Engelbert Humperdinck, the housewives' favourite who will represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, has fallen victim to a curse usually reserved for young, female stars.
After being papped in LA with his wife Patricia, the 75-year-old has been called "portly" and "heavily wrinkled", while the authenticity of his official Eurovision promotional photo has been called into question.
The Daily Mail claims "the star looked every inch his 75 years" and suggested his Eurovision picture may have been Photoshopped. However, a spokesman for the BBC told the newspaper that they had not re-touched it before using it and that it was taken ahead of his 2011 tour.
The Too Beautiful To Last singer, whose last UK hit was in 1972, will have to get used to being back in the spotlight -and the tabloids' preoccupation with appearance - as the race warms up to Eurovision. He still has over 10 weeks until the first semi-finals on the 22nd May.
But Humperdinck, who certainly scrubs up well, is happy to be part of the contest. He said in a statement this week: "It's an absolute honour to be representing my country for this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
"When the BBC approached me, it just felt right for me to be a part of an institution like Eurovision. I'm excited and raring to go and want the nation to get behind me!"
A rep for the BBC said: "Not since the '70s have we had such an established international musical legend represent the nation. We couldn't be more delighted.
"Engelbert's experience leaves us in no doubt that he will be able to deliver a standout performance in front of 120m viewers worldwide."