Many had probably hoped they had the seen the back of the notorious – and somewhat frozen – face of Silvio Berlusconi.

But appearing on at a Forza Italia party meeting and an Italian chat show, the country’s longest-serving prime minister since the Second World War showed he is back – and more like a waxwork than ever.

Known to have indulged in plastic surgery and hair transplants in the past, Mr Berlusconi – now 81 – looked frozen in time, with an orange tan and wrinkle-free forehead.