Big Brother Australia star Merlin Luck surprised fans by unveiling his stunning new look at a cast reunion, twenty years after appearing on the show.
The former reality star, 43, who was known for his shaggy brown hair, goatee and surfer boy appearance, made headlines in 2004 for staging a silent protest against refugee detention centers on live television. .
However, the controversial reality star now looks completely unrecognizable from his TV days and has changed his youthful appearance to become a refined silver fox.
Merlin has said goodbye to the wavy brunette locks he once sported and in their place sports a perfectly coiffed head of hair with matching gray hair and beard.
He also now sports prescription glasses and a polished all-black business casual look, in contrast to the colorful baggy T-shirts he wore on Big Brother.
Big Brother Australia star Merlin Luck surprised fans by unveiling his stunning new look at a cast reunion, twenty years after appearing on the show. Photographed in 2004
The controversial reality star (left) now looks completely unrecognizable from his TV days and has changed his youthful appearance to become a refined silver fox.
However, he still sports the same cheeky smile that made him a popular contestant in 2004.
Many fans quickly took to social media to express their disbelief at Merlin’s impressive new look.
‘You grow a lot. “I wouldn’t have recognized him,” one person wrote, and another added: “I can’t believe Merlin.”
The former reality star, 43, known for his shaggy brown hair, goatee and surfer boy looks, made headlines in 2004 for staging a silent protest against refugee detention centers on live television after To be removed.
“Merlin is giving Jeff Goldblum vibes,” a third person chimed in.
In 2016, Luck revealed that a producer told him afterward that the show “would have supported” his bold political stunt, but only if he had told them beforehand.
He said news.com.au: ‘They got the best ratings of the season and PR weeks. On the other hand, if they had lost control, which is every producer’s worst nightmare.’
Merlin continued: ‘I remember the executive producer getting exasperated in the green room afterwards. He was almost shouting, “You should have told us…we could have worked with you on this…we would have supported you.”
Merlin has said goodbye to the wavy brunette locks he once sported and in their place sports a perfectly coiffed head of hair with matching gray hair and beard.
However, he still sports the same cheeky smile that made him a popular contestant in 2004.
But Merlin, who is now married with two children and lives in Sydney, said he would not have been interested in co-operating with television staff as it would undermine his message.
Merlin staged the now infamous protest during his exit interview with presenter Gretel Killeen in June 2004, on the fourth series of Big Brother Australia.
He walked onto the studio stage and unexpectedly put black tape over his mouth and held up a sign that said: ‘Free the refugees’ (sic).
Merlin didn’t answer any of Gretel’s questions and his legs were visibly shaking as the crowd booed and applauded in the background.