Strange but true, Robert Plant has been proclaimed the man with ‘beard of the year’. 

The announcement came from the Beard Liberation Front, an informal network of beard wearers. 

It was Plant’s stylish beard he sported at Led zeppelins reunion gig in London earlier this month that won him the title. 

Second on their list was Liverpool football manager Rafael Benitez, while businessman Sir Richard Branson shared the third spot with England cricketer Monty Panesar.

Comedian Russell Brand and author Michael Rosen came in at fourth and fifth respectively. 

The title is designed to highlight people who promote “a positive image of hirsuteness” in the public arena. 

“The winners this year have stylish beards and are promoting a new 21st Century image of the hirsute,” the BBC quoted Beard Liberation Front organizer Keith Flett as saying.