Eighties pop pioneer responsible for a string of hits looks completely unrecognisable as he walks his dog - but can YOU guess who it is?

He's responsible for a back catalogue of era-defining hits, but for onlookers he was just a man walking his dog on Wednesday. 

With a hat pulled over his famous shock of ginger hair, Mick Hucknall was unrecognisable as he ventured out close to his north London home.

The Simply Red star was incongruous with his suburban surroundings in a forest green top and baggy jeans while walking pint-sized pooch Pip ahead of the band's 40th anniversary tour. 

Mick, 64, rounded off his look with heavily tinted sunglasses and a pair of fingerless gloves during his solitary dog walk on Wednesday. 

The iconic singer became a household name with Simply Red in the 1980s thanks to hit singles Holding Back The Years, Money's Too Tight (To Mention) and The Right Thing.

Earlier this year, Mick reflected on his playboy lifestyle in the '80s but admitted the coronavirus pandemic had taught him a valuable lesson.

The musician, who claims to have bedded more than 1,000 women, found fame with Simply Red 38 years ago.

He dated a string of stunning actresses, sports stars and supermodels and slept with up to three women a day.

Speaking to The Sun, Mick said: 'I was just touring the world and being ­single, being a playboy, being a bachelor - I didn't really know what I was doing.

'I was just having a good time ­whenever. I like to have good times.'

His ex lovers include actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Martine McCutcheon and model Melanie Sykes.

The songwriter is now father to daughter Romy and in 2010 he married her mum, art dealer Gabriella Wesberry.

'I am a father and a ­husband. And I'm still having a good time. Very, very different, yeah, but I love it.'

He said: 'Those days are long gone. I don't miss them. I'm in a much happier place now than I've ever been in my life.'

Last year, Mick revealed he's suffering with long COVID and is struggling with the after-effects of the virus.

Speaking to The Sun, Mick told how he suffers with heart palpitations and insomnia, explaining how he often wakes up in the middle of the night 'with my heart going ba-boom, ba-boom.'

The singer, who is understood to have a personal fortune of £60million, also revealed the real meaning behind Simply Red's iconic hit, Holding Back The Years.

Hucknall made the surprise admission in an interview with The Sunday Times in 2023, no less than 38 years after its 1985 release.

He said: 'Admittedly there have been some difficult times. My mother left when I was three, so it was just me and my dad struggling on the breadline.

'That's what Holding Back the Years was about — hoping for the arms of a mother. But I found inspiration in Dad's determination. He worked f***ing hard and made sure we survived.'

Holding Back The Years was released as the third single from Simply Red's debut album, Picture Book, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as number two on the UK Singles Chart.

The band will return with their 40th anniversary UK arena tour from September 23, when they perform at Belfast's SSE Arena.

The 13-date roadshow will culminate with two shows at London's 02 Arena, where they will be supported by R&B legends Soul II Soul, on October 9 and 10.