Melanie Sykes proudly shows off new look after losing hair ‘really quickly’

Melanie Sykes has shared a new look with social media followers after previously revealing that her alopecia diagnosis had left her ‘two-thirds bald.’

Earlier this weekend, the former TV presenter, 55, posted a video to Instagram showing the sides of her head, where large patches of hair have disappeared as she continues to deal with ongoing health problems.

Lying on her back, Sykes slowly turned her head from side to side to reveal the areas affected by alopecia, simply captioning the clip: ‘#Liberty.’

The update came more than a year after the broadcaster first revealed she had been diagnosed with alopecia – as well as a heart condition and widespread inflammation, which she has linked to prolonged stress and PTSD.

In a follow-up to her social media, Sykes has revealed an all-new look, sharing a beaming selfie in which she is now completely bald.

She captioned the post simply ‘Loss + Gain = Life.’

Sykes’ post came accompanied with several hashtags, which included the words ‘wise,’ ’tistime,’ ‘sage,’ ‘yogi’ and ‘smile.’

Earlier this year, she told followers that only the hair on the crown of her head remained, explaining: ‘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.’

Despite the challenges, Sykes has repeatedly spoken about focusing on her recovery and maintaining a positive outlook.

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 first revealed the extent of her hair loss in 2025, explaining she had lost around half of her hair as well as much of one eyebrow.

She later said the condition had progressed further, telling followers she had become ‘two-thirds bald’ while continuing to battle excessive inflammation throughout her body.

At the time, she also opened up about developing heart palpitations, which she believed were triggered by the stress surrounding allegations made against her former television colleague Gino D’Acampo, who has denied wrongdoing.

The former radio presenter, who previously revealed her experience with Gregg Wallace led her to quit TV, and has spoken out against the BBC and ITV in the past, presented ITV’s Let’s Do Lunch with Gino between 2011 and 2014.

‘I’m not well, as you know. I’ve been ill all year,’ she said in a video update earlier this year.

‘I’ve got an autoimmune condition, I am losing my hair, I keep having crazy inflammation all over and I am working on healing.’

Rather than dwelling on her diagnosis, Sykes said she has turned to meditation and spirituality as part of her recovery, even completing a meditation teacher training course.

She has also encouraged fans not to worry about her, insisting she has learned to prioritise her own wellbeing after stepping away from television.

Sykes, who rose to fame in the iconic Boddingtons Bitter adverts before fronting shows including The Big Breakfast, Today with Des and Mel and Let’s Do Lunch with Gino & Mel, left the entertainment industry after receiving an autism diagnosis in 2021.

‘My late diagnosis of autism has changed my life for the better,’ she previously said. ‘For once, I come first.’