People are having a hard time working out if this is Berlusconi or a waxwork

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has been attempting a comeback to the Italian political scene of late.

However, it seems his unusual new appearance has received far more attention than his actual political policies.

Berlusconi has addressed supporters at rallies of his Forza Italia party over the past few weeks in a bid to restore his centre-right party to its former glory. The businessman and AC Milan owner is also attempting to overturn a ban on serving political office which was handed down by an Italian court in 2013.

But the veteran politicians's appearance onstage at a recent European People's Party meeting has baffled some onlookers.

With his deep orange tan and unfeasibly flat forehead some have said the flamboyant 81-year-old now resembles a Madame Tussauds waxwork rather than a living person.

"Holy s***, this is actually Silvio Berlusconi and not a robot version programmed to kill" said user Chris Scullion.

While Tony Dowd said: 'His entire head is as real as Katie Price's chest.'

The businessman has been plagued by scandals in recent years, most notably for his notorious "bunga-bunga" sex parties. His conviction for paying for sex with 17-year-old nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, aka "Ruby the Heartstealer", was overturned in 2014.

In 2004 pictures of him wearing a bandana while holidaying with Tony and Cherie Blair emerged in the UK press. It was speculated at the time that he was undergoing treatment for a hair transplant.