Former DIFF'RENT STROKES stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges have agreed to take part in a TV recreation of the show's backstage drama so fans can experience what it was like to be a youngster on the programme.

The actors, who played adopted brothers in the hit 1980s sitcom, admit THE UNAUTHORISED STORY OF DIFF'RENT STROKES docudrama will shock fans who thought the stars of the show were all one big happy family.

Bridges, who fought drug problems after the programme ended, says, "We're showing the dark days."

Coleman, who twice attempted suicide, admits he initially refused to take part in the revealing show.

He explains, "I have fought to try and change and remould and remake my image. I tried to make sure that their stories were at least somewhat correct."

The former TV brothers will spend one emotional scene in the docu-drama at the grave of former castmate DANA PLATO, who died from a drug overdose in 1999, at the age of 34.

Bridges reveals he tried to help his pal, but she never thought her drug use was a big problem. He adds, "I tried to get her into a centre in LA but she didn't want to hear it."