Lando Norris was left fuming with Max Verstappen before the Las Vegas Grand Prix had even started, as he accused his title rival of ‘taking the p***’ on the formation lap

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Lando Norris was not happy with Max Verstappen before the Las Vegas Grand Prix over the weekend(Image: Glenn Dunbar, LAT Imagesvia Getty Images)

Lando Norris slammed Max Verstappen for “taking the p***” before the Las Vegas Grand Prix had even got underway. The championship leader was fuming with how his Red Bull rival was behaving during the formation lap.

Team radio from the McLaren driver reveals what was going through his mind as all cars approached the grid. Norris fumed: “He’s taking the p*** with how big a gap he’s leaving. It’s way over the allowance.” His team responded: “We see that, Lando.”

Norris raged on: “Come on! He’s just taking the p*** here. You can’t do this. It’s ten car lengths, no?” McLaren again replied: “We see that Lando.”

The rulebook doesn’t specify exactly how many car lengths are necessary on the lap. Instead, they loosely state that “the formation must be kept as tight as possible.” Safety car conditions are when drivers can be “no more than ten car lengths apart.”

Norris notably performed two fewer burnouts than the five Verstappen executed at the conclusion of the formation lap. Drivers received orders to spin their tyres additional times due to the cool nighttime conditions in Las Vegas.

The race then kicked off with Verstappen securing a superior start to Norris. He passed his championship opponent when the Brit braked too deeply approaching the opening corner.

Norris admitted afterwards: “I messed up turn one – it was pretty poor from me. I braked too late. So yeah, it was all on me; pretty poor from myself.”

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F1 star Lando Norris had a weekend to forget in Las Vegas(Image: Getty Images)

McLaren team principal Andre Stella has hinted that Norris was annoyed by Verstappen’s actions, revealing: “Instinctively, actually, I thought at the pit wall to tell Will to say like, ‘Tell him to stay calm’, but we don’t know whether that was an influence or not.”

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko claims McLaren told Norris to attack and overtake Verstappen when they said: “we’re going to get Max.” Marko told Sky Germany: “He [Verstappen] was able to easily maintain the pace of those behind him and therefore save the tyres.

“We also stayed out longer than everyone else. Of course, we knew the condition of the competitors’ tyres, and the funniest thing was the message that came from McLaren: ‘Attack Max, overtake him.’

“And then he hammered in one fastest lap after another, just to make things clear. But he did it with such confidence and ease.

“We had no problems at all. Lando had some issues at the end, because he was two or three seconds slower. Unfortunately, there was no one there who could capitalise on that.

“But from the first lap… I wouldn’t say [Max] won the start. He won the first corner and practically forced Norris into the mistake.”

Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since his skiing accident in 2013

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Schumacher’s family have kept Michael’s health a closely-guarded secret(Image: Andreas Rentz, Getty Images)

Michael Schumacher’s family have taken an even stricter approach towards who can see the Formula One legend. The Ferrari icon has been out of the public eye since his life-changing accident 12 years ago.

In December 2013, Schumacher sustained a serious head injury while skiing in the French Alps. After colliding with a rock, he was put into a medically induced coma for several months before being moved back to his family home in Lake Geneva the following year.

Since then, he has been under the continuous care of his wife and medical professionals. The family has kept details of his condition private, allowing only a select few to visit him, despite numerous rumours, stories and even an extortion attempt at leaking such information.

Nightclub bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan, 54, was sentenced to three years in prison in February this year after plotting to use 900 personal photos and nearly 600 videos of Schumacher to demand £12million from his family.

He threatened to upload them along with confidential medical records onto the dark web. However, Tozturkan is currently free after posting bail worth 10,000 euros (£8,800), according to Bild.

Markus Fritsche, 54, who worked for a security firm responsible for protecting the family home, was accused of conspiring to steal photographs and medical details from a computer and passing them on to Tozturkan. He denied any involvement in the extortion.

Fritsche was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Wuppertal district court, while Tozturkan’s 31-year-old son Daniel Lins was given a six-month suspended sentence for assisting in the plot.

One of the two hard drives which the data was stored on has not been recovered, with the Schumacher family since making it clear that they want a harsher punishment for the trio. During the appeal hearing on November 14, Lins withdrew his appeal, meaning his suspended sentence became legally binding.

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Michael Schumacher was seriously injured in a skiing accident in the Alps(Image: Getty)

He announced he would no longer testify in the trial as the son of the main defendant. His father had also announced shortly before that he would no longer make any statements.

At the appeal trial this month, the Schumachers’ long-serving manager Sabine Kehm spoke about the blackmail attempt as a witness. Kehm, 60, who is one of the few people included in the family’s inner circle, cited the increased mistrust as a result of the ordeal as a reason for Corinna now granting even fewer people access to her husband.

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Few people outside of the Schumacher family have been given access to see the F1 legend(Image: Getty)

Kehm told the court: “The breach of trust has led to the family keeping more distance from the people who work for them, to being more cautious.

“I personally find it extremely perfidious that they want to exploit the suffering like this, so it’s clear that the family is taking a tougher stance towards their members.”

Among those included in the inner circle are Corinna, her children Mick and Gina-Maria Schumacher, Kehm and close Formula One friends Ross Brawn, Jean Todt, Gerhard Berger, Luca Badoer and Felipe Massa.

The Unsolved Mystery of the Season

Regardless of who ultimately lifts the championship trophy this season, one baffling mystery remains unsolved in the Formula 1 paddock: What on earth has happened to Oscar Piastri? Since the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the young Australian has suffered what some are calling the “biggest mathematical title collapse in F1 history.”

While pundits point to a myriad of technical factors—struggles on low-grip tracks, a lack of title-fighting experience, and the resurgence of both Lando Norris and Red Bull—a far more personal and psychological drama appears to be unfolding behind the scenes. It is a story of broken trust, perceived favoritism, and a mental battle that is slowly eroding the confidence of one of the sport’s brightest talents.

The Monza Turning Point: When Trust Was Broken

To understand Piastri’s current spiral, we must rewind to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. According to recent analyses and Piastri’s own guarded comments, this race was the catalyst for a deep-seated psychological shift.

The controversy centers on a specific team order. Piastri was instructed to hand back second place (P2) to his teammate, Lando Norris, after Norris suffered a slow pit stop. On the surface, it looked like a team trying to balance fairness. However, for Piastri, it felt like a betrayal.

Critics argue that McLaren crossed a line. By interfering with a normal racing situation—a slow pit stop is, after all, just part of the “luck of the draw” in racing—the team appeared to manipulate the race result to favor Norris. This decision reportedly broke a pre-race agreement between the drivers that slow stops were simply “part of racing.”

In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, drivers thrive on confidence and the absolute belief that their team is nonpartisan. When that belief is shaken, paranoia sets in. For the first time in 2025, Piastri was given a clear signal: in a 50/50 situation, the team would lean towards Lando.

A Lingering Trauma

This wasn’t a momentary frustration; it was a psychological blow that has festered. In a recent interview on the Beyond the Grid podcast, when asked about a difficult weekend in Baku, Piastri immediately deflected to mention Monza.

“It was very telling,” notes F1 analyst Aldas. “The very first thing he went to was actually to mention the previous race in Monza, indicating very clearly that the controversial team order swap was still very much on his mind.”

Piastri admitted that “things in the lead-up” to Monza were “not the most helpful,” confessing that the event had a lingering impact on his driving. When a driver is battling their own teammate for a title, they operate with a necessary level of paranoia. They need to know they are on equal footing. Since Monza, Piastri seems to have lost that certainty.

The “Accidental” Instagram Scandal

The tension reached a bizarre peak during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. In the lead-up to Free Practice 3, Piastri’s official Instagram account reposted a controversial quote from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The quote explicitly claimed that McLaren was favoring the British driver, Norris, over Piastri because Norris possessed “more star power, more marketability, and more camera presence.”

The post was deleted after a few hours, but the damage was done. When confronted, Piastri offered a vague explanation: “I woke up this morning and saw it… maybe I accidentally did it. Obviously, it was not intentional.”

Coincidence or Subconscious Confirmation?

While some may dismiss this as a “fat finger” mistake, the implications are hard to ignore. For that specific quote to appear on his feed, Piastri (or the algorithm curating his feed) must have been engaging with content related to McLaren’s favoritism.

“To call this social media slip-up a simple coincidence to me is just way too convenient,” argues Aldas. “He could have accidentally shared a post about literally anything… but no, he accidentally shared a post that was literally talking about his team favoring Lando over him.”

The incident suggests that Piastri is actively consuming media that validates his fears: that the team prefers his teammate. Whether he was reading the comments to see fan support or intending to send it privately to a friend, the “accident” reveals where his head is at. He is focused on the narrative of betrayal.

The Cost of Lost Confidence

The results speak for themselves. This psychological burden has coincided with a disastrous run of form. Piastri has failed to win a race or qualify on pole in his last eight outings and has missed the podium in seven of them.

This is not just a slump; it is a crisis of confidence. The seed of doubt planted in Monza has grown into a mental block that is affecting his on-track performance.

As the season draws to a close, the warning signs are flashing red. This paranoia cannot continue to fester. If Piastri genuinely feels the team is working against him, it will not only limit his potential at McLaren but could eventually lead to an untenable situation where he is driven out of the team entirely.

For Oscar Piastri, the battle is no longer just against the other 19 drivers on the grid; it is a battle against the voice in his head telling him that his own team might be his biggest rival.

The neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip were supposed to illuminate the crowning jewel of Lewis Hamilton’s maiden season in red. Instead, they cast long, harsh shadows over what has arguably become the seven-time World Champion’s darkest hour.

As the checkered flag fell on a disastrous Sunday night in the Nevada desert, the mood within the Ferrari hospitality unit was not just somber; it was toxic. Lewis Hamilton, the man heralded as Maranello’s golden signing, looked less like a gladiator and more like a man defeated by his own dream. His words in the media pen were not the polished PR spiel of a corporate athlete but the raw, bleeding wounds of a competitor pushed to the brink.

“My worst season ever,” Hamilton admitted, his voice void of hope. “A horrendous weekend.”

There was no filter. No “we go again.” Just the brutal honesty of a driver who had qualified 20th on pure pace—dead last—and clawed his way back to a negligible P10 finish. It was a performance that exposed the fundamental flaws in the Ferrari package and, perhaps more worryingly, the deepening fractures within the team itself.

But what happened next was not the standard damage control we have come to expect from the Prancing Horse. It was a moment that may well define the future of the Scuderia, a flashpoint where leadership styles collided, and a Team Principal decided to gamble everything on the human spirit of his driver.

The Corporate Muzzle vs. The Racer’s Heart

In the immediate aftermath of the Vegas catastrophe, the hierarchy at Ferrari made its stance clear. John Elkann, the Chairman of Ferrari and the custodian of its illustrious brand image, reportedly issued a directive that was as cold as it was corporate: “The drivers need to talk less.”

Translation: Silence the emotions. Protect the brand. Stop feeding the media vultures who are circling the carcass of our championship hopes.

In the rigid, historical culture of Ferrari, the Chairman’s word is usually gospel. To defy it is to invite ruin. But Fred Vasseur, the man tasked with the impossible job of resurrecting Ferrari’s glory days, had a different idea. He didn’t just ignore the directive; he publicly dismantled it.

Vasseur’s subsequent statement to the press was nothing short of revolutionary for a Ferrari Team Principal. He didn’t offer hollow excuses for the P10 finish. He didn’t try to gaslight the Tifosi into thinking the weekend was a “learning experience.” He admitted the car was a failure, validating Hamilton’s despair.

“I prefer raw honesty over manufactured positivity,” Vasseur declared, effectively drawing a battle line between himself and the boardroom in Maranello.

By stating that drivers are “emotional human beings” and that frustration is “necessary,” Vasseur did something extraordinary: he separated the driver from the machine. He made it clear that the failure lay with the engineering, not the man behind the wheel. In doing so, he shielded Hamilton from the corporate wrath of Elkann, acting as a human firewall to protect his star driver’s mental state.

The “Monday Morning” Masterstroke

However, Vasseur’s intervention was not merely a comforting arm around the shoulder. If it had been, it might have been dismissed as soft. What elevated his response to a stroke of leadership genius was the twist that followed his defense.

Vasseur shifted the narrative from a defensive crouch to an offensive challenge. He reframed the entire situation with a single, powerful sentiment: “What Hamilton tells the media five minutes after the race doesn’t matter. What matters is what he brings to the factory on Monday morning.”

Read that again. It is a profound statement.

Vasseur is telling Hamilton—and the world—that the emotional explosion on Sunday night is valid. Scream, shout, tell the press the car is a tractor. Get it out of your system. But once the adrenaline fades and the sun rises on Monday, the job begins.

This is a psychological pivot point. Vasseur is not silencing Hamilton’s anger; he is asking him to weaponize it. He is channeling that raw frustration away from destructive media soundbites and into constructive engineering debriefs. It is a demand for leadership. He is effectively saying, “Okay, Lewis, you are angry. We hear you. Now, use that anger to help us fix this mess.”

It is a protective shield and a sharpening stone all at once. By validating the emotion, Vasseur removes the guilt Hamilton might feel for his outburst. By demanding Monday morning action, he restores Hamilton’s agency. He stops Hamilton from being a victim of the car and turns him into the architect of its solution.

A Fractured Empire?

This bold move, however, comes with significant risks. It exposes a dangerous internal fracture at Ferrari. On one side, you have John Elkann, representing the old guard—image-obsessed, disciplined, and demanding silence. On the other, you have Fred Vasseur, representing the racing operation—pragmatic, authentic, and focused on the human element of performance.

Caught in the middle are the drivers. Charles Leclerc, who has suffered alongside Hamilton with the same operational failures and radio outbursts, is watching closely. Vasseur’s defense applies to him too, but the dynamic with Hamilton is unique. Hamilton was brought in to lead, to bring that winning mentality from Brackley to Maranello. If Elkann’s corporate muzzle had prevailed, Hamilton might have checked out mentally, retreating into a shell of PR-friendly apathy.

Vasseur’s refusal to surrender to the “talk less” narrative keeps the fight alive. He insists that Ferrari still has the pace to win in Qatar or Abu Dhabi. To the outside observer, looking at the points gap and the P20 qualifying sheet, this seems like delusion. But inside the team, it is a calculated psychological anchor. If the boss believes, the driver cannot afford to give up.

The Final Test of 2025

As the Formula 1 circus packs up and leaves the neon glare of Vegas, the 2025 season effectively has two races left but three possible endings.

In the first scenario, Hamilton responds to Vasseur’s call. He takes the embarrassment of Vegas and channels it into a ferocious final stand, proving that his Team Principal’s faith was not misplaced. He shows up on Monday morning not as a defeated legend, but as a hungry engineer, ready to build for 2026.

In the second scenario, the operational chaos that has plagued Ferrari all year continues. The pit stops are slow, the strategy is flawed, and the car remains unpredictable. If this happens, Vasseur’s bold defense will look like a miscalculation, and the rift between him and Elkann could become unbridgeable.

But it is the third scenario that offers the most intrigue. Perhaps, just perhaps, something shifts behind the closed doors of the factory. The work that Vasseur challenged Hamilton to deliver actually happens. We might see the first real glimpses of the 2026 project—the very reason Hamilton traded Silver for Red in the first place.

Because let’s be honest: 2025 is over. The championship is gone. The fight for second place is mathematically impossible. The real battle now is for the soul of the team and its trajectory into the new regulations.

Fred Vasseur has drawn his line in the sand. He has chosen his fighter, even at the expense of defying his chairman. He has bet his reputation on the idea that a motivated, angry, and vocal Lewis Hamilton is better than a silent, compliant one.

Now, the entire Formula 1 world waits with bated breath to see which version of Lewis Hamilton walks through the factory gates on Monday morning. Will it be the disillusioned veteran looking for an exit? or the ruthless champion ready to build a legacy?

In the silence of the factory, away from the cameras and the flashing lights, the real race has just begun. And for Ferrari, it is a race they simply cannot afford to lose.

The Formula 1 paddock is no stranger to whispers, but the rumors erupting in the wake of the Las Vegas Grand Prix feel less like gossip and more like the tremors of an impending earthquake. In a development that threatens to reshape the sport’s power dynamics, leaked reports suggest that former Red Bull Racing titan Christian Horner is orchestrating a sensational return to the grid—not just as a team principal, but as a major stakeholder in Aston Martin.

The Catalyst: Civil War at Aston Martin

The dominoes began to fall with revelations of intense internal friction at Aston Martin’s Silverstone HQ. Andy Cowell, the former Mercedes engine guru who took the reins as Group CEO, is reportedly on the chopping block after barely a year in the role.

Sources close to the team describe a “clash of titans” between Cowell and the team’s newest and most valuable asset, Adrian Newey. Newey, arguably the greatest designer in F1 history, didn’t join Aston Martin merely to draw cars; he joined as a Managing Technical Partner and co-owner. This unique status gives Newey a direct line to team owner Lawrence Stroll and an influence that eclipses traditional hierarchy.

When visions collided regarding the technical direction for the pivotal 2026 regulations, the writing was on the wall. In a battle between a team principal and a partner-owner like Newey, there is only one winner. While some suggest Cowell may be shuffled to oversee the incoming Honda engine project, others believe a complete exit is imminent, leaving a power vacuum at the very top of the team.

Enter Christian Horner: The $100 Million Play

This leadership void appears to be the precise landing zone Christian Horner has been waiting for. Since his high-profile departure from Red Bull in September 2024, Horner has been a free agent with a very expensive golden parachute. His settlement is rumored to be between $70 million and $100 million—a war chest that changes the nature of his return entirely.

Horner isn’t polishing his CV for a standard job interview. According to insiders, he is seeking a role that mirrors the absolute control he wielded at Red Bull, bolstered by a direct financial investment in the team. He doesn’t just want to run the show; he wants to own a piece of it.

For Lawrence Stroll, a billionaire whose ambition is matched only by his ruthlessness, this proposition is tantalizing. Stroll has built the infrastructure, the factory, and the partnerships to win. Now, he needs a general who knows how to conquer the empire. Horner, a businessman with deep commercial acumen and a proven championship pedigree, fits the bill perfectly.

The Dream Team Reunion

Perhaps the most terrifying prospect for rival teams is the potential reunification of Horner and Newey. This duo turned Red Bull into a juggernaut, capturing multiple championships and shattering records. Despite rumors of friction during the chaotic end of their Red Bull tenure, sources insist that the relationship remains professional and effective.

If Newey, who holds a vested interest in the team’s financial and competitive success, gives the green light, it validates Horner immediately. A Horner-Newey axis at Aston Martin, backed by Stroll’s billions and Honda’s engines, would instantly become the most formidable political and technical force on the grid. They have done it before, and with the 2026 regulation reset looming, they are perfectly positioned to do it again.

The Verstappen Complication

However, no F1 drama is complete without a twist. Lawrence Stroll has made no secret of his ultimate desire: to put Max Verstappen in an Aston Martin. But the path to Max leads through his father, Jos Verstappen, whose relationship with Christian Horner is famously toxic.

The tension between Horner and the Verstappen camp was a defining subplot of the last few years. Bringing Horner into Aston Martin could be the single move that destroys Stroll’s chances of signing the four-time World Champion. It is a high-stakes gamble. Does Stroll prioritize a proven team leader in Horner, or does he keep the door open for the star driver?

A Statement of Intent

As Aston Martin languishes in seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, the need for change is desperate. The momentum of early 2023 has evaporated, and the team needs a catalyst to reignite its championship charge.

While names like Andreas Seidl and Mattia Binotto have been floated, none possess the sheer magnetic force—or the investment capital—of Christian Horner. His return would be a clear signal that Aston Martin is done playing the underdog.

For now, the team remains silent, insisting their focus is on the final races of the 2025 season. But behind the closed doors of motorhomes and boardrooms, the pieces are moving. If this deal goes through, it won’t just be a hiring; it will be a hostile takeover of the sport’s competitive order. Christian Horner is coming for the crown, and this time, he’s paying for the privilege.

A Championship on the Brink

What began as a heartbreaking Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas has spiraled into a full-blown crisis for McLaren, threatening to derail a fairytale season just as the championship trophy seemed within reach. The Formula 1 paddock is reeling from the news that the FIA has launched a comprehensive investigation into the Woking-based team, fueled by “new evidence” that suggests their double disqualification in Las Vegas might not have been a simple setup error, but part of a much deeper, more systemic issue.

Overnight, the atmosphere within McLaren has shifted from disappointment to high-alert tension. The team, which has been the surging force of the 2024 season, is now under the heaviest scrutiny on the grid. The FIA is no longer just checking plank wear measurements; they are connecting dots between the failures in Vegas and irregularities quietly identified weeks earlier in Brazil.

The “Hidden Trick” Exposed?

To understand the gravity of the situation, we have to look back at the Brazilian Grand Prix. It was there that the FIA first noticed a disturbing trend: several teams appeared to be running their cars aggressively low to the ground without suffering the expected wear on the wooden plank—the primary measure of ride height legality.

New reports suggest the “trick” involved heating titanium skid blocks embedded within the plank. When heated, the titanium expands by tiny fractions of a millimeter, protruding just enough to take the brunt of the impact with the asphalt. This protects the wood from wearing down. Once the car cools in parc fermé, the metal contracts, and the plank appears untouched and legal. It’s a brilliant, if controversial, engineering loophole that allows cars to run lower for more downforce and speed.

The FIA cracked down on this immediately after the Brazil Sprint, instructing teams to remove such devices. This intervention is the smoking gun the governing body is now examining.

Connecting the Dots to Vegas

The timing of McLaren’s sudden struggles is what has set off alarm bells. In Las Vegas—a track with high speeds and cold temperatures—both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffered from excessive plank wear, leading to their devastating disqualification.

The FIA’s investigation is now pivoting to a critical question: Did McLaren unknowingly rely on the “heated skid” phenomenon? The theory is that once the loophole was closed and the specific devices or methods were removed (or simply not working as intended in the Vegas cold), the cars were suddenly exposed to wear they hadn’t predicted.

The numbers from the technical report are damning in their consistency. Norris’s plank was found to be 0.07mm and 0.12mm below the limit, while Piastri’s was 0.04mm and 0.26mm under. These aren’t random jagged scratches from a single curb strike; they represent consistent, rhythmic grounding. The fact that both cars failed in the same way suggests a modeling failure rather than bad luck.

Forensic Intensity

The investigation is described as having “forensic intensity.” The FIA is demanding everything: data simulations, damage logs, temperature readings, and telemetry. They want to know if McLaren’s simulation models were fundamentally flawed because they were calibrated on data from when the “trick” was active.

This places the team in an impossible position for the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. They must now prove that the Vegas failure was an isolated misjudgment of the track surface, not a symptom of a car that can no longer run legally at competitive ride heights.

The Price of Pressure

For Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the timing could not be worse. Norris holds a fragile 24-point lead over Max Verstappen, while Piastri is tied with the Dutchman. The momentum was entirely with McLaren, but now they are fighting for their credibility as much as their points.

The psychological toll on the garage will be immense. Every mechanic turning a bolt and every engineer adjusting a wing angle knows that one more slip-up won’t just mean a penalty—it could hand the championship to Red Bull on a silver platter. They are forced into a conservative corner, likely having to raise the ride height to ensure legality, effectively sacrificing the raw speed that got them to the front of the grid.

Rivals are Watching

Adding fuel to the fire are the whispers from rival camps. Comments from the Verstappen camp suggest they “knew” the McLarens were illegal in Vegas before the race even ended. If Red Bull, Mercedes, or Ferrari noticed unusual sparking patterns or grounding earlier in the season, they likely fed that information to the FIA, prompting this crackdown.

The Final Verdict

As the circus moves to Qatar, McLaren arrives not as the hunter, but the hunted. The Lusail circuit is fast, flowing, and punishing—a nightmare for ride-height anxiety. The team must deliver a flawless performance under the brightest spotlight of the year.

The FIA has made it clear: they want the championship decided on the track, not in the stewards’ room. But to do that, McLaren must prove their car is legal without the “magic” that might have helped them in the past. The next few days will define not just the 2024 season, but the reputation of a team that dared to dream of glory.

HEARTBREAKING: Shirlie Kemp breaks down after SHARING Doctor’s REPORT on son Roman Kem’s health

Shirlie Kemp has recalled an emotional encounter she had with a fan about her son Roman Kemp’s “powerful” mental health documentary.

The singer is a proud mum to two children, singer-songwriter Harley Moon and presenter Roman. Shirlie shares her kids with Martin Kemp, whom she married way back in 1988.

As well as his telly work, Roman has long been an advocate for mental health. And according Shirley, she is “proud” of him for speaking out about “the heaviest of topics” as “it has to be done”.

Shirlie Kemp ‘proud’ of son Roman

Over the years, Roman has been open about his mental health struggles. In 2021, he fronted a powerful documentary for the BBC called Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency.  The programme looked at how young men are being affected by mental health, after Roman’s friend Joe Lyons took his own life.

And in a recent interview, Roman’s mum Shirlie Kemp opened up about how proud she is of him.

The former pop star went on to recall a time she was left in tears after a heartbreaking conversation with a fan about Roman’s documentary.

Roman has been open about his mental health for years (Credit: ITV)

‘I stood there crying and holding her’

“I was in Marks & Spencer and this young lady came up to me. And she said, ‘Roman’s documentary was so powerful’,” Shirlie said, as Mirror reports.

She went on to reveal that the young lady shared how her brother took his own life. The woman told Shirlie: “‘I wish he could have seen something like that.’

“And I stood there crying and holding her, because you realise that if there is just one person you can save, that’s enough. So I am proud of him for doing that. It’s the heaviest of topics, but it has to be done.”

Roman’s tribute to late friend

Earlier this year, Roman took to social media to pay tribute to his friend, Joe Lyons, five years after his tragic death.

On his Instagram story, Roman shared a clip of Joe animatedly watching and commenting on a Tottenham football match. He was in the Capital studio where their friendship began.

“Can’t believe it’s been 5 years since you’ve been gone bud. Still one of the best commentators I’ve ever heard,” Roman wrote in the caption of this video. “Even if we were meant to be running a national radio show,” he added with the crying with laughter emoji.

He then tagged Joe’s Buddy Line in the post, which is an initiative to get people talking about mental health in collaboration with suicide prevention charity Shout.

ITV Loose Women taken off air as Christine Lampard shares announcement

Loose Women was pulled off air for the rest of the week as host Christine Lampard made an announcement at the end of the ITV show

Loose Women star Christine Lampard dropped a significant update at the end of the programme.

On Wednesday’s (July 9) episode of the popular ITV show, Christine joined panellists Coleen Nolan, Jane Moore, and Mariella Frostrup to discuss current affairs from the UK and beyond.

Yet, as the live show wrapped up, Christine delivered a key announcement about changes to the show’s schedule for the week.

Christine made the unexpected revelation, stating: “That’s all we’ve got time for today and indeed the rest of the week because the racing is on.”, reports Belfast Live.

Christine Lampard made a major announcement at the end of Loose Women(Image: ITV)

She then hinted at what fans can look forward to when Loose Women returns to our screens next week, adding: “But we’ve got some great stuff coming up for you including a catch up with Coleen’s brother Brian.

“Big Brother legend Brian Dowling and we’ll be celebrating Janet Street Porter 50 years on our screens, can you believe that? We’ll see you soon.”

Loose Women is set to make its comeback next Monday, July 14, at its regular slot of 12.30pm.

This follows an emotional moment on Tuesday’s (July 8) show where Denise Welch expressed her desire to “re-do” her son Matty Healy’s upbringing.

Denise Welch became emotional as she admitted she wishes she could re-do Matty Healy’s childhood(Image: ITV)

The 67 year old television personality has previously been candid about her struggles with addiction in her youth, and made the decision to become sober 13 years ago.

During a heartfelt conversation about living in the present, Denise was visibly moved as she admitted: “When you do reflect you have to forgive yourself for realising… I always get emotional because I wish that I could re-do bits of particularly Matty’s (Healy) childhood, because I was coping with addictions and self-medication..”

Tears welled up as Nadia consoled her, praising Denise as “the most proud, present mum”, prompting Denise to reply: “Matty and I talk about it, and we’re so close I just wish I could do it again”.

As Christine brought up Matty’s success headlining Glastonbury with his band The 1975, Denise expressed: “I’m incredibly proud, it’s just when I look at things, why couldn’t I? You know..”

IT’S OKAY TO REST NOW, MUM… 💔 Esther Rantzen’s Daughter Breaks Down in Floods of Tears as She Begs Britain: ‘Let My Hero Go in Peace – She’s Fought Enough!’ The Heartbreaking Plea That’s Got the Nation in Bits Just Days Before TV Legend’s 85th Birthday Bash – But Will Cruel Laws Steal Her Final Wish?

Oh, Britain, grab the tissues – because if this doesn’t rip your heart out and stamp all over it, nothing will. In a gut-wrenching, tear-jerking moment that’s left the nation sobbing into their cornflakes, Rebecca Wilcox, the devoted daughter of our beloved TV queen Dame Esther Rantzen, has unleashed a soul-shattering plea that’s echoing from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. With her voice cracking like a thunderclap and tears streaming down her face like a monsoon, the 45-year-old journalist choked out the words no child should ever have to utter: “I hold her hand every night and whisper, ‘It’s okay to rest now, Mum…’ She’s tired. She’s in pain. And yet the law keeps her trapped in suffering. All she wants is peace – is that too much to ask?”

As Dame Esther, the indomitable force behind That’s Life!, ChildLine, and a lifetime of battling the bullies and the bad guys, braces for her 85th birthday this weekend, her family’s world is crumbling under the weight of stage-four lung cancer’s merciless advance. Diagnosed in January 2023, the disease that once seemed tamed by a “miracle drug” has roared back with a vengeance, leaving the 84-year-old icon – once the scourge of dodgy double-glazing salesmen and a champion for the voiceless – gasping for breath, tethered to an oxygen tank, and crying out for the one mercy the UK still denies her: the right to die with dignity. Rebecca’s Sky News interview, aired just days ago, was nothing short of a national car crash – a raw, unfiltered torrent of anguish that had viewers reaching for the phone to bombard MPs with demands for change. “If love could save her, she’d live forever,” Rebecca sobbed, clutching a faded photo of her mum in her beehive heyday. “But all I can do now is help her say goodbye… and that’s breaking me.”

This isn’t just a family tragedy; it’s a full-blown national scandal, a blistering indictment of Britain’s “barbaric” laws that force our heroes to suffer in silence while the rest of us rage impotently from the sidelines. With the Assisted Dying Bill – Esther’s last, desperate lifeline – teetering on the edge of parliamentary purgatory after a nail-biting June vote, the clock is ticking louder than Big Ben. Will MPs finally grow a spine and grant this lion-hearted legend the peaceful send-off she deserves? Or will they condemn her to a lingering, agonising fade-out that no one – least of all her adoring family – can bear to watch? As Rebecca’s cries ricochet across the airwaves, Britain is united in fury and heartbreak. Dame Esther Rantzen: the woman who gave abused kids a voice, lonely pensioners a lifeline, and the nation 21 years of unmissable telly gold. Now, she’s begging for one final fight – and we’re all asking: why the hell are we letting her lose?

A Lifetime of Laughter and Lionhearted Battles: The Esther We Adore

Let’s rewind the clock to the woman who became our Saturday night saviour, the one who turned the telly into a weapon against injustice and had us howling with laughter one minute and cheering her on the next. Born Esther Louise Rantzen on June 22, 1940, in the leafy idyll of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, to a middle-class Jewish family – dad Desmond a toy agent, mum Edith a homemaker with a wicked wit – young Esther was a firecracker from the off. Schooled at North London Collegiate, she skipped uni to chase dreams at the BBC, starting as a humble filing clerk before clawing her way up to scriptwriter and researcher. By 1963, she was producing Man Alive, but it was That’s Life! in 1973 that catapulted her to superstardom.

Picture this: a glamorous whirlwind in a power suit and that iconic beehive, Esther skewering con artists with a microphone like a rapier, unearthing scandals from dodgy fridges to fake clairvoyants, all while cooing over skateboarding ducks and singing grannies. For 21 glorious years, the show pulled in 20 million viewers a week – yes, you read that right – blending hard-hitting journalism with sheer daftness. Esther wasn’t just a presenter; she was a crusader. Her exposés toppled rip-off traders, exposed child abuse horrors, and sparked a national outcry that birthed ChildLine in 1986. “I wanted to give kids a phone line to scream down when the world was screaming at them,” she once said, her voice steel wrapped in velvet. By 2006, it merged with the NSPCC, saving countless young lives – a legacy that’s saved over 14 million calls and counting.

But Esther’s empire didn’t stop there. In 2013, at 73, she launched The Silver Line, a helpline for the UK’s 1.7 million lonely over-60s, because “nobody should face their twilight years talking only to the telly.” Knighted as a Dame in 2015 for services to broadcasting and charity, she’s scooped gongs galore: two Baftas, a lifetime achievement award, and the hearts of a generation. Married twice – first to BBC producer Desmond Wilcox (they had three kids: Miriam, Rebecca, and Joshua, plus 10 grandchildren), then a widow in 2000 – Esther’s personal life was as feisty as her on-screen persona. She’s dated everyone from opera singers to politicians, but her true love? The fight. “I’ve spent my life kicking down doors for the underdog,” she quipped in her memoir Esther Rantzen (2005). “Now the door’s slamming shut on me.”

That raw charisma? It’s what makes her story hit like a freight train. Fans still flood X with clips of her grilling a hapless fraudster: “How do you sleep at night, you absolute rotter?” Or the time she confronted a child abuser on live TV, her eyes blazing like laser beams. Esther wasn’t flawless – critics sniped at her “cosy” style or accused That’s Life! of being lightweight – but she was real. Bloody, brilliant, and unbreakable. Until now.

The Shock That Shook the Nation: Cancer’s Cruel Ambush

Spool forward to Christmas 2022: Esther, then 82, feels a nagging tiredness and a lump under her armpit. “I thought it was nothing – just old age catching up,” she later confessed in a tear-stained Mirror exclusive. But January 2023 brought the hammer blow: stage-four lung cancer, the beast that had silently metastasised to her lymph nodes, bones, and spine. No smoker, no family history – just bad, blind luck. “The biggest shock of my life,” she told the BBC, her voice a ghost of its former boom. Prognosis? Months, maybe. But Esther, true to form, rolled up her sleeves. Immunotherapy – a “miracle drug” called Keytruda – bought her time, shrinking tumours and restoring a flicker of her fire. “I’m optimistic,” she declared in a defiant video from her North London home, surrounded by grandkids and her faithful pooch Bella. “I’ve got more fights left in me yet.”

For a while, it worked. Esther jetted to Dignitas in Switzerland, signing up for assisted dying “just in case,” and turned her spotlight on the law that chains the dying to suffering. “I’m not afraid of death,” she told Good Morning Britain in September 2025, her words slicing through the studio like a scalpel. “I’m afraid of dying badly – gasping, gurgling, alone in a hospital bed while my family watches in horror.” Her campaign exploded: petitions with 200,000 signatures, parliamentary pleas, celebrity backers from Prue Leith to Sir Patrick Stewart. “Esther’s courage is unmatched,” Stewart tweeted, racking up 50,000 likes. She even faced down trolls on X, firing back: “If you’ve never watched a loved one drown in pain, keep your opinions to yourself.”

But hope’s a fragile beast. By March 2025, the miracle fizzled. “The drug’s not working anymore,” Rebecca revealed in a 5 News gut-punch, her eyes red-rimmed and voice a whisper of despair. Tumours swelling, bones screaming, breath a ragged wheeze – Esther’s now housebound, her once-vibrant frame a shadow propped by pillows and painkillers that barely dent the agony. “She can hardly shuffle to the garden,” Rebecca wept on Sky, clutching that photo like a lifeline. “Mum used to boogie to ABBA in the kitchen – now she’s apologising for ‘burdening’ us. It’s killing her spirit more than the cancer.”

Palliative care? Heroic, but no match for stage-four’s savagery. Chest-crushing pain, spine like fire, fatigue that flattens her for days. “She’s still sharp as a tack – cracking jokes, planning her birthday cake,” Rebecca told Hello! Magazine in a May 2025 exclusive that had readers blubbing. “But inside, she’s screaming. And the law? It’s chaining her to this hell.”

Rebecca’s Raw, Tear-Stained Rallying Cry: ‘Mum’s Ready – Why Won’t We Let Her?’

Enter Rebecca Wilcox, the middle child turned fierce warrior, who’s become her mum’s megaphone in this merciless maelstrom. A BBC Morning Live presenter and undercover ace in her own right – remember her nailing fake psychics on Watchdog? – Rebecca’s no stranger to the spotlight. But nothing prepared her for this: watching the woman who birthed ChildLine gasp through nights of torment, whispering “It’s okay to rest now, Mum” like a nightly prayer.

Her Sky News meltdown? Pure, unadulterated heartbreak. “She’s coping – but every day’s a battlefield,” Rebecca sobbed, dabbing tears with a trembling hand. “The cancer’s in her lungs, her bones – it’s everywhere. Pills don’t touch it. She’s begging for choice, for dignity. Why are we denying her that after all she’s given?” At 45, married to auditor Jim Moss with sons Ben, 11, and Alex, 9, Rebecca’s juggling her own chaos: work, worry, and the gut-wrench of “what ifs.” “Sleepless nights, haunted by her gasps,” she confessed to Saga Magazine in April 2025, her words a knife-twist. “Mum keeps saying sorry for ‘putting us through this’. That’s her – selfless to the end.”

Rebecca’s not just grieving; she’s gunning for glory. “The Assisted Dying Bill isn’t about death – it’s about life, about control,” she thundered on Loose Women in June, fresh off the Commons vote. Championed by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill scraped through the Commons on June 20 by a razor-thin 314-291 – a historic squeaker that sent campaigners into euphoric hugs outside Parliament. It promises terminally ill adults under six months to live a compassionate out: two docs’ sign-off, psych eval, High Court nod, and a cooling-off period to boot. “Bulletproof safeguards,” Rebecca roared, slamming critics as “scaremongers peddling slippery-slope lies.”

But oh, the backlash! Opponents like Baroness Ilora Finlay howl about coercion – “What about the elderly pressured by cash-strapped kids?” she boomed on Radio 4. Disability voices fear a “death trap” for the vulnerable; religious bigwigs decry it as “playing God.” Rebecca? She’s having none. “This is for terminal cases only – not depression, not disability,” she fired back on GMB in May, pausing mid-sentence to compose herself as tears welled. “Mum’s lucid, determined. She’s not coerced – she’s commanding it. And after ChildLine saved kids from hell, is a peaceful exit too much?”

Esther’s own plea, in a frail video from her sun-dappled lounge, is devastating dynamite. “Turning 85 this weekend – grateful for every cuddle with the grandkids,” she croaked, oxygen mask askew, eyes still sparking like fireworks. “But the pain? It’s a monster. I don’t want to linger, gasping while my babies watch. I want dignity – on my terms. MPs, vote yes. Don’t let fear steal our compassion.” X exploded: #LetEstherChoose trended with 100,000 posts, fans sharing gut-wrench tales of lost loved ones. “My gran begged too – law killed her slow,” tweeted @GriefWarriorUK, racking up 20k retweets. Sir Patrick Stewart piled in: “Esther’s my hero – honour her fight. #AssistedDyingNow.”

The Family Fortress: Siblings, Grandkids, and a Home Filled with Ghosts of Joy

Zoom in on the Wilcox-Rantzen clan, a tight-knit tribe forged in Esther’s fiery furnace. Eldest Miriam, a TV exec, and baby brother Joshua, a composer, have traded boardroom battles for bedside vigils. Their North London pad – once a riot of raucous dinners, ABBA anthems, and Esther’s infamous lemon drizzle cake – is now a hushed haven of photo walls and pill bottles. “We’ve got pics everywhere: Mum with Di at ChildLine launches, her grilling rogues on That’s Life!,” Rebecca told Hello! in a June photoshoot that captured the lads drawing cards for Gran. “Ben and Alex ask, ‘Why’s Nanny sad?’ I say she’s brave, like a superhero. But inside? I’m shattering.”

The grandkids are Esther’s lifeline – 10 little whirlwinds from 4 to 14, showering her with hugs and crayon masterpieces. “She lights up for them,” Rebecca beamed through tears on 5 News in March. “Plays tea parties, reads stories – even with the tank. But she whispers to me, ‘Don’t let them see me fade away’.” The birthday? A low-key luvvie-fest: prosecco pops, cake (drizzle, natch), and Bella the dog’s sloppy kisses. “She’s planning it like her last hurrah,” Rebecca confided to Metro, voice wobbling. “Wants laughs, not last rites. But if the Bill stalls? God help us.”

The Bill’s Rocky Road: From Historic Win to Heart-Stopping Hurdles

November 2024: fireworks in Westminster as the Bill clears second reading by 330-275 – Esther’s shock troops victorious. Leadbeater’s baby: terminally ill Brits over 18, six months max, docs’ double-check, psych screen, judge’s okay. “Safest in the world,” she crowed post-vote. But June 20’s third reading? A sweat-soaked 314-291 squeaker, amendments flying like confetti – no kids’ chats with docs, employer opt-outs nuked. Now in the Lords since June 23, it’s a slog: scrutiny till October, royal assent maybe Christmas. “Too late for me,” Esther admitted in April, apologising to fellow sufferers in a GB News gut-punch. “But for you? Fight on.”

Opponents? A howling gale. Finlay’s “slippery slope” warnings – Canada’s creep to mental health cases – terrify. Docs fret safeguards; faith groups cry “sanctity of life.” Polls? 65% yes (YouGov, April 2025), 70% over-65s (Ipsos). Keir Starmer’s mum on reform; Rishi’s a no. Free vote means chaos – will Lords torpedo it?

Global glare: Netherlands, Belgium thrive with checks; Switzerland’s Dignitas clocks 1,000 yearly, but £15k and jail risks for helpers? “Mum can’t fly alone now,” Rebecca raged on LBC. “She’d die en route. Let her sip tea at home, say goodbyes proper.”

The Bigger Battle: Dignity vs Despair in Britain’s Broken System

This saga’s no solo sob story – it’s a screaming siren for a system that’s creaking at the seams. Prostate, pancreatic, lung: cancers claim 167,000 UK lives yearly, many in agony despite “world-class” palliative care. “Heroic, but human,” Esther penned in her unfinished sequel to Club Sandwich. “Pills blunt, not banish, the beast.” Her fight echoes Doddie Weir’s MND roar, Ruth Madeley’s wheelchair warriorism – celebs shoving the spotlight on suffering.

X’s a warzone: #AssistedDyingNow vs #NoToDeathBill, tales tumbling like dominoes. “Dad drowned in pain – Esther’s my voice,” posts @TerminalTales, 30k likes. Detractors: “Opens floodgates to the frail!” from @LifeSacredUK. Polls scream support, but fear’s the foe – coercion myths, NHS cash crunches.

Esther’s twist? She’s too frail for Dignitas now. “No strength for the flight,” Rebecca wept in March. Trapped: home hell or hasty hospital. “It’s cruel,” she thundered on Independent TV, interview halting in heaving sobs. “Mum founded lifelines – now law’s a noose.”

As the Candles Flicker: A Birthday in the Shadow of Sorrow

This weekend’s bash? Bittersweet as a lemon drizzle gone wrong. Small fry: cake, bubbly, grandkid giggles in the garden (weather permitting). “She wants to dance – or try,” Rebecca told Evoke.ie. But fear lurks: “What if it’s machines, not memories?” The Bill’s limbo – Lords dawdling till year’s end – mocks her. “Glimpse of hope,” she rasped in July. Now? Despair’s dusk.

Rebecca’s close: “Mum’s my rock, my rebel. Watching her wilt? Unbearable.” Siblings tag-team: Miriam’s meals, Joshua’s tunes. “We’re her army,” she vows. But the plea? Piercing. “Contact your MP! Demand dignity!” Flooded lines, 10k letters post-interview.

The Reckoning: Will Britain Betray Its Best?

As bells toll for 85, Esther’s saga scorches: a titan tethered by taboo. Her whisper – “It’s okay to rest” – haunts. Rebecca’s roar? A revolution. Bill or bust, she’s etched eternal: fighter to the fade. Britain, don’t let her down. Let her rest. In peace.

It could be the end of an era for Loose Women, as reports suggest Denise Welch is preparing to walk away from the ITV panel show in favour of a new life across the Atlantic.

The 67-year-old actress, who has been a familiar face on daytime  TV for over a decade, recently caused a stir in the US after appearing on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live. During the show, she spoke candidly about her son Matty Healy’s short-lived romance with Taylor Swift, admitting that “being Taylor’s mother-in-law was a role I’m glad I lost,” before clarifying that she had “nothing against her at all” but found the situation “tricky.”

Denise went on to explain: “You’re not allowed to say anything, and then Taylor writes a whole album about it. But Matty has taken it all in good grace. He’s happy now with his fiancée Gabriella, Gabbriette, who is gorgeous.”

While her comments ruffled some Swifties, insiders claim the actress has been flooded with opportunities in the US. A source told Closer that Welch, who recently visited Matty in Los Angeles to discuss wedding plans, also held “network talks for her own show segment,” adding that “a move to the US is very tempting for Denise – she really misses Matty.”

The source added that Welch feels a strong pull to be by her son’s side during what is described as “the peak of his career.” They said: “He’s getting married, and Denise doesn’t want to be pushed out by an entourage. As his mother, she is his confidant and doesn’t want to let him down. She is torn between her UK family and the US calling, but family always comes first.”

Family games

ITV’s Loose Women has also been hit with sweeping cuts, with episodes reduced to just 30 weeks a year starting in January 2026. According to the insider, “Denise embraces change. She sees that this could be the right moment. She wants stability and, in the golden chapter of her life, wants to choose what fits best. Family is everything, and emotionally she is torn.”

Loose Women star Denise Welch has announced she is returning to an iconic soap role after 15 years away from the show.

Denise Welch, known for presenting Loose Women, is set to reprise her role as Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road after a 15-year hiatus.

The 67-year-old actress, who recently suffered an awkward moment on-air, will return as the Head of French, albeit this time around, she’ll be stepping in as a supply teacher.

Denise expressed her excitement about her comeback, saying: “I’m thrilled to see the return of Steph to Waterloo Road. 15 years older, but certainly not wiser.

“She’ll soon show that time has certainly not dulled her shine! Still unmarried but eternally hopeful, Steph is back as a supply teacher.

“What she is supplying remains to be seen, but I am having a great time stepping back into the shoes of a character I love.

Denise was part of Waterloo Road back in 2006 (Image: GettyImages)

“It’s also been great to reunite with some of my old castmates, like Jason Merrells.”

She teased: “Steph and Jack go back a long way, but will they move forward?! You’ll have to wait and see.”

Waterloo Road’s executive producer, Cameron Roach, was equally enthusiastic about Denise’s return, stating: “Steph Haydock is a Waterloo Road icon, so we knew we had to find the right story if we were to see her back in our world.

“We were thrilled that Denise enjoyed our pitch and that the fans will get to see Steph once more – her one-liners are just as sharp, her lipstick is fiercely drawn, and the staff room atmosphere is changed for good.

The actress is heading back to Waterloo Road (Image: BBC)

“Neil Guthrie has met his match. We can’t wait for the fans to see her episodes.”

Denise featured in the popular BBC series between 2006 and 2010, portraying linguistics expert Steph Haydock.

The programme was taken off air in 2015 following the finale of its 10th series, reports the Mirror.

However, it made a comeback in 2023. The actress had previously expressed her wish to reconnect with her acting heritage, revealing to OK! “I’m on television because I’m gobby and opinionated, and I think people can forget what I really do, and what I’m really good at.

Denise is ‘thrilled’ to be reprising her role on the BBC soap (Image: BBC)

“So I’m going to make a concerted effort to go back to what I do and know.”

Alongside her frequent Loose Women slots, Denise has secured numerous prominent parts in Britain’s most cherished soaps, notably taking on the role of Rovers’ landlady Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street across more than 480 episodes spanning 1997 to 2000.