View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
March 2, 2015

‘Next year – his balls’ – Independent owner Evgeny Lebedev reveals why he has lost his beard

By Press Gazette

It used to be the case that to get ahead at The Independent – you got a beard.

But all that may have changed with a charity day stunt that has seen Sir Elton John shave all the hair off the face of his pal Evgeny Lebedev.

The proprietor of the Independent and Evening Standard titles has been filmed having his abundant facial foliage shorn.

After removing Lebedev's eyebrows as well, the singer joked: “Next year – his balls.”

Lebedev said: "In all the years that I've known him, Elton John's commitment to charity has been second to none. So when I asked him if he might shave my beard for Comic Relief, I knew he'd be up for it. What I didn't know is that he'd shave my eyebrows off as well. That wasn't in the script. Who said Elton's wild days were behind him?

"Having lost every hair on my face, I will be asking everyone I know to do their bit for Red Nose Day 2015. It turns out it's easy to make your face funny for money. But if you're doing it with a friend, just make sure you discuss eyebrows in advance.”

Red Nose Day is on 13 March. Watch the Lebedev shaving video here.

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

Text beard to 70703 to donate £3 to Comic Relief.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network