2021 marks the 25th anniversary of @TheSun's 'Top 100 Hunks of 1996' supplement, which I've discovered in an old box. I can't resist a countdown, so let's see how tastes have changed, and what's become of some of the "hunks" a quarter of a century later... (thread )

100. GARRY BUSHELL
Bizarrely, perhaps more as a joke than anything serious, The Sun's own TV critic "and late night telly megastar" starts us off. #GarryBushell

99. MARK OWEN
Blue-eyed #TakeThat singer Mark was the lowest placed member of the boy band back in 1996 (unless you count #RobbieWilliams, who unexpectedly doesn't make the top 100 at all). #MarkOwen

98. DON JOHNSON
Still remembered most for his dishy #MiamiVice days, Don hadn't played James Crockett for six years, but was still hanging on to his pin-up status. #DonJohnson

97. MARTI PELLOW
"Wet Wet Wet's frontman is hot hot hot," drooled Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Twenty-five years later, he's still got it. #MartiPellow #WetWetWet

96. DAVID HASSELHOFF
The #Baywatch "hunk" was one of the older entries in the Top 100. Now aged 68, he's appearing in films like #Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! #DavidHasselhoff

95. PRINCE WILLIAM
A truly creepy entry, seeing as the little prince was only 14 in 1996. "Kisses will be simply perfect once his dentist removes the braces," wrote Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #PrinceWilliam #DukeofCambridge

94. LINUS ROACHE
Largely forgotten nowadays, Linus was best known at the time for his role in the BBC series Seaforth. Oh, and he's #CoronationStreet legend #WilliamRoache's son too. #LinusRoache

93. HOWARD DONALD
The #TakeThat member's dreadlocked hair "leaves a lot to be desired", said Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, but he "has the perfect dancer's body". #HowardDonald

92. SYLVESTER STALLONE
"Women want to be swept into his arms and rescued," according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Or they did then. Apparently...
#SylvesterStallone

91. LUCKY VANOUS
Who? At the time Lucky had "all the girls thirsting" with his washboard stomach in the #DietCoke adverts. #LuckyVanous

90. JASON ORANGE
The second highest placed #TakeThat member in the Top 100 was for the "thinking woman", according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. They're definitely still thinking about him 25 years later. #JasonOrange

89. RUFUS SEWELL
Best known at the time for his part in the series Middlemarch, he apparently turned down #Madonna when she asked for a date! #RufusSewell

88. EWAN McGREGOR
Ewan has barely aged a day in the last 25 years, it seems. Sun Woman editor Jane Moore pointed out that he spends most of his time in the film The Pillow Book naked. #EwanMcGregor

87. BRYAN ADAMS
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore was as charming as ever: "Brian [her typo, not mine] has a craggy look but his smooth lyrics have melted a million hearts." #BryanAdams

86. NEIL MORRISSEY
The #MenBehavingBadly star outshone his co-star #MartinClunes, who did not appear in the Top 100. "Neil is irresistible with his laddish grin and naughty schoolboy ways," claimed Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #NeilMorrissey

85. DAVID SEAMAN
"England goalie David captured our hearts with heroic saves during Euro 96," mooned Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, adding: "He left wife Sandra two years ago for present girlfriend Debbie Rogers."

Oh.

#DavidSeaman

84. RYAN GIGGS
Then 22, Giggsy's "cute features" won big money ad contracts at a time when he was the "goal-den boy" of #ManUtd. #RyanGiggs

83. ANDRÉ AGASSI
The former #Wimbledon champ was "a bit of a scruff, but cop those gorgeous brown eyes," drooled Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #AndréAgassi

82. RAY LIOTTA
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore refers to Ray's "blemished skin and chilling smile". Ever the charmer! #RayLiotta

81. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
"Arnie is said to be an all round nice bloke," reported Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. The Terminator star and ex-politician is now 73, one of the oldest in this Top 100. #arnoldschwarzenegger #Arnie

80. BILLY ZANE
Billy was best remembered at the time for his shirtless role in Dead Calm, but in 1996 he took the lead role in the Box Office flop The Phantom. He does a lot of direct-to-DVD films nowadays. #BillyZane

79. RALPH FIENNES
"The ultimate English ladykiller," apparently. Lord Voldemort would be proud. #RalphFiennes

78. ALAN RICKMAN
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore seemed preoccupied by the fact Alan was "a staunch #Labour supporter" whose partner was a Labour councillor. Sadly, Alan died of pancreatic cancer in 2016, aged 69. #AlanRickman

77. CLIVE OWEN
Best known in 1996 for the ITV series Chancer, Clive was about to hit the big time with his starring role in the film Croupier, and many people earmarked him to succeed #PierceBrosnan as #JamesBond . #CliveOwen

76. KEVIN BACON
We're all related to him in some way! Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said "he's a dream in his off-screen uniform of t-shirt and jeans". #KevinBacon

75. ED HARRIS
"Apollo 13 actor Ed has heavenly blue eyes that send our pulses sky high," ogled Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Then she went and spoiled it: "He may be grey-haired but he still made space travel look sexy." #EdHarris

74. DAVID CASSIDY
1970s pop idol David came to prominence in the US series The Partridge Family, but was still proving a big hit with Sun Woman readers in the 90s. Sadly, David died of liver failure in 2017, aged 67, after years of alcoholism. #DavidCassidy

73. DAVID CHOKACHI
Largely forgotten today, David was known for playing beefy lifeguard Cody in #Baywatch. In 1997 People magazine voted him one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. He now appears in the odd TV movie, including Abner the Invisible Dog. #DavidChokachi

72. ALAN SHEARER
Alan was the world's most expensive footballer in 1996 (£15m), a record he retained for only a year until #InterMilan paid £19.5m for #Ronaldo. #AlanShearer

71. PATRICK SWAYZE
#DirtyDancing star Patrick was voted People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 1991. Sadly, the Point Break actor died of cancer in 2009, aged 57. #PatrickSwayze

70. SHANE RICHIE
"Said to have bedded 1,000 women during a spell as a Pontin's Bluecoat," according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Bet he hasn't got that energy these days... #ShaneRichie

69. DAVID BECKHAM
Surprisingly, Becks was only at a lowly 69 on the countdown. This was back when he was a 21-year-old bachelor dating Louise Nurding. Twelve months later, David was at number 1 in Sun Woman's Top 100 Hunks of 1997. Quite the meteoric rise! #DavidBeckham

68. DEAN CAIN
Dean rose to fame as the handsome hack Clark Kent - aka #Superman - in the Lois and Clark TV series. These days he pops up a lot in those #Christmas TV movies they make too many of. #DeanCain

67. JEAN CLAUDE VAN DAMME
The 'Muscles from Brussels' was a Box Office action hero in 1996 for films like Street Fighter and Timecop, and he's still kickboxing in films today, aged 60. #JeanClaudeVanDamme #JCVD

66. JOHN TRAVOLTA
After success in #Grease and #SaturdayNightFever, John was the "movie comeback king" in 1996 thanks to hits with #PulpFiction and #GetShorty. #JohnTravolta

65. LEWIS COLLINS
According to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, the Professionals star was popular again in 1996 due to his lookalike being in a car advert! Sadly, Lewis died of cancer in 2013, aged 67. #LewisCollins

64. GARY LINEKER
Twenty-five years later Gary's still going strong on @BBCMOTD and in those adverts for crisps! #GaryLineker

63. MICHAEL PRAED
Michael was best known for his roles in #RobinofSherwood and #JillyCooper's Riders at the time. Just between you, me and the entire internet, I honestly don't think I'd be the man I am today without #MichaelPraed in my adolescence...

62. JON BON JOVI
Rocker Jon diversified from music into acting, and Sun Woman editor Jane Moore was particularly enamoured by his role in Moonlight and Valentino where he bared his bum. #JonBonJovi

61. GARY BARLOW
"Since going solo Gary has blossomed into a baby-faced hunk," patronised Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Not so baby-faced these days, but still handsome. #GaryBarlow

60. LEE SHARPE
Despite being a footballer, Sun Woman editor Jane Moore seemed more impressed by the fact Lee was an #ElvisPresley fan, not mentioning his profession at all! "Cheeky Lee loves nights out with the lads," she added. #LeeSharpe

59. PIERCE BROSNAN
Suave Pierce was the incumbent #JamesBond back in 1996. Sun Woman editor Jane Moore claimed he had an "apt Christian name, for he has the most piercing blue eyes." #PierceBrosnan

58. COLIN FIRTH
"Wet breeches clung to every lump and bump when unmarried Colin emerged after a swim as Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Phwoar!" leered Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #ColinFirth

57. HARRISON FORD
Harrison was 54 in 1996 but still a heartthrob. Some say he still is today, aged almost 80, and he definitely retains that timeless charm and twinkle. Try Googling 'Harrison Ford young' to see him at his absolute finest. #HarrisonFord

56. AL PACINO
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore was on fine form as ever: "Though more wrinkled than a prune and only 5ft 7in, Al still sets hearts racing at 56."
Twenty-five years later, I wonder who the wrinkled prune is now? #AlPacino

55. BRUCE WILLIS
Never one to ignore a flaw, Sun Woman editor Jane Moore referred to Bruce's "thinning hair" before trying to make up for it by mentioning his "boyish charm that appeals to women of all ages". #BruceWillis

54. GEORGE MICHAEL
"Undeniably cute despite highlights and stubble, superstar George has a vulnerability that makes women want to rush over and cuddle him," mooned Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. George sadly died in 2016, aged just 53. #GeorgeMichael

53. TOM BERENGER
Best known at the time for Platoon and Someone to Watch Over Me, Tom has more recently appeared in films Inception and American Dresser. #TomBerenger

52. PAUL INCE
The first of only three black men on the countdown, Paul was described by Sun Woman editor Jane Moore as "a darling of the soccer pitch" with his "athletic build, dark brown eyes and cheeky grin". #PaulInce

51. PAUL McGANN
Paul had recently appeared as the Eighth #DoctorWho in 1996, and was described as "the dishiest of the McGann brothers". #PaulMcGann

50. DENZEL WASHINGTON
"The velvet-voiced hunk is too shy to show off one of the best chests in Hollywood," said Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, begging the question how she knew it was one of the best if Denzel didn't show it off? #DenzelWashington

49. JACK NICHOLSON
"Age is no barrier for womaniser Jack, 59," said Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Now 83, Jack retired from acting a decade ago. #JackNicholson

48. KURT RUSSELL
Kurt was "a real bit of rough" according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, but "sorry girls, his long-term lover is #GoldieHawn."
#KurtRussell

47. WILL CARLING
Former rugby captain Will was "linked with Princess Di", which led to his divorce from wife Julia, apparently. Will has always denied such a relationship though. #WillCarling

46. RUUD GULLIT
"Wouldn't you love to be Ruud with Gullit?" Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said, hilariously. The Dutchman has become one of the most respected international soccer players of all time. #RuudGullit

45. PAUL GROSS
The #DueSouth star was the sexiest Mountie on horseback, but said: "I look revolting in the morning." Don't worry Paul, we all look gross in the morning (some of us all day long!). #PaulGross

44. LIAM GALLAGHER
"More super-yob than heart-throb," opined Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. He "dresses like a scruff, but the girls find his bad boy sexuality irresistible." #LiamGallagher #Oasis

43. ALEC BALDWIN
The eldest of the four Baldwin brothers is the first of two to appear in the countdown. Alec has six children, so obviously likes to keep the family brood manifold! #AlecBaldwin

42. JIM CARREY
The rubber-faced comedian was "recently rumoured to have secretly married on-off love #LaurenHolly," said Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, obviously miffed because Jim didn't invite her to his "secret" wedding (the marriage only lasted a year!). #JimCarrey

41. NEIL PEARSON
The Drop the Dead Donkey actor really developed a "thinking woman's crumpet" kind of image in the mid-90s after appearing in crime drama Between the Lines. #NeilPearson

40. ANDY GARCIA
Labelled as "tall, dark and handsome - and incredibly sexy" by Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, who pointed out that his charismatic Cuban looks may make you swoon, but he's been married for 16 years (as if you'd have had a chance otherwise!). #AndyGarcia

39. WILLIAM BALDWIN
A personal favourite of mine. I was left fundamentally changed after seeing Billy as firefighter Brian McCaffrey in the film #Backdraft. These days, he has a recurring role in the #MacGyver reboot. #WilliamBaldwin #BillyBaldwin

38. ERIC CANTONA
"Man Utd captain Eric is one Frenchman with whom we'd like closer diplomatic ties," quipped Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #EricCantona

37. JEROME FLYNN
Described by Sun Woman editor Jane Moore as "craggy-faced" back in 1996, I wonder how she'd describe him now? Known for Soldier Soldier at the time, he's now recognised for #RipperStreet and #GameOfThrones #GoT

36. ANTONIO BANDERAS
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said: "Gorgeous Antonio is married to actress Melanie Griffith and is said to be sensational in bed." Not sure who was claiming this, unless Melanie spoke openly of their carnal activities! #AntonioBanderas

35. DAVID GINOLA
Back in 1996 David was earning £150,000 a year modelling for #NinoCerruti and @HUGOBOSS. These days he campaigns for #TheRedCross and @UNESCO. #DavidGinola

34. PRINCE NASEEM
Described by Sun Woman editor Jane Moore as a "9 stone atomic arab" (he was born in #Sheffield), Naseem retired from #boxing in 2002, citing problems with his hands following surgery. #PrinceNaseem #NaseemHamed

33. DEAN HOLDSWORTH
At the time, the @AFCWimbledon striker doubled as a model and #SkyTV presenter. Later in his career he went into #football management and administration. #DeanHoldsworth

32. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS
"Girls love him, but he treats his women mean," claimed Sun Woman editor Jane Moore, referring to the fact he left his partner #IsabelleAdjani a month before she had their son. #DanielDayLewis

31. DAMON ALBARN
"He lives with millionaire's daughter #JustineFrischmann of #Elastica," said Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Yes, well... perhaps 25 years later we'd better just gloss over that...! #DamonAlbarn #Blur

30. TOM HANKS
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said: "Tom won Oscars for Philadelphia and #ForrestGump, but has never played a sex symbol."
Is 'sex symbol' a role people play, or something attributed to them by others? Let's not get too deep! #TomHanks

29. LIAM NEESON
Back in 1996, the Schindler's List star was married to actor #NatashaRichardson, who sadly passed away in 2009. #LiamNeeson

28. TIM ROTH
"Pulp Fiction star Tim isn't a typical heart-throb," charmed Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. "He's played a junkie and a rapist - but his charisma and moody looks are dangerously attractive." #TimRoth

27. ROGER BLACK
Success at the Atlanta Olympics earned Roger the nickname "Sex On Legs", according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. "His girlfriend, French athlete #ElsaDevassoigne, is said to agree." #RogerBlack

26. MATTHEW PERRY
The #Friends star was "fancy free" after "ditching Pretty Woman #JuliaRoberts", Sun Woman editor Jane Moore informed us. #MatthewPerry

25. DAVID SCHWIMMER
The second of three #Friends actors to appear in the list, David "has a shy smile and chocolate-drop eyes that make every girl want him as a pal," claimed Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #DavidSchwimmer

24. BILL PULLMAN
Bill's "rugged good looks" earned him the tag of "the new #HarrisonFord", according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Twenty-five years later, I wonder who the new #BillPullman is?

23. VAL KILMER
In 1996, Val was best known for playing #Batman opposite Number 42 in this countdown, #JimCarrey, as the Riddler. In the last quarter century Val's had some rough times, including two tracheotomies, but has thankfully beaten throat cancer. #ValKilmer

22. PETER ANDRE
Pop idol Peter was known for his amazing body back in 1996. Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said: "He's single, but recently said he's looking for love." In 2004, Peter met glamour model #KatiePrice... #PeterAndre

21 NICK BERRY
The former #EastEnders actor was riding high as the star of police series #Heartbeat. Nick left the drama in 1998 and has now retired from acting. #NickBerry

20. GARY COLE
Gary was at the peak of his fame playing evil Lucas Black in the drama #AmericanGothic back in 1996. Nowadays he lends his talents to shows like Suits, Veep and #FamilyGuy. #GaryCole

19. NOAH WYLE
The ER star claimed women fans (only women fans, you'll note) plagued his nurse mum with phone calls at her hospital. #NoahWyle

18. ROBSON GREEN
Beating his Soldier Soldier stablemate #JeromeFlynn by 19 places in the countdown, Geordie Robson now does a lot of angling on TV. #RobsonGreen

17. MATT LeBLANC
The highest placed #Friends feller in the countdown, Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said: "Matt says mum Pat - who rings him twice daily - is his number 1 lady." #MattLeBlanc

16. JOHNNY DEPP
Teen idol, pirate, chocolatier, wizard... Johnny's played 'em all. He even looked sexy in an angora sweater in Ed Wood. #JohnnyDepp

15. KEVIN COSTNER
The ever-charming Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said: "Movie mogul Kevin, 41, still makes women go weak at the knees despite his age and receding thatch." #KevinCostner

14. CHRISTIAN SLATER
"The #JamesDean of the 90s, Christian loves booze and lives in the fast lane," said Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #ChristianSlater

13. ALLY McCOIST
"Rangers and Scotland footie star Ally does an impression of #SeanConnery on his answerphone," wrote Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. Another of her priceless gems. #AllyMcCoist

12. SEAN BEAN
Sean was known most for playing Sharpe, but first caught people's eye as rugged gamekeeper Mellors in Lady Chatterley's Lover. Now we all know him for getting killed in #GameOfThrones #GoT. #SeanBean

11. TOM CRUISE
Sitting just outside Sun Woman's Top 100 Hunks of 1996 is the pocket rocket himself, #TomCruise. Some of the chaps who edged him out of the top ten might surprise you, but then this was 25 years ago. Times have changed...!

10. MICHAEL FRENCH
Into the inner sanctum of Sun Woman's Top 10 Hunks of 1996 we go, and I hear everybody gasp: "Who?"
#MichaelFrench was a big hit in #EastEnders at the time, but 25 years later you realise how fleeting and fickle fame can be.

9. ROSS KEMP
Another #EastEnders actor in the Top 10 (not the first or last!), Ross "oozed sex appeal", according to Sun Woman editor Jane Moore. #RossKemp

8. JAMIE REDKNAPP
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said: "The stylish Liverpool midfielder is a dream to watch on and off the pitch, and he receives sackfuls of perfumed fan mail from female fans every week." #JamieRedknapp

7. SEAN CONNERY
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore was on her usual blisteringly charmless form: "The original #JamesBond has more lines than British Rail, but at 66 he's still a dream." Sadly, Sean passed away last October, aged 90. #SeanConnery

6. PAUL NICHOLLS
Yet another #EastEnders actor in the top ten, this time the 17-year-old who played Joe Wicks in the soap. In 2017, Paul fell down a waterfall in #Thailand and spent three days stranded at the bottom with broken legs before he was discovered. #PaulNicholls

5. MEL GIBSON
Sun Woman editor Jane Moore said that Mel had recently been voted the fantasy lover with whom most wives would cheat on their husbands. #MelGibson

4. KEANU REEVES
Described by Sun Woman editor Jane Moore as "gorgeously vacant", Keanu's name means 'cool breeze over a mountain' in Hawaiian. #KeanuReeves

3. BRAD PITT
It's The Big Three in Sun Woman's Top 100 Hunks of 1996. #BradPitt has remained a perennial heart-throb since he first got noticed in Thelma and Louise.

2. DAVID DUCHOVNY
It's all over the front page! #TheXFiles star was hot property back in 1996, at the height of Muldermania. #DavidDuchovny

1. GEORGE CLOONEY
So there it is, ER star George was officially the top hunk of 1996, as voted by readers of Sun Woman. George had recently swapped his white doctor's coat for #Batman's black rubber suit (not his best career move). #GeorgeClooney