Actor Matt Lucas surprised viewers of The One Show on Wednesday night with a noticeably different appearance, sporting a new beard ahead of his role as Fagin in the West End production of "Oliver."
Lucas, 52, explained that the facial hair is for his upcoming stage performance. "I'm growing this bizarre beard," he told hosts Clara Amfo and JB Gill. Amfo noted, "I don't think we've ever seen you this way."
Lucas elaborated on his decision to grow the beard, stating, "I have alopecia. I lost my hair when I was six... So seven weeks ago, when I knew I was doing this, I went, 'Right, what happens if I don't shave?' And this is what happened."
He also joked about his beard's potential length, saying, "So my aim is to keep growing it down to my ankles and then when I'm at the football and it's freezing in the winter."
Viewers reacted to Lucas's new look on social media, with comments including "Didn’t recognise Matt Lucas, quite a change since I last seen him. Looking good though" and "Matt Lucas looks like a different person. #theoneshow."
Lucas has previously spoken about his lifelong battle with alopecia, which began after a traumatic car accident at age six. He has described how losing his hair at a young age shaped his childhood, including facing bullying, but also influenced his career, allowing him to transform into different characters.
The actor has also been open about his significant weight loss, having gone from a size XXXL to a medium. This change was prompted by family medical history and the unexpected death of his father at 52, which served as a wake-up call. Lucas has mentioned that he is still working on improving his fitness, aiming to incorporate more exercise into his routine.