Cherie Blair shows off her svelte new figure at charity fashion show

As Cherie Blair arrived at Breast Cancer Care's annual fashion show last night, it was astonishingly clear that a weight has been lifted off her shoulders in recent months.

The 54-year-old, who spent the night rubbing shoulders with Strictly Come Dancing stars Brendan Cole and Lisa Snowdon, happily showed off her newly trimmed down frame in a plum confection.

Her svelte appearance was in stark contrast to this time last year, when she attended the same event in a unflattering full-length lace dress.

Slimline Cherie: Mrs Blair showed off her figure at a Breast Cancer Care event in London last night

What a difference a year makes: Cherie last night and right, at the same charity event in 2007

Cherie's battle of the bulge has been well publicised and in recent years she has left no stone unturned in her quest to lose weight.

Following the birth of her youngest son Leo in 2000, Cherie had a consultation with French 'facial analyst' Elizabeth Gray Gibaud, who claims to detect what minerals and salts are lacking from a diet by studying a person's pores and wrinkles.

In 2001 she sought to lighten heavy legs and deflate puffy ankles through New-Age guru Bharti Vyas's brand of lymphatic drainage therapy.

Ready to rumba: Cherie rubbed shoulders with Strictly Come Dancing stars Brendan Cole and Lisa Snowdon