NEIGHBOURS star Alan Fletcher has broken his silence after sparking health concerns by appearing with a shaved head.
The actor was forced to reassure his fans that he was OK in a Twitter video after he debuted his new look during an episode.
TV star Alan, 65, admitted that he had been diagnosed with alopecia areata – an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
He was seen on Neighbours‘ Twitter showing off the new look, which prompted fans to take to social media with concerns.
It meant that Alan was forced to address the comments in a video of his own, insisting that he was “fit and well”.
“Lots of fans have expressed a little concern about my health and there have been media enquiries as well,” he began.
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“I just want to put something to rest. I am absolutely fine, I’m fit and well and working on Neighbours and having a great time.
“But, I can report to you, I do have a disorder called alopecia areata.”
The actor went on to explain how his condition can cause “patchy hair loss”, which was behind his decision to shave it all off.
“I started to lose hair into my beard and then on my scalp in patches so eventually I shaved my beard off,” Alan said.
“Then my hair became so patchy on my head, I had to get rid of most of that as well. I know a lot of you are going to be pretty shocked.”
Taking off his hat and revealing his bald head, he concluded: “I have no problem with it. In fact, it’s kind of fun.”
In March, it was announced Neighbours would come off the air after almost four decades of storylines and almost 9,000 episodes.
The news followed Channel 5’s early February announcement it would no longer be able to host the iconic soap.
While fans were hoping the show could be saved, production failed to find another alternative and had to stop the programme.
Production for Neighbours will end in June, 2022, and the final episode of the soap will be aired two months later, in August.
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UK and Australian fans will get to watch the last ever episode on the same day.
Neighbours airs on Channel 5 on weekdays at 1.45pm
