Trevor Sobie's famous clients from Lorraine Kelly to Helen Mirren as hairdresser to the stars dies

Celebrity hairstylist, famed for his iconic wedge cut in the 1970s and known for snipping the locks of stars like , The Beach Boys, and,

His proudest moments, however, stemmed from aiding those suffering from hair loss due to illness. Sorbie's family announced on that following a bowel cancer diagnosis.

Born on March 13, 1949, in Paisley, , Sorbie faced bullying in England which led him to leave school early and start as an apprentice in his father’s barbershop. In 1979, he launched his first salon in Covent Garden, London, eventually expanding to Brighton, Bristol, Hampstead, Manchester, and Richmond.

A four-time British Hairdresser of the Year, Sorbie revolutionised hairdressing with trend-setting styles such as the wolf man, sculpture, and the wave, along with inventing a quick-drying technique known as the scrunch. His influence extended to television, with appearances on shows like , The Wright Stuff, GMTV, and Mary Queen Of Shops, as well as mentoring on Channel 4's Faking It alongside TV chef Gordon Ramsay.

The celebrity hairstylist opened up about his illustrious career, which includes styling the locks of famous faces like Chris Tarrant and Chesney Hawkes, as well as Olympic legends Jayne Torvill and. Despite his numerous accolades, Sorbie regards being honoured with an MBE by in 2004 as his "biggest accolade".

After starting to take a step back from salon work in 2006, Sorbie began volunteering at Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Surrey. He shared with The Times how it "it really unnerved" him when he was asked to cut a patient's wig for her wedding, knowing she might not live until the ceremony.

"She died the next day, but as I shut the door (after cutting her wig), I remember thinking for the first time in my life, ‘I’m not just a hairdresser, I feel special’," he reminisced. In 2009, Sorbie turned his attention to his charity, My New Hair, which offers guidance on wig styling, hair loss, and regrowth post-treatment to patients and staff.

"It was my personal experience of helping a family member during cancer treatment that inspired the idea of My New Hair," he explained on the charity's website. Sorbie launched a complimentary wig customisation service for NHS patients suffering medical hair loss, including those undergoing chemotherapy, at his home through My New Hair in 2018.

A year later, he told Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs about his plans to retire, although he intended to continue providing wig cuts for those who had lost their hair. Eventually, Tom Connell, the international artistic director, took over the reins of the business, allowing Sorbie to dedicate himself to his charitable work.

Sorbie opened up on a Sunday radio show about how a long battle with depression and anxiety led him to the brink of suicide, with media stories in the mid-2000s taking an enormous toll on his mental health. He shared the profound impact that adopting a pet had on his well-being: "I read this article years ago and they said that anyone suffering with anxiety and depression, the best medicine is a dog."

Following the advice, he expressed his heartfelt bond with his pet: "So I went and got a dog and you know what? It’s right. It’s so good for me, that little boy." Sorbie spoke affectionately of the time he spends with his furry companion: "I have to go out for an hour walking and I absolutely adore this little boy."

Battling serious health issues, Sorbie revealed on ’s This Morning in October 2024 that he was diagnosed with bowel cancer which then spread to his liver. After a major operation and facing the reality of a terminal prognosis given in June 2024, he disclosed the limitations of further treatment: "maybe six" months was what he was told due to the cancer's proximity to an essential blood vessel where surgery is no longer viable. Determined to cherish his time left, Sorbie vowed to spend it with his wife, Carole, and close ones.

On top of his personal struggles, Sorbie has been a source of inspiration in the hairdressing industry, crafting pivotal training manuals like the 2005 Bridal Hair Book and 1998’s Visions In Hair. Recognising his contributions, the Fellowship for British Hairdressing established the Trevor Sorbie Award in 2023, honouring creative and commercial innovation.

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