Elton John shears London Evening Standard & the Independent owner Evgeny Lebedev's ‘monstrous beard’ for Comic Relief
Elton John has shaved the beard and eyebrows of Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the London Evening Standard, the Independent and the i, in a bid to drive public fundraising in the run up to Comic Relief.
As part of the ‘Make Your Face Funny for Money’ campaign, singer and songwriter Elton John shaved every last facial hair from Lebedev's face, to provide inspiration to Comic Relief fundraisers before the event airs on Friday 13 March.
Lebdev, who has supported Comic Relief for the last half a decade through his newspaper titles, had his chops shaved in the aftermath of the Oscars last week, with Ol Parker, director of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, behind the camera.
Sir @eltonjohndotcom shaved off my beard and eyebrows for @rednoseday. Watch here: http://t.co/6D0H0FNA59 #RNDface pic.twitter.com/sbnhnSirhW
— Evgeny Lebedev (@mrevgenylebedev) March 2, 2015
Sir @eltonjohndotcom gave me a close shave for @rednoseday. Text BEARD to 70703 to give £3 (other number won't work) pic.twitter.com/lf54aIfNqw — Evgeny Lebedev (@mrevgenylebedev) March 2, 2015Indy boss @mrevgenylebedev wears fake eyebrows meeting Prince Charles, no one notices http://t.co/aipHYprICk pic.twitter.com/TCyttIJgWN — i100 (@thei100) March 2, 2015Lebdeyev said: “I lost everything for Comic Relief. I look absolutely terrifying. What are you going to do for Comic Relief?”
On Comic Relief, Sir Elton John said: “It is the most amazing cause. I thought it would be great to shave the beard off my good friend Evgeny Lebedev.
“He’s had this beard for so long, it’s so boring and I’ve forgotten what he looks like underneath it.”