvey and Romeo.

In October, 2001, the UK act released their first album titled They Don't Know, which performed moderately well on the UK charts, but it was their breakout single 21 Seconds that would carry the band's major success throughout the year.

The song went platinum within weeks, and it seemed like everything was looking up for the new group.

Their debut album ended up peaking at number 6.

In 2002, So Solid Crew would go on to helm their own Channel 4 documentary called This Is So Solid, which only helped to boost their popularity with the British public.

But by the time that their second album 2nd Verse hit the market on 29 September, 2003, it appeared as if everything came crashing down for them.

The record underperformed immensely, landing its highest position at number 70 on the UK album chart and failing to produce any hit singles.

It wasn't long before members such as Lisa Maffia would attempt to start a solo career away from the group, consequently causing the group to disband.

 Lisa Maffia, left, with fellow So Solid Crew member MC Romeo, right, in 2003

How did Lisa's career launch?

Lisa is an English singer, rapper and model who was born on 16th June 1979.

Her father is of Jamaican descent while her mother is anglo-Italian.

Lisa is a first cousin once removed of EastEnders actress Louisa Lytton through her mother who is a first cousin with Louisa's mother.

She had a daughter - Chelsea - when she was 17.

As a young girl, she trained in Latin, ballroom and tap dancing as well as learning gymnastics.

Lisa was educated at Norwood School before studying Photography and Art & Design at Brixton College.

She got her career break when she lent her vocals to the So Solid Crew song Oh No.

But it was the band's 2001 hit 21 Seconds that propelled her to fame when it reached number one in the UK.

The crew went on to win the best British Video award at the 2002 BRIT Awards as well as two Mobos.

And their debut album went platinum.

What did Lisa Maffia do after she left So Solid Crew?

Lisa released her debut single All Over - which reached number two in the charts - after parting ways with So Solid Crew in 2003.

She later released her debut solo album, First Lady, which featured stars Christina Aguilera, Ja Rule and Blue.

But the album failed to equal the success of her previous singles.

Lisa took a break from her musical career and focused on television and modelling opportunities.

She has appeared in the pages of numerous magazines including Vogue and Elle.

The star has also always been a lads' mag fave - having graced the list of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women as well as Loaded's 100 Babes.

In 2006 she resumed her focus on her musical career, setting up her own label Maffia Recordz and releasing her single Bad Girl the following year.

In January 2010 she toured with So Solid Crew for their single Since You Went Away though the track failed to reach the rew's previous level of success.

In 2017 she performed her single The Knack on BBC's 1Xtra.

Lisa also owns a production company called Maffia Media which produced UK film Little Lighty.

What other TV shows has Lisa Maffia been on?

Lisa has taken part in multiple TV shows - in January 2019 she teamed up with Sugababes star Mutya Buena for Celebrity Coach Trip.

In 2005, she competed in The Games and came second to Kirsty Gallacher when she earned a silver medal.

And in 2008 she won ITV2's CelebAir - which saw celebrities working as air hostesses.

Through her musical career she has also performed on Top Of The Pops, The Jonathan Ross Show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Celebrity Juice and Popworld to name a few.

Lisa Maffia sings in 21 Seconds video with So Solid Crew