Melanie Sykes unveils new look with shaven head after alopecia diagnosis

| Senior TV Reporter Published August 6, 2026 3:35pm Updated August 6, 2026 3:35pm Melanie Sykes returned to her hometown in Manchester to take the snaps (Picture: Niall Hodson) Melanie Sykes has embraced her fully shaven head in new photos, after being diagnosed with alopecia. The former TV presenter previously revealed she was ‘two-thirds bald’, sharing a video to Instagram to show the extent of her hair loss due to the condition. The 55-year-old has now shown off the shaven look for a new sunglasses modelling campaign with Cubitts, pairing the frames with a crisp white suit. The campaign was shot in Sykes’ hometown in Manchester, showcasing a new set of sunglasses for the brand, in snaps shot across several Mancunian locations. The broadcaster first revealed she had been diagnosed with alopecia last year, in which she detailed how she was also living with a heart condition and widespread inflammation, which she has linked to prolonged stress and PTSD. In a June Instagram video, Sykes showed followers the sides of her head where large patches of hair had fallen out. The 55-year-old has embraced the shaven look for a new sunglasses modelling campaign (Picture: Niall Hodson) Sykes quit TV presenting in 2021, after appearing on Celebrity Masterchef (Picture: Alamy/PA) Lying on her back, Sykes turned her head from side to side to reveal the areas affected by alopecia, captioning the clip: ‘#Liberty.’ Earlier this year, Sykes told followers that she only had hair on the top of her head, saying: ‘My crown is pretty much what’s left of my hair now and how healthy it is. ‘I do get cold, however, hence my beanie and various headwear but I’m learning to live with “loss” and counting my blessings instead. ‘It’s not always easy to be grateful, but it is the key to happiness and takes daily, moment-to-moment practice. Practice love.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The broadcaster first revealed she had been diagnosed with alopecia last year (Picture: Niall Hodson) Speaking to fans towards the end of last year, she revealed she was experiencing what is known as ‘post-traumatic growth’ – the positive psychological changes that can follow periods of trauma. ‘Even the most difficult times do pass, they do,’ she said. ‘You can be suffering from PTSD but still at the same time be experiencing post-traumatic growth. ‘I’m in both camps because you can be both things at once… We can transcend all trauma, we can be changed, and I am living f******g proof of that.’ Sykes, who rose to fame in the iconic Boddingtons Bitter adverts before fronting shows including The Big Breakfast, left the TV world behind in 2021. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you She has subsequently said she decided to step back from the industry after working with Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021, claiming she made an informal complaint about the disgraced presenter’s behaviour at the time. Arrow MORE: The ‘rotting’ summer wrist condition that keeps being mistaken for tan lines Arrow MORE: The problem with TikTok’s ‘weirdly pretty’ photo trend Arrow MORE: First two deaths linked to outbreak of ‘explosive diarrhoea’