Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac's new look savaged by fans as beloved Channel Seven star returns to screens: 'It's horrid'
Sam Mac has left fans divided after retuning to Sunrise with a new look.
On Monday, the beloved weatherman, 43, appeared on the Channel Seven morning show for the first time since he went on 'dad leave' back in May.
The TV regular, who shares Margot, two, and Mabel, ten months, with fiancée Rebecca James, debuted a beard which he had grown in his month away from the show.
Prior to his first broadcast back, Sam uploaded a picture to Instagram on Sunday telling fans that if the snap of his new facial hair got enough likes, he'd keep it.
'If this photo gets 10 thousand likes I'll keep the beard for my return to @sunriseon7 on Monday #DadLeaveBeard,' he captioned the post, which showed him holding onto his new bundle of joy.
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While the Instagram picture failed to garner enough likes before the show, his Facebook post did, resulting in Sam's return to his weatherman gig with a hairy chin.
However, it seems many fans were actually not too pleased with the dad-of-two's new look.
'Very good to see Sam Mac back and showing why he is the best at weather. The beard was an interesting addition,' one person wrote on a Sunrise chat forum.
Another chimed in: 'It's horrid. Most guys with beards, at least, tidy up their throat area.'
One person savagely commented on his Instagram post: 'Sorry Sam but I dislike the beard immensely. What does Bec think of it?'
With opinions on the beard divided, one sentiment was echoed throughout - fans couldn't wait for the beloved weatherman to return to screens.
'Just so glad you will be back tomorrow you were so missed beard or no [beard],' one person sweetly noted on his recent Instagram clip.
'It makes you look grown up!!..but will love to see you back with [or] without. But Katie has done a stellar job filling in..' another wrote.
One person penned: 'As long as you come back certainly missed you, Sunrise wasn't the same by the way love the beard.'
'Have missed you on Sunrise, Hans and Katie Brown have done a good job. But will be happy your back,' another added.
In May, the TV weatherman took to Instagram to share that he would be going on leave.
Posting a picture with baby Mabel, the girl dad went on to express how excited he was to spend some quality time with his young children.
'This guy is officially on "Dad Leave"' Sam, who welcomed his second child last August, captioned the post.
'So ridiculously excited to have some uninterrupted time with our darling Mabel. I did the same when Margot was a baby and have vivid memories of being there as she took her first steps.
'Now to have more time with her as a toddler is an added bonus (albeit a slightly terrifying one)' he added.
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