The BBC’s business editor Robert Peston is known to many for his enthusiastic coverage of the credit crunch. But he has, it seems, become something of an icon for the would-be well-groomed, after being voted as having the best celebrity haircut. His barnet was deemed better than that of George Clooney, Daniel Craig and Brad Pitt.

Hair specialist Optima, responsible for the award, said they had requests for Mr Peston’s “conservative” cut from people wanting to “look clever”. The man responsible for the style is David Barron, who runs Barrons Hairdressing in north London. Barron said he had given his client a “stylish, cutting-edge look. He’s got very tidy ‘just-so’ sideburns and he likes to look sharp. He’s a well-turned- out guy with a precision haircut.”

Optima’s founder said: “Many women find brains sexier than brawn alone. It explains why more and more of our male customers are requesting conservative hairstyles, like Robert Peston’s.”