Robbie Williams with beard (or two)

The years since his departure from Take That have shown the monumentally overrated Robbie Williams to be anything from a self-pitying egomaniac to a hateful tosser but even my lack of interest has been piqued by the recent candid snaps of him in Amsterdam, where he is recording his (heavens help us) eighth album, sporting a beard. On his face.

Does he dare challenge the almighty Babydaddy as pop's leading bear?