EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Sir David Attenborough swaps oceans for the opera

Opera singer Danielle de Niese was thrilled to host wildlife presenter Sir David Attenborough in Glyndebourne last week when he attended a performance by Don Giovanni.

And Danielle, 44, who lives on the estate with husband Gus Christie, 56, executive chairman of the Sussex Opera House, had her own wild adventure during the recent West End press night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects Of Love, in which she stars.

“I was locked out of the theater because I didn’t know security was closing the room,” she tells me.

“I went back after midnight to get our stuff – wallets, car keys. Everything was locked inside.

“I was standing there in my Vivienne Westwood dress and Louboutin heels with just my lip gloss and my phone.”

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: And Danielle, 44, who lives on the estate with her husband Gus Christie, 56, executive chairman of the Sussex Opera House, had her own wild adventure during the recent West End press night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects Of Love, in in which she shines

Designer Temperley faces a music snapper lawsuit

The Princess of Wales’ favorite fashion designer, she lives in splendor in the Somerset mansion where newspaper mogul Lord Beaverbrook once discussed war strategy with Sir Winston Churchill.

But now, I can reveal, Alice Temperley seems destined for a battle of her own in the rather austere surroundings of London’s Royal Courts of Justice.

Sometimes described as the “English Ralph Lauren,” 47-year-old Temperley takes on veteran music photographer Jason Sheldon, who has previously fought hard to protect the copyright of his images.

Sheldon, 52, who has fooled everyone from the Rolling Stones to Sir Elton John, has filed a claim in Intellectual Property Enterprise Court against Temperley’s new company, TMLL.

The company was founded in 2021 – the same year its previous company, TL 2021, went bankrupt, with unpaid debts of £31m.

Sheldon declined to comment. But comments he recently made on a social media account suggest he is fully prepared to see Temperley in court – and indeed has paid a £10,000 fee to do so.

‘Good . . . here goes a £10,000 lawsuit. . . claim filed in Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court.” He adds – without naming Temperley or anyone else – that perhaps the alleged “offender” will “respond to the emails again instead of ghosting me.”

Temperley and her company also choose to remain silent. But they’re not the first star opponent Sheldon has taken on.

Eight years ago, he wrote an open letter of complaint to none other than pop star Taylor Swift, accompanied by a photo of the contract that photographers covering Swift’s concerts were required to sign.

A number of Temperley’s former suppliers seem likely to applaud him. One of them, Jay Patel, who owed £19,000 when Temperley’s previous company went bankrupt, commented: ‘We never got a penny from them for all the work we did. disgraceful.’

You will never guess…

That supposedly happily married and heterosexual TV star (who hasn’t been in the headlines) with a recent interest in “personal development” has entered an intriguing relationship with a much younger man, after receiving fan mail five years ago from the gentleman in matter ?

Who knew booming voice Brian Blessed was so in touch with his feminine side?

The 86-year-old actor has noticed an increase in men wearing war paint and earrings. But far from getting annoyed, Brian is actually a fan.

“Nowadays men wear tattoos left, right and center, as well as make-up and jewelry,” he shouts. “And it’s good, it’s healthy, it’s absolutely amazing!”

If only walls had ears, Vivek Singh would no doubt be offered a huge sum to part with a plethora of political secrets.

The TV chef owns the renowned Indian restaurant The Cinnamon Club in Westminster, where many a poppadum-loving politician has lived.

‘Virtually every politician, every MP, every MEP in the last 20 – whatever years,’ the 52-year-old tells me at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards in Park Plaza, Westminster.

“I must have launched more leadership campaigns from my private rooms than anyone can imagine.”

The smart set talks about… The adrenaline junkie with a royal stamp of approval

Carina Evans made history in 2019 as the first woman to ride the St Moritz’s Cresta Run toboggan run in Switzerland, 90 years after women were banned from doing so.

Now she’s made her mark again by winning the King’s Award for Enterprise – one of the first of King Charles’ reign – for her company Podium Pet Products. It sells its natural Be:Loved range, inspired by a family heirloom: a recipe book entitled Farmhouse Cures For Animals.

The 44-year-old army reservist says her success may be down to her training at North Foreland Lodge in Hampshire, a true St Trinian’s, where she fondly remembers girls playing ‘lax’ (lacrosse) and making moves on their male tennis. coaches and take care of themselves.

Women are taking Derby Clash bash by storm

Today may be Derby day at Epsom, but can it live up to the Derby Club Dinner being held at London’s Savoy Hotel this week? For the first time, women were among the guests who were doling out £170 per head.

“There were about 20 or 30,” says one of the club’s old boys. “No one at my table, of course.”

On a side note, one Violet Hesketh, I’m told, has joined the club committee and may well be the person to sharpen it up.

When her grandfather, Jonathan Guinness, now Lord Moyne, ran in the 1973 Lincoln by-election, he called for razor blades to be put in the cells of convicted murderers so they could “do the decent thing.”

Moving at a pace not normally associated with the hereditary peerage, the Earl of Burlington stunned members of Pratt’s, the 166-year-old gentleman’s club he owns in London’s St James’s, by announcing that women would now be admitted. And on Wednesday, the first of the fair sex dined there.

Unfortunately, the innovation was not as serene as the Derby Club Dinner. ‘There was a lot of grumbling [among the men],’ I was told. “Talk about threatened dismissal, that sort of thing.”

Chaplin’s girl longs to be a bridesmaid

Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Laura, 36, had her second wedding ceremony this week to Swiss lawyer Etienne Monnier in Spain, following their wedding in Switzerland earlier this year.

Her sister Kiera, 40, who used to be a bridesmaid, enjoys following her sister down the aisle. “I finally think it’s time to have a man,” says the model, actress, and film producer, who just won the Women’s Rights Advocate Award at the World Influencers And Bloggers Awards in Cannes.

“Funnily enough, I turned 40 this past year and I’ve grown up from having boyfriends. I’m finally a grown woman,” adds Kiera, who, like Laura, is the daughter of Charlie’s son Eugene.

“I was traveling so much and I feel like I’m settled now. I like the slower pace and quieter life.”

Just like silent movie star Charlie.

Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Laura, 36, had her second wedding ceremony to Swiss lawyer Etienne Monnier in Spain this week, following their wedding in Switzerland earlier this year

Andrew Lloyd Webber and his wife Madeleine entered the Epsom races yesterday.

Their horse Emily Upjohn rode to victory with jockey Frankie Dettori in the Dahlbury Coronation Cup.

The theatrical impresario and his other half both attended the racecourse in Surrey and are said to have earned a sum of £242,000.

“They always know they’re on to a winner with this horse,” my husband says at the races.

(Very) modern ways

While some claim to be rock hard, Hikari Yokoyama can at least provide proof of that.

The American-born art conservator endured a painful ancient Indian tradition in which he stands on a Sadhu nail board, the purpose of which is to stimulate blood flow and release trapped energy.

So how did it go? “Everything in my body was screaming to get out,” says Hikari, 40, who is married to art dealer Jay Jopling, 59. “It hurt.”

But she’s glad she stuck with it (or should she?), as it apparently led to “pulsating feelings of sheer elation.” I’m happy to take her word for it.

While some claim to be rock hard, Hikari Yokoyama can at least provide proof of that