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.

Silvio Berlusconi, 81, looked frozen in time, with an orange tan and wrinkle-free forehead, as he appeared at a Forza Italia party meeting

Mr Berlusconi – now 81 – is known to have indulged in plastic surgery and hair transplants in the past

He is currently involved in a legal battle to overturn the ban with some suggesting he could become prime minister again if his political career can be resurrected

Billionaire Mr Berlusconi was ousted from the country's top job in 2011 amid Italy's burgeoning Eurozone debt crisis.

He had also been at the centre of a string of sleazy allegations – including that he held raunchy 'bunga-bunga' parties, attended by showgirls, at his private villa.

He was convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute, but that was later overturned.

However a conviction for tax fraud in 2013 meant he was ejected from the Italian Senate and barred from holding office.

Undeterred, he is currently involved in a legal battle to overturn the ban with some suggesting he could become prime minister again if his political career can be resurrected.

Billionaire Mr Berlusconi was ousted from the country's top job in 2011 amid Italy's burgeoning Eurozone debt crisis

He had also been at the centre of a string of sleazy allegations – including that he held raunchy 'bunga-bunga' parties, attended by showgirls, at his private villa

He has hired British barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC, who practises alongside Amal Clooney at London's Doughty Street Chambers, to fight his case.

Mr Berlusconi has made a remarkable comeback after open heart surgery last year and his Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party is now the lynchpin of a centre-right coalition which is leading opinion polls ahead of the election early next year.

Speaking on a Sunday-night chat show on Italian broadcaster RAI, Mr Berlusconi said he was looking still at other candidates to become prime minister, presumably in case his bid fails.

He said his top pick was a Carabinieri, a military police general, called General Leonardo Gallitelli.

'I have many names, but there is someone who is very capable ... who has had success and is esteemed by everyone, General (Leonardo) Gallitelli,' he said.

He was convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute, but that was later overturned. However a conviction for tax fraud in 2013 meant he was ejected from the Italian Senate and barred from holding office

Mr Berlusconi has hired British barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC, who practises alongside Amal Clooney at London's Doughty Street Chambers, to fight his case to get back into politics