EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Bear Grylls' sister Lara's is set to foray into the ... trends now

Bear Grylls was chased by lions and pulled underwater by snakes when filming his television adventures, but his elder sister, Lara Fawcett, prefers the treacherous waters of politics.

I hear that the PR executive, 57, is due to host a gathering of 'populists' in July — some of whom will be battling it out at the next General Election.

Among them is actor-turned-controversial activist Laurence Fox, veteran Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope, Tory-turned-Reform MP Lee Anderson and an unnamed Labour MP.

The private invitation, promising 'cocktails, canapes, and conversation' at an unspecified house in the North of England, explains: 'We are gathering a group of politically interested, involved and influential individuals who want to ensure that the next group of leaders we choose understand how to best serve those 'ordinary' people'.

Lara, daughter of the late Tory MP Sir Michael Grylls, appears to have been politicised in the Covid pandemic. She tells me: 'During the lockdowns, I became quite disillusioned with everything — the control. I've organised similar events before.'

But will Bear be there? 'No – he's too busy in the jungle.'

While the pop world may be enraptured by Taylor Swift's release of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, opera lovers are far more excited by Danielle de Niese's return to the stage at Glyndebourne this summer.

The soprano, 45, will perform the role of Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow.

'My journey as an artist has always been about using all of my skill sets to blend tradition with innovation and I'm excited to reinvent 120-year-old stories like The Merry Widow for a 2024 audience,' she tells me.

'Opera has a big future ahead, and will still be going in 100 years' time.

'If a star like Taylor Swift can make tortured poetry cool and relevant again, then why can't the same be said for opera? Its stories are timeless.'

She plays a feral young woman in the forthcoming film Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, but Freya Allan was keen to show her sophisticated side at the London premiere.

The 22-year-old actress — an alumna of Harry Potter star Emma Watson's alma mater, Headington School in Oxford — wore a daring but chic vintage Giorgio Armani semi-sheer crystalised halter neck one-piece at the BFI IMAX Waterloo.

Freya, who is best known for her role as Princess Cirilla in hit Netflix fantasy drama The Witcher, is still getting used to fame.

'I always manage to feel incredibly detached from it all,' she says.

Actress Hannah Waddingham, who recently chided a photographer at the Olivier awards for asking her to show a leg, says she has little vanity about her appearance.

The Ted Lasso star, 49, who appears opposite Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling in forthcoming Hollywood film The Fall Guy, says she doesn't worry about how she looks.

Statuesque blonde Hannah says of the role: 'I'm in deep, deep disguise.

'Dark wig, glasses, I basically look like Slash, from Guns N'Roses, which I love. I genuinely don't care what I look like for a role. I look like I've been dug up many times. It's deeply satisfying.'