Kmflett's Blog

Beard Liberation Front

1^st March

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

Beard of Wales 2023: Michael Sheen shaves James Dean Bradfield by a whisker

The annual vote which aims to determine the St David’s Day Beard of Wales, the Welsh beard that offers the most positive national image, has reached its conclusion with the final Beard Off vote.

The result was a close shave but Michael Sheen just retained his title over the Manics James Dean Bradfield 42% to 40% of hundreds of on-line votes.

The Beard Liberation Front says that images of St David suggest that the Welsh Saint himself may have had an organic beard

Welsh rugby prop Adam Jones won the Award in 2013, voted for by BLF supporters, just shaving former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Another rugby player Leigh Halfpenny won in 2014. In 2015 the Award went to Thee Faction musician Chris Fox in 2016 footballer Joe Ledley and in 2017 to Charcutier Illtud Llyr Dunsford, with Chris Fox winning again in 2018. In 2019 journalist Grant Tucker shaved the opposition to claim the accolade. Michael Sheen won in 2020 and went on to share the Beard of the Year Award with Michael Rosen in December 2020. In 2021 Michael Sheen again shaved opponents for a second time and won again in 2022

It is the eleventh time the Award has been given following the traditional UK Beard of the Year at the end December each year and the BLF says it is a mark of Wales as a modern nation on St David’s Day that beards are now playing an increasingly significant role in national life.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, congratulations to Michael Sheen truly the Beard of Wales. However the Manics James Dean Bradfield really gave him a close shave this year.

There were two preliminary rounds leading to the final  Best Beard of Wales 2022 vote on 26 & 27^th February

Beard of Wales 2023. Final

Hefin David, politician

James Dean Bradfield, musician

Michael Sheen, actor

Jack Sargeant, politician

Round One Feb,21-22

Round Two Feb 23-24

Final Beard Off Feb 26-27 Feb