Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman has given into pogonophobia and finally shaved off his controversial beard.
The 63-year-old journalist claimed he removed the facial hair over the Christmas period suggesting that “beards are so 2013”.
Paxman appeared on Newsnight in August resplendent with a greying beard.
However, he told the Radio Times: "If a chap can't shave on holiday, what can he do? Beards are so 2013."
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Paxman's appearance (above) drew a huge response when he grew the beard more than five months ago, when he branded the BBC pogonophobic – having a fear of beards.
At the time, he explained his reasons, saying: “I have grown a beard for the last few summers, and suddenly wondered whether I really needed to shave it off to present Newsnight.
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''Unless you're lucky enough to be Uncle Albert on Only Fools And Horses, Demis Roussos or Abu Hamza, the BBC is generally as pogonophobic as the late-lamented Albanian dictator, Enver Hoxha.
''I may keep it or I may shave it off, but I think I'll make my own decision.”
“If a chap can’t shave on holiday, what can he do?" says Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman https://t.co/w8bQZb9RA3
— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) January 6, 2014
He later said: "For a glorious few days I have been a poster boy for a shadowy group called the Beard Liberation Front, which claims that facial hair invites discrimination.
"I'm finding it quite a heavy burden."
The Beard Liberation Front has lamented the decision to go clean-shaven, saying: "We support people's right to dress and appear as they want so, while we regret Jeremy Paxman's decision to shave off his gravitas-adding beard, the choice should be entirely up to him, BBC pogonophobia notwithstanding."
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