Beard Liberation Front
17th August
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has celebrated the 60th anniversary of the BBC’s flagship Saturday night programme Match of the Day.
For 40 of the programmes 60 years the key presenter has had a beard. Jimmy Hill presented from 1973-1988 and Gary Lineker has presented since 1999.
The campaigners say that Match of the Day is one of the most hirsute British TV programmes and such has facial hair been frowned on at the top of the BBC its an achievement that deserves to be celebrated.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Match of the Day first aired on 22nd August 1964 just a few weeks before Harold Wilson won the 1964 Election for Labour. Its now celebrating its 60th anniversary just a few weeks after Keir Starmer won the 2024 Election for Labour. Match of the Day has an important place in British culture and hirsute presenters are part of that.
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