Idris Elba thinks John Legend "deserves" to be named People's Sexiest Man Alive

Idris tweeted: "My G Congratulations brother!!! You deserve it. DO NOT TELL @TheRock He still thinks he's got the title, I didn't have the heart to tell him when I took it.(sic)"

Idris tweeted in response to John sharing a throwback photo of himself alongside the British star and admitted he was "perplexed" to win.

He posted: "1995 John would be very perplexed to be following 2018 @IdrisElba as #SexiestManAlive. Hell, 2019 John is about as equally perplexed but thank you @People for finding me sexy. I'll take it (sic)"

The 47-year-old actor previously admitted he was hoping to hold on to the title for a second year in a row.

He said: "Let it be the first time in history that the Sexiest Man Alive is the same man two years in a row."

And Idris felt that, having had the honour once, he will continue to be the "sexiest" until he dies.

He said: "Here's my philosophy on this. It says Sexiest Man Alive. So as long as I'm alive, I'm still the sexiest."

Meanwhile, 40-year-old John admitted he feels a lot of "pressure" having to follow Idris in holding the title.

He said: "I was excited, but I was a little scared at the same time because it's a lot of pressure.

"Everyone's going to be picking me apart to see if I'm sexy enough to hold this title. I'm [also] following Idris Elba, which is not fair and is not nice to me!"