Renée Zellweger shines at otherwise car-crash Bridget Jones premiere

The Texan-born actress paired the strapless gown, complete with exploding train from the Fall 2000 haute couture collection, with burgundy stilettos and a statement bling ring as she posed up a storm with other well-dressed cast members Leo Woodall, smart in a Loewe chocolate brown corduroy suit, and Hugh Grant, safe wearing a black tux and unbuttoned white shirt.

Other respectably clad co-stars counted Chiwetel Ejiofor, in a black suit with navy suit and tie, Celia Imiere, who was ravishing in a tuxedo with ivory satin lapels, and Sarah Solemani, who adopted the naked dressing trend in a bodysuit and transparent, black embroidered lace frock.

Elsewhere, discouragingly, the whole event descended into mad, candy-floss, Instagram flower walled, Jeff Goldblum jazz hands dressing. What has gone wrong with the premiere circuit? Look back to the first two London openings in this franchise alone, and it’s all Naomi Campbell in dark, flared denim, Keira Knightley in lace vests and Mr Valentino himself, arriving in a dapper pinstripe navy suit.

Best believe Valentino Garavani remained safe at the haute couture shows in Paris last night, as reams of TikTokers took to the violently pink Odeon Luxe Leicester Square carpet in Strictly Come Dancing gold, sequin jumpsuits, ill-fitting floral satin suits worn with exposed bras, Lauren Sánchez style, a blinding number crystal ASOS bags — hell, Made In Chelsea alum Sophie Habboo even helped host the evening in a full, Catwoman second-skin latex suit.

It is blindingly obvious, now, the bar for a premiere night dressing has reached the floor. Anything in a shade so startlingly fluorescent or blisteringly shiny it forces a photographer’s hand to take a snap appears now to be the best choice, as seen at the press tours of Barbie through Wicked. Might it be time for reassessment?