The paparazzi are getting ready for the annual unveiling of the prime ministerial physique on a Cornish beach, but there was a time when David Cameron’s naked torso was envied by world leaders. Tom Fletcher, a former Downing Street adviser who has just published a book called Naked Diplomacy, recalls Cameron’s first G8 summit in Canada in 2010. The PM went for a 6am lake swim and soon had the other leaders fawning over this young, vigorous new man.

All apart from Silvio Berlusconi. Fletcher recalls the Italian storming off and coming back ten minutes later with a pile of photos of himself. “He was naked except for a pair of very tight ‘budgie-smuggler’ Speedos,” Fletcher said. “Lightly oiled and doing some body bulging. He handed them out to the leaders of the free world.” I suppose it showed he had nothing to hide.

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Photo credit: LUIS ACOSTA / GETTY IMAGES