Blokes with beards cannot be trusted as folks extra more likely to decide Beckham over Blessed

The Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Brazil, recruited 170 male and female students to look at dozens of images of men’s faces with varying amounts of facial fuzz

Brian Blessed’s famous film declaration “Gordon’s alive” may have been a waste of his booming voice – because folk do not trust beardies. A study found people are more trusting of men with stubble – like England football legend David Beckham – than blokes with full-bodied beards like Brian.

So when the 88-year-old actor – one of the Daily Star’s biggest fans – delivered his iconic line in 1980 comic movie space opera Flash Gordon film fans probably did not believe him. Researchers found volunteers were more likely to give money to fellas sporting stubble than men who were either clean-shaven or bushy-bearded.

The Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Brazil, recruited 170 male and female students to look at dozens of images of men’s faces with varying amounts of facial fuzz.

They were asked to choose which ones they judged the most trustworthy.

Volunteers were given an imaginary pot of cash to hand out and had to pick the men they thought most likely to return it if asked to.

The results – published in the journal Acta Psychologica – showed those with stubble or a light beard like 49-year-old Becks were deemed most trustworthy.

They were also judged the most attractive.

The stubble effect was a particular draw for young men.

Researchers said the findings reinforced discoveries by earlier studies which found men with bushy beards were perceived as more aggressive.

But the study team said findings could be different around the world.

“In India police officers with moustaches receive a monthly stipend, highlighting the cultural significance of facial hair as a marker of authority and trustworthiness,’’ they said.

The findings could spell bad news for most Brit men.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 in 2023 found 54% had some form of facial hair – up from 37% in 2011.

A third of them for the full-growth look, the poll found, with just 13% opting for stubble.

The news comes after Blessed earlier this year said he’d know what to do if ever he was chased by a yeti – run down a hill as the beast would be slowed down by its low hanging breasts.

Famous for uttering the sci-movie catchphrase “Gordon’s alive” in his trademark Earth-trembling tones he is also a real life adventurer who has himself made three bids to climb Everest.

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