Les has the look

Les Langley, 46, has been named Britain’s Best Groomed Man. The competition was set up by shaving and skincare specialists Bluebeards Revenge and men’s cancer charity Orchid as part of a campaign to encourage men to check for signs of cancer. Les, a former semiprofessional footballer, turned actor and bar owner, lives in Darlington with his 31-year-old wife Charlotte and children Robbie, 12, Tara, 15, and one-year-old Max. He talks to Ruth Addicott.

What made you enter the competition?

“I lost my first wife to cancer in 2004 and couldn’t cope with the thought of having cancer myself and my children possibly being left without any parents.

Self-checking is vital and important for men as well as women to make it part of their daily routine and I really wanted to do my bit to raise awareness of male cancers.”

Have you always taken care of your appearance?

“I’ve always followed trends. I used to be a punk and went to school with blue hair once. I had the full gear – Doc Martens, leather jackets covered in zips and Tshirts with rips and as many safety pins as I could get on. At 16, I ended up going to Reading FC, it was the time of curly perms, so I had a perm and a little moustache. I used to look up to Bryan Robson and he had one. I then went to the other extreme and got the back and sides shaved off. I walked up the street and my mother didn’t recognise me.”

Apart from yourself, who’s the best-groomed man in Britain today?

“I’ve always liked Martin Kemp. He’s a smart guy and a family man, like me.”

Do you have a cleansing routine?

“I just use warm water – no soap – and moisturiser.

I’ve always used L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue and I’ve recently started using a postshave balm. I’ve never had a facial, but would consider it.”

How long do you spend in the bathroom in the morning?

“I used to shave in five minutes, but I’ve started using old-style brushes and a single blade razor, so I take 15 minutes now. There’s no safety guard, so you have to take your time, but the results are certainly better.”

What does your wife say? Is she banging on the door telling you to get a move on?

“We’re fortunate enough to have a couple of bathrooms. A lot of my grooming habits come from my wife and a lot of them, I have to say, are forced on me. She likes to pluck my eyebrows when they’re getting out of hand and she’s got no patience. The first time it led to me having one eyebrow done and one eyebrow not. I’ve learnt to stretch the skin now when she’s doing it, so it’s not a problem.”

How do you keep in shape?

“I used to train seven days a week, but I only get to the gym three times a week now. I do weights and play golf. I snapped my Achilles heel so can’t do any aerobic work.”

Do you use expensive shampoo?

“I use whatever’s in the bathroom (currently Label M Age Defying Shampoo). I get my hair cut once a month at Replay, in Darlington. The owner Paul Huitson does it. I wet it every morning, put it in a particular style and put a bit of hairspray on – whatever my wife’s got.”

Do you get your nostrils waxed?

“Definitely not. I’m too soft to have my chest waxed – I’ve got some Remington clippers I use for that. I can’t stand unsightly nose hair so I do actually have a nose hair trimmer. Star Radio had one going one day so I rang in and won it.”

Have you had a back, sack and crack?

“Definitely not, no.”

Where’s the tan from? Sunbeds, bottle or golf?

“I don’t use sunbeds. I did when I was a kid, but as you grow older you realise how bad they are.

My wife loves fake tan and whenever she buys a new one, she always wants to try it on me first.

I’m at home most of the week looking after my son so it’s not a problem. It just frightens the kids when they wake up. The only time I use it is if we’re going anywhere special where there are going to be photographs, otherwise my wife looks like a piece of teak and I look as white as a sheet.”

Do you have a healthy diet?

“Over the last year, I’ve taken nutrition a lot more seriously. I never eat pies, sausage rolls, chips or kebabs and I keep out the way of pastries. I don’t eat many carbs, if I do it’s jacket potatoes. There’s always lots of frozen veg in the house and I eat a lot of chicken, salmon, prawns. I’ve never smoked and only drink alcohol about six times a year. The only vice I have is chocolate. I recently started on Herbalife products and they make a massive difference. I lost 16lb in two months.”

Where do you buy your clothes?

“Ninety nine per cent are from Leggs, in Darlington, and every now and then I get a suit from Suitability, in Sunderland. I bought a Prada suit for £1,000 a few years ago, but it wore a hole in the pants. I wouldn’t dream of spending that much now. I used to buy Versace and Armani, but I was more into the brand than what the shirt looked like. I like Guide London shirts and brands such as Luke and Saint Jude.

My jeans are Replay and I buy Jeffery West shoes, they’re a bit expensive, but I think they’re worth it.”

Finally, where do you stand on cosmetic surgery?

“I tried Botox four years ago but it didn’t work.

Someone said if you do a lot of training – which I was at that time – it can dilute it, so from then on I thought, I’ll keep my money, thanks.”

• Orchid exists to save men’s lives from cancers through pioneering research and promoting awareness. For more information, visit orchid-cancer.org.uk
• Aspire Bar, 10 Crown Street, Darlington, DL1 1LU