TV weathergirl Sian Lloyd has been named as the winner of Rear of the Year 2007. At 49, Sian - once engaged to Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik - is the oldest ever winner of the coveted title. Although just over half Sian's age, television talent show winner Lee Mead scooped this year's male title.

Watch Sian Lloyd triumph in Rear of the Year 2007

Premium posteriors: history and previous winners

Rear of the Year was first awarded as a one-off accolade in 1976. The lucky recipient was Carry On star and current EastEnder Barbara Windsor. It took five more years for the award to become an annual event and in 1981 Middle England’s favourite pin-up Felicity Kendall was honoured with the title. Another landmark came in 1986 when Michael Barrymore became the first male winner of the award.

Throughout the last 20 years, the award has been dominated by the great and the good of prime time British television. Cast members from each of TV’s leading soap operas have been honoured with the title. Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley won the award in 1995 while Coronation Street temptress Jane Danson was declared the champion in 2000. One year later the award was shared by EastEnders’ John Altman and Brookside’s Claire Sweeney.

Rear of the Year’s only true brush with controversy came in 2002 when the then 16 year old Charlotte Church was named the winner. Since then, the nation’s focus on health and fitness has led to a stream of slimmer winners. Jungle star Alex Best won the women’s award in 2004 while Nell McAndrew and pop idol Will Young triumphed one year later. In 2006, rear supremacy was claimed by ex-footballer Ian Wright and pop star Javine Hylton.