Monday 26 September 2022 05:59 PM Mark Owen shocks BBC Breakfast hosts as he looks worlds away from his former ... trends now

Mark Owen looked worlds away from his early Take That days as he appeared on BBC Breakfast on Monday. 

The singer, 50, who has long been known as the 'cute one' in the band was seen sporting a moustache and long hair as he promoted his solo album.

The shows co-host Sally Nugent seemed a bit surprised by his appearance during the interview.

The songwriter appeared on the popular programme to promote his new album Land of Dreams, which is his fifth solo release outside of his work with Take That.

He spoke to Sally, 51, and co-host Jon Kay, 52, about his career but the musician drew attention for his facial hair - looking very different from his early days in the band.

Sally addressed Mark's new look outright, probing the hitmaker about why he now dons a moustache.

Referring to his Take That days, she asked: 'Actually, you look different. The moustache, how long has that been there?'

Mark replied: 'It's been there for about four years probably.

'It started off as a beard and then my beard got a bit patchy on this side. Then we were going on tour, and beards can get a bit sweaty on tour…'

Sally interrupted to then joke about co-host Jon's facial hair, to which he chimed in: 'Yeah, yeah, patchy beards, I'm with you, Mark.'

Sally let out a chuckle as Mark continued: 'So then it became a moustache and it sort of stuck.

'My children keep threatening to cut it off, they're like, 'Can we just…?'

Explaining his reasoning for wanting to keep the moustache, he commented: 'I've done my artwork. I can't change the look! I've done the video. I can't change my look now.'

The facial hair didn't go unnoticed by viewers, with one person admitting they were distracted: 'Can't stop looking at Mike Owens moustache #BBCBreakfast.'

Others expressed surprise over his appearance, with one writing: 'Good Lord, what's happened to Mark Owen?' Another wasn't sure if it was him, asking: 'Was that Mark Owen?'

Speaking about his long-awaited album, Mark told The Sun earlier this year: 'I try and play it cool but I'm not cool, there's no coolness in me. Even being in Take That for all this time I still don't think there is, but that's all right.

'Howard (Donald) always thinks he's cool, and Jason (Orange) really was cool — he just is. At least I'll be the coolest guy on this album!'

The group last performed together in 2019 on their Odyssey: Greatest Hits Live tour and have spent the past few years on a break working on solo projects.

And their break, as well as the coronavirus lockdown, allowed Mark to work on his own album, though the record was initially met with a cheeky jibe from

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