Lincolnshire man is crowned Britain's Manliest Man

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-30529703

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An RAF pilot and cancer survivor has been crowned Britain's Manliest Man ahead of 40 other finalists.

Flt Lt Alun Pepper from RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire beat more than 1,000 applicants to take the title.

He will now become an ambassador for male cancer charity Orchid for a year.

The 43-year-old, from Crewe, Cheshire, had a testicle removed after he was diagnosed in 2006, and said he wanted to raise awareness of the condition.

He won the competition with 23,000 public votes - almost twice as many as the runner up.

'No less of a man'

He said winning Britain's Manliest Man was "quite humbling and also a bit surreal". "I laughed at first, along with everyone I have told since," he said.

"It gives me a great platform to go round talking to people about testicular cancer and to prove that if you have the operation it doesn't make you any less of a man."

He said since starting his awareness campaign he had already received emails from girlfriends and wives who had persuaded their partners to see a doctor.

Other competition entrants included 20-year-old Nottingham Forest footballer Kieran Fenton, models, actors and a Colin Farrell look-a-like.