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Gary Lineker has blamed his 'old age' for forgetting to wear a face mask after photos emerged of him shopping barefaced in M&S.

The 59-year-old Match Of The Day presenter was photographed by a member of the public in the dessert aisle of M&S in Barnes, south-west London, on Sunday.

Despite previously criticising 'snowflakes' who refused to wear a mask Lineker failed to cover his mouth and nose with no mask in sight as he wandered the shop. 

Lineker took to Twitter to apologise for the blunder, writing: 'In my old age, I went into a store and forgot to put my mask on.

© Provided by Daily MailGary Lineker (left) has blamed his 'old age' for forgetting to wear a face mask. Pictured having dinner with Piers Morgan (right) in west London two weeks ago

'Was wondering why people were giving me daggers. Realised after a couple of minutes and hastily put it on. Felt awful and embarrassed. Apologies to those present.'

Comedian David Baddiel jokingly hit back: 'I think we all know you can't get one to fit round your ears.'

He added: 'P.S I love Gary. Even his ears.'

Earlier in the year Lineker made his view on wearing masks to prevent the spread of covid-19 very clear. 

Lineker took to Twitter to apologise for the blunder, writing: 'In my old age, I went into a store and forgot to put my mask on'

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He tweeted on April 17: 'How can there be any debate about whether we should be wearing a mask? Even if it's only a one percent chance of making you safer.

'Even if it is only a one percent chance of stopping you giving it to someone else. Even if it only saves one life then it has to be beneficial.'

The eagle-eyed 38-year-old shopper who spotted Lineker in M&S without a mask on Sunday told The Sun: 'It's just hypocrisy on another level. He had even tweeted a photo of him wearing a mask recently in front of that same M&S store and told people to wear masks in supermarkets. If it was anyone else I wouldn't mind so much.

Three months ago Lineker shared a photo of himself making a train journey with a mask on with the caption: 'On a train. So exciting'

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'But it's frustrating for someone who tries to take the moral high ground as much as he does.'

In response to the Chair of Global Public Health, Professor Devi Sridhar's plea for the public to wear masks Lineker tweeted on July 2: 'This seems to be the most obvious thing in the world.

'Can't understand why anyone would object to wearing a mask. Painless gesture to ensure you don't spread the virus to others and great for hiding bad breath.'

A month later the presenter tweeted again on the subject: 'Why would anyone object to wearing a mask in a shop?

'Not exactly a hardship. What a country of snowflakes we've become.'  

© Provided by Daily MailThe ex-footballer shared a snap from his first visit to a football stadium in four months in June with the caption: 'First time at a football ground for 4 months. I¿m smiling under the mask'