The best beards of 2014

Not a list for sufferers of pogonophobia. The Beard Liberation Front, the network of beard wearers, has announced its Longlist for Beard of the Year 2014:

Moeen Ali, cricketer

James O’Brien, broadcaster

Philip Ardagh, poet

Logan Plant, brewer

Conchita Wurst, singer

Dr Matt Taylor, Rosetta comet scientist

Billy Bragg, musician

Russell Brand, activist

Leonard Cohen, musician

Stephen Crabb, Government Minister

Nick Frost, actor

Dave Gilmour, musician

Lenny Henry, actor

Nick Hyam, broadcaster

Fr Alan Williams, Bishop of Brentwood

Philip Wilton, cheesemaker

Robert Plant, musician

Robert Wyatt, musician

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