Alison Hammond’s personal trainer reveals the secrets to her 11st weight loss in video of her five-year journey as This Morning star gushes ‘you have made my life so much easier’

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Alison Hammond’s personal trainer has lifted the lid on the quiet, emotional five-year journey that led to the This Morning star’s incredible 11-stone weight loss.

Alison Hammond’s personal trainer has revealed the secrets to her incredible 11st weight loss in a clip shared to Instagram on Sunday

The clip details some of Alison’s favourite moments in her fitness journey as she candidly shared a clip of her using resistance bands to sit up and out of a chair
 
Alison reposted the video as she gushed about how grateful she was to Ellis: ‘Massive thank you to the incredible @ellisgatfield who started my whole fitness journey’

In a moving Instagram clip shared on Sunday, fans were given a rare look at the TV favourite’s transformation, from her earliest, toughest workouts to the confident woman she is today.

Alison and her PT appear to have a strong relationship, as the montage saw the pair laughing together as they worked hard in the gym

Tagging her trainer, Alison shared the clip to her Instagram Stories with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song Can’t Stop playing over the top

The 50-year-old presenter proudly showed herself in the weights section of the gym, demonstrating how far she has come since starting her fitness journey. The montage includes footage of Alison using resistance bands to help herself rise from a chair, before progressing to weighted cycling sessions through her local streets alongside her long-time personal trainer, Ellis Gatfield.

Ellis and Alison posed together as the TV star told him: ‘You never looked down on me and this I will always be grateful for. So happy you can still check in on me and push me’

Reposting the video to her own page, Alison couldn’t hide her gratitude.

“Massive thank you to the incredible @ellisgatfield who started my whole fitness journey,” she wrote.
“I will never forget the time you put into me and how gentle and kind you were when I was struggling. You have made my life so much easier by simple changes and kindness I will never forget.

“You never looked down on me and this I will always be grateful for. So happy you can still check in on me, push me and keep me accountable.”

Over the past five years, Alison has shed an astonishing 11 stone after discovering she was pre-diabetic — a wake-up call that prompted her to overhaul her lifestyle with healthier eating and regular exercise.

In a previous interview, Alison explained how she manages to stay on track while working on The Great British Bake Off, surrounded by irresistible cakes.

“I eat a bit of Paul and Prue’s after they’ve finished judging,” she admitted.
“I only try the ones that got a handshake from Paul or the ones that won. If the judges aren’t impressed, I’m not trying it.”

The star has also been open about rejecting weight-loss jabs, choosing instead to rely on training and moderation.

At her heaviest, Alison weighed 28 stone. Speaking to Heat, she revealed:
“I’ve got a personal trainer — she’s amazing. She trains me when I can train. If I’m working, I don’t train, I’ll go for a walk. But when I’m at home, I’ll do a session in the morning, about an hour, maybe four days a week.”

When it comes to food, Alison insists she hasn’t banned anything completely.

“I don’t deny myself anything. I eat everything — just in moderation.”

She has previously explained her hesitation around weight-loss injections, telling Good Housekeeping UK that scare stories had left her frightened.

“For people who need them, they’re a good thing,” she said.
“But as soon as I hear any scare story, I get frightened. I wouldn’t rule it out in the future, but I would never judge anyone who uses them.”

Alison has also shared the deeply personal reason behind her determination to change. Her mother Maria died in January 2020 from lung and liver cancer, and she was living with type 2 diabetes.

“My mum was worried for me,” Alison said.
“So when I found out I was pre-diabetic, it was frightening. I thought, ‘I have to be an adult about this.’ The sweets had to stop — and the fatty foods.”

Today, her routine includes seeing her personal trainer twice a week, keeping weights in her bedroom, walking, stretching and even doing yoga — simple habits that have completely transformed her life.

Jesy Nelson has shared the most heartbreaking update of her life, revealing that her twin daughters have been diagnosed with the rare genetic condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) — a disease that doctors warned could mean they may never walk.

The former Little Mix star, 34, welcomed twins Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster with her fiancé Zion Foster in May, following a high-risk and emotionally draining pregnancy. Now, just eight months later, Jesy has told fans that her life has been turned upside down.

In an emotional Instagram video, Jesy struggled to hold back tears as she admitted she is “grieving a life I thought I was going to have with my children.” She explained that SMA affects every muscle in the body, leading to severe weakness, breathing difficulties and problems with swallowing.

Jesy revealed that she has effectively become a nurse to her own babies, saying she is now putting her daughters on breathing machines and doing things “no mother should ever have to do with their child.”

The singer said concerns were first raised when her mum noticed the twins were not moving their legs as much as expected. Initially, Jesy was reassured that their development would be slower because they were born prematurely. She was repeatedly told not to compare them to other babies and that everything was fine.

But over time, worrying signs appeared. The twins began struggling to feed properly, and despite multiple GP visits, Jesy was reassured again that it was normal. After months of relentless appointments and pushing for answers, the devastating diagnosis finally came: SMA Type 1 — the most severe form of the condition.

Jesy explained that without treatment, babies with SMA Type 1 often do not live past the age of two. She said time was critical, describing how quickly everything moved once specialists became involved.

After assessments at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Jesy and Zion were told their daughters would likely never be able to walk, may never regain neck strength, and would live with lifelong disabilities.

“The best thing we can do right now is get them treatment and hope for the best,” Jesy said, adding that without it, her girls would not survive. Thankfully, the twins have now received treatment, something Jesy described as lifesaving.

While there is currently no cure for SMA, new treatments can significantly slow or stop the disease if given early enough. Campaigners, including SMA UK, are pushing for routine newborn screening across the UK, arguing that many diagnoses come too late. Scotland is set to begin a pilot screening programme in 2026.

Jesy admitted the past months have been the most heartbreaking of her life, saying the hospital has become her second home. Despite her pain, she remains hopeful, telling fans she truly believes her girls can defy the odds with the right help.

Support has poured in from fellow celebrities, including Jesy’s ex-partner Chris Hughes, who called her “a warrior” and urged her to be kind to herself. Zion also shared a message of hope, posting a photo of the twins and saying they were “smiling through the challenges,” adding simply: “Daddy loves you so much.”

The devastating news comes after Jesy previously revealed she had filmed a deeply personal documentary series about her pregnancy and early motherhood for Amazon Prime, documenting what she called a new chapter in her life.

Joanna Lumley and Husband Quietly Pay £450,000 in School Meal Debt, Restoring Dignity to Thousands of Children Across the UK

In a world where generosity often announces itself loud and unapologetic, Joanna Lumley and her husband, Stephen Barlow, chose compassion over spectacle — and did it quietly.

It didn’t appear on a red carpet. No press release. No photo op.

Between 2019 and the height of the cost-of-living crisis, the couple paid off more than £450,000 in outstanding school meal debt across the UK — debts that had left tens of thousands of children quietly hungry or humiliated.

Working in partnership with local authorities, the donations were structured to erase the debt entirely, long before the end of term.

No naming rights. No public ceremonies. No interviews.

For many students, the change was immediate — no more discreetly withholding lunch, no more marking names on lists for having unpaid balances. No explanations.

No shame.

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A Hidden Struggle in British Schools

School meal debt has quietly become a growing issue across the UK, particularly for families navigating rising living costs, unstable employment, or unexpected hardships.

While free meal programs exist, many families fall through the cracks.

Teachers and administrators described the situation as heartbreaking — children skipping meals or pretending they weren’t hungry to avoid embarrassment.

One teacher described seeing pupils “trade snacks or sit quietly while others ate.”

Another recalled how cafeteria staff kept lists behind the counter — names no one wanted to see.

Joanna Lumley understood the dignity at stake. “No child should feel less,” she once said.

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‘Far More Precious Than Any Award’

Though she has received countless honors in her lifetime — from acting accolades to humanitarian recognition — Lumley has spoken of these moments as among the most meaningful.

“When children are able to eat without shame, that’s worth more than applause,” she reportedly said.

Friends of the couple noted that this was not an isolated act, but part of a long pattern of quiet generosity.

“They don’t believe kindness needs witnesses,” one source shared.

Their hope, they said, was simple: that the debt would disappear, and so would the stigma.

No headlines.

Just relief.

“That’s the Very Least We Owe the Next Generation”

“There is no virtue in excess,” Lumley reportedly told a close friend when asked why she hadn’t spoken publicly about the donation.

“Every single one of those children is somebody’s future,” she said.

The decision to fund school meal debt was not framed as charity — but as obligation.

She had seen the consequences quietly ripple through classrooms and cafeterias alike.

In an era where many public acts are amplified for recognition, Lumley’s approach was — and remains — different: act through dignity. Let others decide what should be celebrated.

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A Gesture Meant to Stay Private

The couple requested that the donations remain confidential.

They were not named on press releases, nor mentioned in newsletters.

Staff were instructed to handle the transition carefully — no public announcements, no explanations.

Parents never received letters with their names attached. Teachers noticed attendance changes — not headlines, but relief.

Just children eating lunch without fear.

Administrators later described the moment as “transformative.” Some said it was the first time they had seen a problem disappear without conditions.

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The Ripple Effect Beyond the Canteen

School leaders say the impact extended far beyond lunchtime.

When students weren’t worried about being watched or whispered about, behavior changed. Focus returned.

Attendance improved. Anxiety decreased. Teachers noticed a shift — not dramatic, but meaningful.

One headteacher summed it up simply: “It gave them their normal back.”

And for a school community, that meant everything.

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Redefining a ‘Fabulous’ Legacy

For years, Lumley has been celebrated for her elegance, wit, and iconic roles — an image built on glamour and charm.

But those who know her best say this is the legacy she values more.

Not applause. Not trophies.

Just quiet interventions that leave no mark but impact.

One meal.

One child.

One act of humanity at a time.

And in doing so, Joanna Lumley may have redefined what it means to give — not as something to be seen, but something to be felt.

Move over, every polished presenter who ever read a script about badgers: Britain has chosen its new natural-history heartbeat, and he’s a 6-foot-6 Sudanese-Scottish giant who learned to track lynx before he could drive, cries when otters hold hands, and once spent 42 straight nights sleeping in a hide just to film pine martens falling in love.

Last night, BBC One dropped the first trailer for Hamza’s Wild Britain (a six-part landmark series launching spring 2026), and within four hours it became the most-watched BBC trailer in a decade. The final 15 seconds alone have been viewed 28 million times: Hamza, knee-deep in a Highland river at dawn, whispering so gently the microphone barely catches it as a mother otter teaches her pup to swim literally inches from his face. No music. Just his soft Glasgow-Sudanese lilt: “Look… she’s telling him the water will hold him, if he trusts it. Same thing my mum told me when we arrived in Scotland and I couldn’t speak a word of English.”

Hamza arrived in rural Northamptonshire from Sudan at age eight, speaking no English, clutching a bird book his father gave him “because birds don’t care what language you speak.” By twelve he was the weird kid cycling ten miles before school to photograph kingfishers. At sixteen he won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year with a shot of a fox cub yawning that looked like it was laughing at the universe. University (Bangor, zoology) was just an excuse to live closer to puffins.

Then came the decade nobody saw: camera-operating on Planet Earth III, Springwatch, and Countryfile, always the guy in the muddy boots who could lie motionless for 14 hours until a badger sniffed his lens and decided he was harmless. Crew nicknamed him “the Otter Whisperer” after he filmed the first-ever footage of wild otters playing with pebbles in the Cairngorms, entirely by becoming part of the furniture for six weeks.

His big break was accidental. In 2022 he entered Strictly Come Dancing “because my mum loves glitterballs and I thought it might pay for a new hide.” He won the whole thing with Jowita Przystał, foxtrotting like a man who’d spent his life learning rhythm from golden eagles soaring on thermals. Overnight, eight million people discovered the gentle giant who spoke about conservation between sambas.

The BBC pounced. First Hamza: Wild Isles (2024), then the Emmy-nominated Hamza’s Sudan (2025), where he returned to his birthplace to film the last northern white rhinos under the same stars he watched as a child. Critics called it “the most emotional hour of television this decade.” Viewers just called it “life-changing.”

Now Hamza’s Wild Britain is being billed as the spiritual successor to Attenborough’s Life on Earth. Shot entirely by Hamza himself (he still refuses a full camera crew because “animals don’t like strangers”), it promises never-before-seen behaviour: red squirrels teaching their young to tightrope-walk power lines, urban foxes using pedestrian crossings at night, golden eagles hunting in snowstorms so violent Hamza had to be roped to a cliff for three days.

The trailer’s money shot? Hamza lying flat on his stomach in a peat bog at 4 a.m., face inches from a wild mountain hare in its white winter coat. The hare slowly reaches out and touches his beard with its paw. Hamza doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe. When the hare eventually hops away, he whispers to camera, voice cracking: “Sometimes the wild decides you’re worth trusting. That’s the best feeling in the world.”

Sir David himself has already given the ultimate blessing. In a rare statement, the 99-year-old legend said: “Hamza sees the natural world the way poets see love: with wonder that never ages. The baton isn’t being passed; it’s being shared.”

Social media is flooded with kids posting drawings of otters wearing glittery bow ties “for Uncle Hamza.” Primary schools are reporting record numbers of children wanting to become “rangers instead of YouTubers.” The RSPB’s junior membership has tripled in six months.

Hamza, being Hamza, responded to the “new Attenborough” hype with typical humility on Instagram last night: a simple photo of his muddy wellies next to a child’s drawing of an otter holding a glitterball, captioned, “I’m just the tall idiot who talks to animals. Thank you for letting me into your living rooms. I’ll try to make the planet prouder than I am right now.”

Britain has a new voice for its wild places, and it sounds like hope wrapped in a Highland breeze. Spring 2026 can’t come soon enough.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has hit back at critics who think his unconventional living situation is ‘strange’.

The interior designer, 60, lives with his wife Jackie, their two grown-up daughters, Hermione, 26, and Cecile, 29, and their husbands Dan and Drew – as well as their four grandchildren, Albion, 8, Demelza, 3, Romily, 1, and Eleanora, 18 months.

Laurence set tongues wagging when he first announced the unusual arrangement that the family would be living all under one roof at his six bedroom Cotswolds manor house

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, Laurence delighted in speaking about his tight family unit and hit back at haters who disagree with the idea.

‘It’s a very, very odd idea that came out of the 20th century, this idea of of children leaving the home. Actually, traditionally, you stayed if you all worked on the farm together or you worked in the shop together, so in a funny sort of way, we’re just kind of reviving that, but it made great sense for us.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has hit back at critics who think his unconventional living situation is ‘strange’ (pictured with his wife Jackie)

Laurence set tongues wagging when he first announced the unusual arrangement that the family would be living all under one roof at his six bedroom Cotswolds manor house

‘You know, we live in a big house. It was very much just me and Jackie. Why do we not then bring the children and their children in with us?’

Speaking about how the family deal with being in each other’s company every day, Laurence added: ‘There are moments where you’ve got to work quite hard.

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‘But I think that happens in any family, but we confront it and get on with them.’

Amid the madness of his busy household, Laurence still manages to keep the spark alive with his wife Jackie.

The smitten couple, who have been together for over four decades, celebrated 35 years of marriage this year.

He said: ‘In January, we will basically have been together for 41 years. So, I mean, that is that’s a big chunk of lifetime.

‘We were very good at making a commitment and in those 41 years, there have been moments where we’ve had to work very hard to make sure that we were still getting on, that we weren’t still sparkling off each other.

‘And I think that’s something that some people are quite quick to give in about.’

Laurence lives with Jackie, their two grown-up daughters, Hermione, 26, and Cecile, 29, and their husbands Dan and Drew – as well as their four grandchildren

The six bedroom property is having to be adapted to cater for the 10 of them

Laurence also has dogs and cats who reside at the countryside home

The sprawling property has impressive gardens

Laurence is gearing up for another exciting release of his property series, House Of The Year alongside judges Jane Larmour, James Fairley and Patricia McGinnis

The designer continued: ‘You do have to find positives. It’s not a Disney movie. You do wake up in the morning and you do feel grumpy. You do kind of have moments where things p*** you off.

‘I’m quite a tolerant person. That’s cool. That works really well. I’m quite laid back. There are times when Jackie is very energised, but, I mean, after 41 years together, you know the ins and the outs. You know the kind of warning signs.’

Laurence is gearing up for another exciting release of his property series, House Of The Year alongside judges Jane Larmour, James Fairley and Patricia McGinnis.

House Of The Year returns to BBC iPlayer and BBC One Northern Ireland with the first five episodes available to watch from Monday 5 January.

In each episode, three new homes will compete for one of five places in the grand final where they could be crowned – House Of The Year.

The grand final will broadcast February 9.

Laurence said: ‘I am very proud of House Of The Year and was involved in the first iteration back in 2010 and it was, and still is, a brilliant way of showcasing a kind of aspirational vision of the housing landscape in Northern Ireland.

‘What I love about coming back to it now, is the fact there is such an immense ramp up in terms of individuality, personality and creativity. I think people no longer feel they must do things in a “grown-up” way.

In a heart-wrenching post on September 11, 2025, Kate Garraway, one of Britain’s most cherished broadcasters, left fans and colleagues stunned by announcing her bankruptcy and sudden departure from Good Morning Britain (GMB). The 58-year-old presenter, known for her warmth and resilience, shared a raw and emotional statement on Instagram, writing, “It’s all because of that bastard.” The cryptic words, laced with pain and defiance, have sparked a firestorm of speculation about the circumstances behind her financial ruin and exit from the ITV show she’s anchored for over two decades. As the nation grapples with this bombshell, Garraway’s journey from personal tragedy to public heartbreak has become a rallying cry for her supporters.

Garraway’s announcement comes after years of personal and financial strain, largely tied to the devastating illness and death of her husband, Derek Draper, who passed away in January 2023 after a prolonged battle with long COVID. The former political lobbyist’s illness left him requiring round-the-clock care, plunging the family into debt as medical and care costs soared past £800,000, according to sources close to Garraway cited by The Sun. Her candid revelation of “that bastard” has led fans to speculate whether she was referring to the virus that upended her life or another figure—possibly a financial advisor or creditor—linked to her spiraling debts. “Kate’s been through hell,” one X user posted. “Whoever or whatever ‘that bastard’ is, it’s broken her.”

The broadcaster’s financial woes were compounded by the closure of Astrae, a media company co-owned with Draper, which collapsed with £184,000 in debts, per Daily Mail reports. Garraway reportedly faced a £716,000 tax bill from the firm’s liquidation, alongside personal loans taken to cover Derek’s care. Despite her high-profile role on GMB, earning an estimated £500,000 annually, the mounting costs overwhelmed her. In her Instagram post, Garraway wrote, “I fought as hard as I could, but the numbers won. I’m bankrupt, and I can’t go on with GMB. My heart is broken, but I’m not.” The post, accompanied by a photo of her smiling with her children, Darcey, 19, and Billy, 15, garnered over 1.2 million likes and thousands of supportive comments.

Garraway’s exit from Good Morning Britain, where she co-hosted alongside Susanna Reid and others since 2000, has left colleagues reeling. “Kate is the heart of GMB,” Reid said on air, visibly emotional. “Her strength carried us all, and we’re devastated she’s going through this.” ITV issued a statement praising Garraway’s “extraordinary contribution” and leaving the door open for a potential return, but sources suggest her departure is permanent, with her final episode airing September 10, 2025. Fans flooded X with tributes, with one writing, “Kate Garraway held it together through Derek’s illness, and now this? It’s unfair.” Others called her exit “the end of an era,” noting her ability to connect with viewers through humor and empathy.

The reference to “that bastard” has fueled intense speculation. Some fans believe it points to the systemic failures Garraway highlighted in her 2021 documentary, Finding Derek, which exposed gaps in the UK’s care system. “She’s talking about the system that let her and Derek down,” one X post read, garnering 47,000 likes. Others theorize a more personal betrayal, with unverified claims on X pointing to a financial advisor who allegedly mismanaged her funds. Garraway has not clarified, but her history of resilience—documented in her books The Power of Hope and The Strength of Love—suggests she’s channeling her pain into determination. “I’ll rebuild for my kids,” she wrote, hinting at future plans.

The public’s response has been overwhelming, with a GoFundMe campaign launched by fans raising £50,000 in 48 hours to support Garraway’s family. Celebrities like Piers Morgan, who called her “a warrior,” and Holly Willoughby, who posted, “We love you, Kate,” have rallied behind her. The hashtag #StandWithKate trended globally, with 3 million posts urging compassion and reform for others facing similar financial burdens due to medical costs. “Kate’s story is a wake-up call,” one user wrote. “No one should go bankrupt caring for a loved one.”

Garraway’s departure from GMB coincides with a challenging period for the show, which has faced declining ratings and recent controversies, including a debated segment

In the pre-dawn mist of northern France’s windswept beaches, a new kind of battle is unfolding—one that has ignited outrage, fear, and a firestorm of debate on both sides of the English Channel. British vigilantes, under the banner of groups like Raise the Colours, have been caught on camera slashing inflatable migrant boats, harassing asylum seekers, and even posing as journalists to lure vulnerable people into confrontations. Dubbed “Operation Overlord” and “Operation Stop The Boats,” their brazen actions—filmed for social media clout—have escalated tensions in an already volatile migrant crisis. As France launches criminal investigations and migrant support groups decry government inaction, the UK remains eerily silent, leaving a trail of questions: Who are these vigilantes? What drives their dangerous crusade? And how did a desperate plea to “stop the boats” spiral into a cross-border vigilante movement that threatens lives and international relations? The truth is as shocking as it is complex, revealing a collision of fear, frustration, and unchecked extremism.

The Migrant Crisis: A Ticking Time Bomb

The English Channel, a narrow 21-mile stretch separating Britain from France, has become a flashpoint in one of Europe’s most contentious issues: illegal migration. In 2025 alone, over 41,455 migrants—mostly from conflict-torn regions like Syria, Eritrea, and Afghanistan—crossed from northern France to the UK in small, overcrowded boats, a 16% increase from 2024. These perilous journeys, orchestrated by ruthless smuggling gangs, have claimed lives, with drownings and hypothermia all too common. The UK’s Home Office, under pressure to curb arrivals, has deported nearly 50,000 illegal migrants since July 2024, while Labour’s promise to “smash the gangs” remains unfulfilled

On the French side, beaches near Calais, Dunkirk, and Gravelines are staging grounds for these crossings. Migrants, often living in squalid camps, board flimsy dinghies or “taxi boats” that pick them up just offshore to evade police. French authorities, partly funded by the UK, have intensified efforts, with videos showing police slashing boats in shallow waters or firing tear gas at crowds attempting launches. Yet, the boats keep coming, fueling public anger in Britain, where asylum costs hit £5.4 billion in 2025.

Enter the Vigilantes: Operation Overlord Unleashed

Against this backdrop, a group of British men, led by figures like Daniel Thomas (aka “Danny Tommo”), Ryan Bridge, and Elliott Stanley of Raise the Colours, have taken matters into their own hands. Since summer 2024, they’ve traveled to northern France, targeting migrant boats hidden in dunes and confronting asylum seekers with chilling aggression. Their campaign, dubbed “Operation Overlord”—a provocative nod to the 1944 D-Day invasion—has seen them slash inflatable dinghies, brandish knives, and shout xenophobic insults like “We don’t want them in our country!” at terrified migrants.

Videos posted on social media platforms like X and Instagram, where Raise the Colours boasts 100,000 followers, capture their actions in stark detail. One clip from December 7 shows a masked vigilante waving a knife at a car’s occupants, captioned: “Illegal migrant armed with a knife attempts to attack Raise the Colours patriots.” Another, filmed on a Gravelines beach, shows a destroyed boat as French police confront the group, questioning their lack of press credentials. The footage, designed for maximum virality, has garnered thousands of views, amplifying their message of “stopping the boats” at any cost.

ar’s occupants, captioned: “Illegal migrant armed with a knife attempts to attack Raise the Colours patriots.” Another, filmed on a Gravelines beach, shows a destroyed boat as French police confront the group, questioning their lack of press credentials. The footage, designed for maximum virality, has garnered thousands of views, amplifying their message of “stopping the boats” at any cost.

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Their tactics have evolved disturbingly. In a new ploy, vigilantes posed as accredited journalists, offering migrants money to speak on camera—only to use the encounters for harassment. In Paris, they targeted black homeless men, shouting “Africa!” and filming confrontations to stoke anti-migrant sentiment. These performative acts, described by scholar Matthijs Gardenier as “highly performative vigilantism,” rely on dramatic patrols and online provocation, often spilling into real-world intimidation.

The Men Behind the Masks: Who Are Raise the Colours?

Raise the Colours began as a flag-waving movement, raising St George’s Crosses across England to protest immigration policies they deemed too lenient. Linked to far-right figure Tommy Robinson, the group has ties to football hooligan firms and a history of anti-migrant protests. Daniel Thomas, a core member, is a vocal agitator with a YouTube presence; Ryan Bridge has been filmed slashing boats; Elliott Stanley discussed recruiting men for cross-Channel shifts in a pub overheard by a concerned citizen.

Their planning is audacious. On November 17, 2025, the trio was recorded plotting to acquire a £35,000 boat and drones to evade police, intending to “misdirect” authorities with diversions. Their rhetoric—invoking WWII and calling for “self-justice”—frames migrants as an “invasion,” a narrative that resonates with a frustrated segment of the British public but alarms human rights advocates.

France’s Response: Criminal Probes and Tear Gas

French authorities are cracking down. On December 5, videos showed vigilantes livestreaming from Dunkirk, confronting Doctors Without Borders (MSF) workers and accusing them of aiding an “invasion.” Police have clashed with both migrants and vigilantes, using tear gas to disperse crowds attempting boat launches near Calais. A criminal investigation into the vigilantes’ actions is underway, with French police questioning their presence and press credentials.

Nine French migrant support groups, including Utopia 56 and MSF, issued a scathing statement on December 11, condemning the UK and French governments for failing to stop “migrant hunters” encouraging “violent and xenophobic practices.” They argue that slashing boats endangers lives, forcing migrants onto even riskier vessels or into confrontations with smugglers.

France’s new policy, following UK pressure, allows maritime police to intercept boats at sea before passengers board, but charities warn this risks lives. Videos of police slashing boats themselves have drawn criticism for their brutality, with one showing officers deflating a dinghy packed with families.

The UK’s Silence: A Political Powder Keg

The UK government’s response has been muted, drawing ire from both sides. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms, announced in November 2025, include 14-year prison terms for smuggling and expanded surveillance, but critics like Reform UK argue it’s too little, too late. A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged “frustration” but insisted vigilante actions are a French matter, issuing warnings against Brits traveling to interfere.

The Church of England, through Bishops Arun Arora and Christopher Chessun, condemned the vigilantes’ use of Christian imagery, like St George’s flags, to justify hate. Meanwhile, public sentiment is polarized. X posts from Raise the Colours, pleading for donations to “stop the boats,” have sparked both support and outrage, with some calling them “patriots” and others “thugs.”

The Human Cost: Migrants Caught in the Crossfire

For migrants, the vigilantes’ actions are a new layer of terror. In camps like Loon-Plage near Dunkirk, asylum seekers already face freezing conditions, police raids, and smuggler violence. Slashing boats forces them onto overcrowded or damaged vessels, increasing drowning risks. One Eritrean migrant, speaking anonymously to Le Monde, described hiding in dunes to avoid “the British men with knives.”

Charities report heightened fear, with aid workers now facing harassment. “These vigilantes are endangering lives and inflaming tensions,” said an MSF spokesperson. The December 21 clash near Calais, where police fired tear gas at 30 migrants attempting a launch, underscores the volatile atmosphere.

A Broader Crisis: The Rise of Vigilantism

The vigilantes’ actions reflect a growing trend of anti-migrant vigilantism, as outlined in Matthijs Gardenier’s book Towards a Vigilant Society. From Calais to Dover, groups exploit public frustration, staging dramatic acts for social media. Their rhetoric—evoking WWII and football hooliganism—taps into a sense of lost control, amplified by political figures like former UKIP leader Henry Bolton, who warned of security threats after 803 migrants crossed on December 20.

Yet, their impact is deadly. By destroying boats, vigilantes push migrants toward more dangerous routes, while their videos fuel xenophobia. France’s criminal probe may lead to arrests, but the cross-border nature complicates justice. The UK’s reluctance to act decisively risks emboldening further vigilantism.

What’s Next: A Call for Humanity

As Christmas approaches, the Channel remains a battleground. On December 21, 803 migrants crossed in 13 boats, a December record, underscoring the crisis’s scale. Raise the Colours’ videos continue to spread, their donation pleas gaining traction among supporters. France’s new interception tactics, including nets and sea patrols, aim to deter crossings, but charities warn of humanitarian costs.

The real story is not just vigilante bravado but the human toll: migrants risking death for safety, communities torn by fear, and governments failing to bridge divides. The bishops’ words ring true: “Christianity cannot justify hate.” As investigations unfold, the world watches, hearts heavy, for a path beyond this escalating conflict.

Move over, every polished presenter who ever read a script about badgers: Britain has chosen its new natural-history heartbeat, and he’s a 6-foot-6 Sudanese-Scottish giant who learned to track lynx before he could drive, cries when otters hold hands, and once spent 42 straight nights sleeping in a hide just to film pine martens falling in love.

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Last night, BBC One dropped the first trailer for Hamza’s Wild Britain (a six-part landmark series launching spring 2026), and within four hours it became the most-watched BBC trailer in a decade. The final 15 seconds alone have been viewed 28 million times: Hamza, knee-deep in a Highland river at dawn, whispering so gently the microphone barely catches it as a mother otter teaches her pup to swim literally inches from his face. No music. Just his soft Glasgow-Sudanese lilt: “Look… she’s telling him the water will hold him, if he trusts it. Same thing my mum told me when we arrived in Scotland and I couldn’t speak a word of English.”

Hamza arrived in rural Northamptonshire from Sudan at age eight, speaking no English, clutching a bird book his father gave him “because birds don’t care what language you speak.” By twelve he was the weird kid cycling ten miles before school to photograph kingfishers. At sixteen he won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year with a shot of a fox cub yawning that looked like it was laughing at the universe. University (Bangor, zoology) was just an excuse to live closer to puffins.

Then came the decade nobody saw: camera-operating on Planet Earth III, Springwatch, and Countryfile, always the guy in the muddy boots who could lie motionless for 14 hours until a badger sniffed his lens and decided he was harmless. Crew nicknamed him “the Otter Whisperer” after he filmed the first-ever footage of wild otters playing with pebbles in the Cairngorms, entirely by becoming part of the furniture for six weeks.

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His big break was accidental. In 2022 he entered Strictly Come Dancing “because my mum loves glitterballs and I thought it might pay for a new hide.” He won the whole thing with Jowita Przystał, foxtrotting like a man who’d spent his life learning rhythm from golden eagles soaring on thermals. Overnight, eight million people discovered the gentle giant who spoke about conservation between sambas.

The BBC pounced. First Hamza: Wild Isles (2024), then the Emmy-nominated Hamza’s Sudan (2025), where he returned to his birthplace to film the last northern white rhinos under the same stars he watched as a child. Critics called it “the most emotional hour of television this decade.” Viewers just called it “life-changing.”

Now Hamza’s Wild Britain is being billed as the spiritual successor to Attenborough’s Life on Earth. Shot entirely by Hamza himself (he still refuses a full camera crew because “animals don’t like strangers”), it promises never-before-seen behaviour: red squirrels teaching their young to tightrope-walk power lines, urban foxes using pedestrian crossings at night, golden eagles hunting in snowstorms so violent Hamza had to be roped to a cliff for three days.

The trailer’s money shot? Hamza lying flat on his stomach in a peat bog at 4 a.m., face inches from a wild mountain hare in its white winter coat. The hare slowly reaches out and touches his beard with its paw. Hamza doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe. When the hare eventually hops away, he whispers to camera, voice cracking: “Sometimes the wild decides you’re worth trusting. That’s the best feeling in the world.”

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Sir David himself has already given the ultimate blessing. In a rare statement, the 99-year-old legend said: “Hamza sees the natural world the way poets see love: with wonder that never ages. The baton isn’t being passed; it’s being shared.”

Social media is flooded with kids posting drawings of otters wearing glittery bow ties “for Uncle Hamza.” Primary schools are reporting record numbers of children wanting to become “rangers instead of YouTubers.” The RSPB’s junior membership has tripled in six months.

Hamza, being Hamza, responded to the “new Attenborough” hype with typical humility on Instagram last night: a simple photo of his muddy wellies next to a child’s drawing of an otter holding a glitterball, captioned, “I’m just the tall idiot who talks to animals. Thank you for letting me into your living rooms. I’ll try to make the planet prouder than I am right now.”

Britain has a new voice for its wild places, and it sounds like hope wrapped in a Highland breeze. Spring 2026 can’t come soon enough.

“I Lost Peggy”: Pete Wicks Breaks Down as He Announces the Heartbreaking Death of His Beloved French Bulldog, Just Weeks After Hoping Months of Treatment Could Save Her

Pete Wicks has opened up about a deeply personal loss, revealing that his much-loved  French bulldog Peggy has died, just weeks after he told fans she was facing months of treatment.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 37, shared the heartbreaking news during a recent episode of his podcast Staying Relevant, explaining that Peggy actually passed away around a month ago. Pete said he hadn’t spoken publicly about it before, but decided to address it after listeners began wondering why only his other dog, Eric, was with him in the studio.

On the podcast, Pete told listeners that on a sad note, and knowing people would ask, the reason Peggy wasn’t there was because he had lost her recently. He explained that Eric had come into the office because he’d been lonely, adding quietly that Peggy died about a month ago.

Pete had first alarmed fans back in July when he revealed he had “nearly lost” Peggy, sharing that she was about to begin months of treatment. At the time, he posted a photo of the pair cuddling and admitted it had been a tough week, saying Peggy had been through the wars but never gave up. He told followers he was simply happy to have her back home and remained hopeful despite the long road ahead.

Earlier this month, while promoting his U series For Dogs’ Sake, Pete admitted 2025 had been a heavy year emotionally. He revealed he was planning to spend Christmas Day alone with Eric, joking that he’d likely sit at home with a Pot Noodle. Pete said he usually spends Christmas on his own with his dogs, and this year felt no different.

After spending weeks filming at Dogs Trust’s rehoming centre in Basildon, Pete also spoke about the possibility of adopting another dog one day, but stressed he wouldn’t rush the decision. He explained that while he wants every dog, he has to practise what he preaches, given his unusual lifestyle. He added that Eric, now 12, also gets a say, saying it’s important to find the right companion for him and to get it right, as he always has.

Peggy had been part of Pete’s life since 2018, when he rescued her through  French Bulldog Saviours. He has often spoken about his bond with dogs, previously admitting he prefers them to people and that he couldn’t stop crying while filming his emotional animal-focused series.

Pete’s love for dogs began in childhood, when he and his mum adopted their first  pet, Arnie, when he was just 10 years old. In 2016, he went on to rescue Eric from Dogs Trust Basildon — the loyal companion who is now helping him through the loss of Peggy.

HOT – FARMERS’ REVOLT SHAKES BRUSSELS: EU HALTS HATED REFORMS AFTER MASS PROTEST!

The European Union has delayed the signing of a divisive trade agreement with South American nations amid intense farmers’ protests in Brussels.

Both France and Italy have requested additional time to win over their agricultural sectors, seeing the bloc postpone the inking of the deal until the new year.

This postponement has once again scuppered the EU’s plans to finalise the long-stalled Mercosur free trade accord.

The agreement, which has been under negotiation for a quarter of a century, would establish the world’s largest free-trade zone encompassing between 700 and 780 million people.

Under its terms, Mercosur nations Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay would reduce tariffs on European exports, whilst the EU would expand food import quotas and lower duties.

However, farmers across the continent have argued that increased imports of beef, chicken and cereals from the South American market would threaten their livelihoods.

To protest the planned sealing of the agreement, 10,000 farmers from across all 27 EU member states descended on Brussels.

More than 1,000 tractors rolled through the streets of the Belgian capital as part of the mostly peaceful demonstrations that occasionally spilt over into chaotic scenes.

Our farmers need to take a leaf out of their european cousins book . Bring this lying corrupt government down . Protest by all means but simply stop all food production and blockde the ports to stop import replacements. British public will support their farmers and we are happy to go without rid the UK of liars Starmer, Reeyes and Lammy

The EU has delayed a divisive trade deal after fiery protests from farmers in Brussels

Protesters were seen hurling potatoes and eggs at police while blocking roads and igniting fireworks.

Some also brought down the Christmas tree standing outside the European Parliament, replacing it with a blazing pile of tyres and debris.

Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to manage the crowds, with black smoke engulfing surrounding streets.

Windows at the parliament building were smashed by troublemakers on the fringes of the demonstration, prompting officials to email staff, warning them to keep away from the windows.

As many as 10,000 farmers from across all 27 EU member states protested the plans outside the European Parliment

In the shadow of what some called the century’s largest mobilisation of European farmers, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced on X: “We have reached out to our Mercosur partners and agreed to postpone slightly the signature.”

A Commission spokesman also confirmed: “The European Commission proposed that it be postponed to early January to further discuss with countries that still need a little bit more time.”

The delay follows a telephone conversation on Thursday between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“Meloni explained that she is not against the agreement, she is simply experiencing some political embarrassment because of the Italian farmers, but that she is certain she is capable of convincing them to accept the agreement,” President Lula said.

“She asked me that if we have patience for a week, 10 days, at most a month, Italy will join the agreement,” he added.

Ms Meloni’s office stated on Thursday evening: “The Italian government is ready to sign the agreement as soon as the necessary responses are provided to farmers, which depend on the decisions of the European Commission and can be finalised quickly.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also called for a delay, making clear upon arriving in Brussels that Paris would not back the agreement without enhanced protections for its agricultural sector.

“I want to tell our farmers, who have been making France’s position clear all along: we consider that we are not there yet, and the deal cannot be signed” as it stands, President Macron told reporters.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni requested a delay in the agreement

He pledged that France would resist any “attempt to force this through”.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took a contrasting view, pressing for rapid progress on the accord.

“If the European Union wants to remain credible in global trade policy, then decisions must be made now,” Chancellor Merz stated in Brussels on Thursday.

Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries remain strong advocates for the pact, keen to boost exports amid Chinese competition and potential American tariffs.