Piers Morgan has launched a blistering attack on 𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳, branding him “𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖕𝖊𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖙” after his latest move — and it’s ignited an all-out political firestorm

Piers Morgan didn’t hold back this afternoon when discussing Keir Starmer’s message about the release of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

Piers Morgan took aim at Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)

Alaa Abd El-Fattah has claimed that his historic social media posts, which have been unearthed in recent days, were “twisted out of their meaning” as the Egyptian dissident faces calls to have his British citizenship revoked. The activist branded Brits “dogs and monkeys”, called for Zionists to be killed and boasted of his hatred for white people. The comment emerged following his return to the UK on Boxing Day, after spending several years in prison in Egypt.

Ahead of the abhorrent tweets resurfacing, Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated his return in a social media post of his own, saying he was “delighted” El-Fattah is back on British soil and has been “reunited with his loved ones who may be feeling profound relief”. Starmer also penned on X on December 26: “I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment. Alaa’s case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office.”

Alaa Abd El-Fattah has issued an apology (Image: Getty)

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Taking to X in light of his millions of followers today (December 29), Morgan re-shared Starmer’s post about El-Fattah being back in the UK, accompanied by a scathing response.

Morgan fumed: “Nothing symbolises our Govt’s incompetence than this post by the Prime Minister 2 days ago about a vile, racist, anti-Semite who wanted to kill Jews, police & white people and called the British ‘dogs and monkeys’. All he had to do was check El-Fattah’s social media history.”

El-Fattah has issued an apology for his “shocking and hurtful” social media posts, which he wrote more than a decade ago.

He wrote this morning (December 29): “Looking at the tweets now – the ones that were not completely twisted out of their meaning – I do understand how shocking and hurtful they are, and for that I unequivocally apologise.

“They were mostly expressions of a young man’s anger and frustrations in a time of regional crises (the wars in Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza), and the rise of police brutality against Egyptian youth.

“I particularly regret some that were written as part of online insult battles, with total disregard for how they read to other people. I should have known better.”

“NO WORDS… THEY D|D EVERYTHING…” The identity of the hero mum who tried to save her children, aged 4 and 7, from a Boxing Day house fire in Stroud has now been revealed — as witnesses recount the father’s desperate final moments trying to rescue his young family

This is the mother of two who died in a Boxing Day house fire along with her children – as her police officer husband remains in hospital after escaping.

Fionnghuala Shearman, known to friends as Nu, perished alongside daughter Eve, seven, and son Ohner, four, as flames swept through their home on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud.

The 38-year-old’s husband, Tom, is a serving Gloucestershire police officer and escaped the inferno. The pair had been married for around a decade.

A friend of the Shearman family today described what happened as ‘absolutely shocking’.

‘We are all shellshocked to be honest with you,’ she told the Mail. ‘We don’t know what happened [to cause the fire].’

Another friend of the family, living in the Cotswold community of Chipping Campden, said the tragedy was ‘dreadful’.

Emergency services were called to the ‘well-established’ fire at the home at about 3am.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said Mr Shearman attempted to rescue his wife and two children but was beaten back by the severity of the flames.

Fionnghuala Shearman was left trapped inside the home on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, with her two children, a girl aged seven and a four-year-old boy

Emergency services were called to the ‘well-established’ fire at a property on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, at about 3am on December 26

In an update today, Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher said the couple had been woken by the fire and tried to reach their children in the rear bedroom.

‘They have been unable to get to the back bedroom due to the voracity of the fire,’ he said.

‘The father has smashed his way out of the house through a bathroom window in order to try to access the children’s bedroom via the outside.

‘He has been unable to enter the property via that bedroom window.’

DS Fletcher said Mr Shearman tried to get back into the property to rescue his wife and children but was unable to do so.

The officer continued: ‘He has then tried to re-enter the property through the bathroom window, by which stage the fire has taken hold in the bathroom and he’s unable to get back into the upstairs bedrooms.

‘He has subsequently gone downstairs and tried to force entry via the front and the back door but has been unable to get back inside to the property.

‘It is at this point our colleagues from emergency services have attended and have started managing and dealing with that fire.’

DS Fletcher said the fire was believed to have started on the ground floor and investigations were ongoing to establish the cause, but it was not being treated as suspicious.

The burnt roof timbers of the house near Stroud – pictured today

Mrs Shearman was born in Cheltenham and ran a successful business making canvas and leather bags.

But earlier this month she announced the firm, Hide and Hammer, would be closing its workshop for the foreseeable future.

She regularly posted photographs of her family on social media, and was a keen runner alongside her husband.

The extent of the fire at the family home has caused the roof of the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage to fall in and the ceilings and stairs have collapsed.

A body of a woman in her 40s has been recovered from the house, while the body of a child has been located at the scene.

DS Fletcher said work was underway to recover the body of the second child but the unstable nature of the property meant this would take time.

Chloe Turner, who represents Minchinhampton on Stroud District Council for the Green Party, said: ‘If anyone in the community has information that may assist in the investigation, or needs any support as a result of the incident, please call 101 or let the on-site police know, and they will direct you to the appropriate agency.

‘The emergency services and councils are working closely together, but if you have any problems, please let me know.

‘My thoughts are very much with everyone impacted by this tragic incident.’

“𝐇𝐘𝐏𝐎𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋” — EX SPEAKS OUT: Eirianedd Munroe has slammed Adam Peaty’s surname change, branding it “hypocritical” and accusing him of double standards following his marriage to Holly Ramsay.

Adam Peaty‘s ex girlfriend has reportedly called out his decision to change his surname after marrying Holly Ramsay.

The Olympic swimmer, 31, tied the knot with influencer Holly, 25, at Bath Abbey on Saturday, with the couple changing their surname to Ramsay Peaty.

According to sources, Adam’s ex – who he shares five-year-old son George with – thinks it is ‘hypocritical’.

Eirianedd Munroe, 27, is said to have found the surname change a blow after being rebuffed by Adam when she suggested George both their last names when he was born.

The former couple welcomed their son in 2020 and split in 2022, nine months after his stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

‘It feels a bit rich to Eiri that Adam has been quick to change his name but didn’t allow her the same right for their son,’ a source told The Sun.

Adam Peaty’s ex girlfriend has reportedly called out his decision to change his surname after marrying Holly Ramsay

According to sources, Adam’s ex Eirianedd Munroe – who he shares five-year-old son George with – thinks it is ‘hypocritical’

Adam has wasted no time embracing his new family and has made a huge statement about his future family ties by changing his name on social media to Adam Ramsay Peaty

‘It appears Adam is being a bit hypocritical. Holly has been such a positive influence on Adam. They both dote on George. Eiri knows she is lucky that George has a stepmum like Holly.

‘Although she says Adam has double standards over changing his name, she can’t fault him as a dad.’

Daily Mail has contacted Adam and Holly’s representatives for comment.

An insider added to the publication while Adam’s parents might be upset about the surname change ‘it’s not intentional’ and the swimmer followed after his wife who wanted a double barrel surname.

They added: ‘This will feel like a massive slight to Caroline and (Adam’s dad) Mark but Adam just wants the circus to end.’

The change of names online comes days after the newlyweds tied the knot at Bath Abbey in front of 200 guests, which did not include his side of the family.

The only member of Adam’s family to attend their special day was his sister Bethany who was a bridesmaid – but it has been claimed his dad was offered a late invite.

The huge rift between the two families has become increasingly clear ever since Adam uninvited them from the day and his mother was left out of Holly’s hen.

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Is it ever fair for parents to make big family decisions that leave loved ones feeling excluded?

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The daughter of Gordon and Tana Ramsay, 25, has officially altered her name on social media to HollyAnna Ramsay Peaty, following suit hours after Adam changed his own name

Gordon reportedly made a brutal dig at his new son-in-law’s parents in the speech at his daughter Holly’s wedding to the swimmer on Saturday

Adam is thought to have not mentioned his family or parents in his speech, instead praising his swim coach Mel Marshall for being his ‘everything’ (pictured with his mother Caroline)

But despite their issues with the Peaty family, the couple have both opted to use the surname in their new double-barrelled moniker.

Adam’s broken–hearted mother Caroline was said to be ‘beside herself’ with grief at missing what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

The Peaty family were all uninvited from the nuptials, aside from Adam’s sister Beth who was a bridesmaid.

According to new reports on Sunday, Adam’s father Mark was the only person beside Beth asked to attend their big day, however he was told he’d have to sit at the back ‘behind the plus ones’.

Meanwhile father of the bride Gordon reportedly made a brutal dig at his new son-in-law’s parents in his speech.

Gordon, 59, waded into the Peaty family drama by saying his wife Tana ‘will be a good mum to them both’, according to a new report in The Sun which also claims Adam has now blocked his family from messaging him.

They report that in his father of the bride speech Gordon commented on how beautiful Holly looked and told Adam he was a ‘lucky man’, adding: ‘Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.’

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Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay’s wedding day ‘overshadowed by security guards and mandatory wristbands’

The publication goes on to claim that Gordon couldn’t resist a sly dig at Adam’s absent parents he told his daughter Holly: ‘Shame you don’t have the same.’

Sitting at home more than 130 miles away in Staffordshire, Adam’s broken–hearted mother Caroline was said to be ‘beside herself’ with grief at missing what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

Speaking from the council house where Adam grew up, the 59–year–old told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m not going to be hurt like this again’.

She had told Daily Mail that she felt as if Holly and Adam ‘have cut my heart out’.

This newspaper can also reveal that, moments before he walked into the abbey clutching the hand of his son George, Adam was sent a devastating text message by his aunt Louise, who was also not invited to the wedding.

In it, she wrote: ‘I hope you never suffer the depth of pain you have put your mother through and despite it all she loves you still. Shame on you both. Shame.

‘Remember on this, your happiest day, and on each anniversary of your happiest day, that you hurt your mum so deeply her soul screams.’

The roots of this terrible family conflict go back to September 2024, when Adam and Holly snubbed wider members of the Peaty family by not inviting them to their engagement party.

Caroline, who spent years ferrying her son to early–morning training sessions, was also not invited to Holly’s glamorous hen do at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds last month, even though the bride’s mother, Tana Ramsay, and friends including Victoria Beckham, were at the extravagant bash.

 “AM I CANCELLED… AGAIN?” Rylan Clark stunned audiences after joking he’d be “𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓” — a clear nod to the backlash over his This Morning immigration comments. Harmless humour… or tempting fate?

Rylan Clark poked fun at the backlash over his controversial comments on illegal immigration while performing in his Christmas pantomime on Sunday night.

The TV presenter, 37, is currently starring as the Fairy Godfather in Cinderella at Southend Cliffs Pavilion, alongside Strictly Come Dancing star Ross King, who plays Buttons.

During an on-stage exchange that involved a tongue-twister, Rylan accidentally swore in front of the sold-out audience, which included many children.

Reacting to the slip, the former X Factor contestant joked that he might be ‘cancelled for the second time in a year,’ referencing the criticism he faced earlier in 2025 after sharing his views on illegal immigration while filling in on This Morning.

Rylan, who also sings and dances throughout the show, performs a rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow as part of the production.

The Radio 2 host previously sparked 702 Ofcom complaints in August following comments he made about the illegal immigration crisis while co-hosting This Morning with Josie Gibson, standing in for Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.

Rylan Clark poked fun at the backlash over his controversial comments on illegal immigration while performing in his Christmas pantomime on Sunday night

During an on-stage exchange that involved a tongue-twister, Rylan accidentally swore in front of the sold-out audience, which included many children

The former X Factor contestant joked he might be ‘cancelled for the second time in a year,’ referencing the criticism he faced after sharing his views on illegal immigration on live TV

Rylan sparked debate after discussing immigration while chatting with Camilla Tominey and Tim Campbell about current news headlines.

He acknowledged the positive impact of legal immigration, saying: ‘This country is built on immigration. Legal immigration – a lot of the nurses, the doctors that have saved my mum’s life have come over here from other countries. They’re living a great life, they’re paying into this tax system, they’re helping this country thrive.’

However, he expressed concern about people risking their lives to cross the Channel illegally, suggesting that the government’s approach appeared overly accommodating.

He continued: ‘How can it be that if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and I’ve left my passport in Spain, I’ve got to stand at that airport and won’t be let in. But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?’

His comments provoked a strong online reaction, prompting Rylan to clarify on Instagram that one can be ‘pro-immigration and against illegal routes’ while supporting other social causes, urging people to engage in conversation rather than ‘shouting on Twitter’.

Despite the backlash, some commentators praised Rylan for his ‘honest’ assessment, saying he ‘summed up the mood of the nation’.

Rylan also received public backing from Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid, who defended him after Kevin Maguire criticised him for ‘regurgitating terrible myths’.

She said: ‘He pointed out that this country is built on immigration and he was grateful to all of the migrants who have come to the NHS for helping support his mum. He was actually concerned, though, that we’ve got a sort of welcome to the UK, and we don’t know who all of these people are.’

The TV presenter is currently starring as the Fairy Godfather in Cinderella at Southend Cliffs Pavilion, alongside Strictly Come Dancing star Ross King, who plays Buttons

Despite the backlash, some commentators praised Rylan for his ‘honest’ assessment, saying he ‘summed up the mood of the nation’

She added that Rylan’s comments were not anti-migration but reflected a concern about border control.

Since the controversy, Rylan has focused on his broadcasting career. He remains in contention to join the new Strictly Come Dancing presenting team and continues to host his Saturday afternoon show on Radio 2.

Meanwhile, Rylan is headlining his second consecutive Southend Cliffs Pavilion pantomime.

This year he stars as the Fairy Godfather in Cinderella, alongside Strictly star Ross as Buttons.

During Sunday night’s performance, Rylan accidentally swore in front of the audience but joked about being ‘cancelled for the second time in a year’.

He also performed a rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow and paid tribute to Ross, saying he ‘loved’ him but ‘hated’ him for constantly changing the script.

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How should public figures talk about immigration without risking backlash or being misunderstood?

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Nigerian officials have confirmed Champion boxer Anthony Joshua is ‘stable’ after he was miraculously found alive in the crumpled wreck of a car following a crash that killed two of his friends.

Joshua, 36, was on his way to see family when the Lexus SUV he was travelling in smashed into a stationary truck shortly after 11am today on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Makun, southwest Nigeria.

Images of the wrecked vehicle were released by Nigerian officials, while a Mitsubishi believed to be part of Joshua’s convoy sat undamaged just yards away.

Five people were involved in the collision, with photos showing how the vehicle was completely destroyed – with the car’s doors ripped out and the roof smashed out of place.

Eddie Hearne, Joshua’s promoter, tonight confirmed that pals Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed after the Lexus SUV they were all travelling in smashed into a stationary truck.

The pair were two of the Champion boxer’s closest friends, and the news of their deaths is rocking the sporting community.

The tragic update came not long after the Ogun state government confirmed Joshua was stable, and had been in touch with family.

It said in a statement: ‘Anthony Joshua and another passenger were immediately evacuated to a specialised medical facility in Lagos.

Anthony Joshua pictured after the car crash in Nigeria on Monday which killed two of his pals. The Champion boxer came within inches of death in the crash

Anthony Joshua is pictured with friends Latif Ayodele (centre) and Sina Ghami (right) who both died in the crash

An SUV can be seen completely totalled in grim pictures taken by eyewitnesses, while a Mitsubishi believed to be part of Anthony Joshua’s convoy sits undamaged just yards away

Footage posted online appears to show former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, 36, shirtless and looking dazed as he sits in a wrecked Lexus SUV among shattered glass

Ghami poses with Joshua earlier this month before his fight against Jake Paul

Just five days ago, Ayodele posted this picture of he and Joshua with the caption: ‘Looking like we just swam back from Miami’

Mr Ayodele is understood to be a long-standing friend of Joshua’s – with their friendship stretching back before the start of the champion boxer’s career. The pair are pictured here together

Sina Ghami is Joshua’s long-time strength and conditioning coach. He is seen here in an image he recently uploaded to Instagram

The three friends are pictured here together in a photo uploaded to Instagram by Mr Ghami

‘Following comprehensive clinical assessments, doctors have confirmed that both patients are stable and do not require any emergency medical intervention at this time.

‘A full medical team has been assembled and will continue to monitor them closely.’

Footage also taken from the scene showed the champion boxer giving a thumbs up as officials crowd the wreck of the car.

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BREAKING NEWS
Anthony Joshua’s best friends killed in Nigeria crash that left boxer in hospital

One man could be heard repeating Joshua’s name, as locals were left stunned by the appearance of the British athlete.

Just hours before the crash, a shirtless Joshua had posted a video of himself playing table tennis with Mr Ayodele.

The former world champion, whose parents are both Nigerian, shared a story to his 18 million followers on Instagram at 9.30am local time (8.30am GMT), where he appeared happy as he rallied with his close friend.

Joshua accompanied the clip with the message: ‘@healthy_mindset [Mr Ayodele] dishing out table tennis smoke.’

It is unclear when the footage was taken but it was posted just an hour and a half before Mr Ayodele and Mr Ghami were killed.

Mr Ghami had also shared a heartbreaking story on Sunday night where he ate a Persian meal with a friend and smiled as he said: ‘One life.’ This morning, he posted a picture of a Mitsubishi, which was part of Joshua’s convoy.

Mr Ayodele is understood to be a long-standing friend of Joshua’s – with their friendship stretching back before the start of the champion boxer’s career.

He featured Joshua in his first post on Instagram in 2015 to mark his friend’s first world title win against Charles Martin.

Mr Ayodele was born Kevin Ayodele, though he later converted to Islam and went by the name Abdul ‘Latz’ Latif.

A keen sportsman, Mr Ayodele played football for Aylesbury United, Tooting & Mitcham United, Hillingdon Borough, AFC Hayes, Chalfont Wasps and Northwood.

Mr Ghami, Joshua’s long-time strength and conditioning coach, also featured Joshua in his first post on Instagram.

The Ogun State Government had earlier said the two fatalities were ‘foreign nationals’ before Joshua’s promoter confirmed their names.

‘Preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot,’ it said.

‘Their remains have since been deposited at the Livewell Morgue in Sagamu.’

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, said in a statement on Instagram tonight: ‘With profound sadness it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele have tragically passed away.’

He added: ‘Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected – and we asked that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.’

It is understood that Joshua was seated behind the driver, next to another passenger, when the crash occurred. His security detail followed behind the Lexus.

Local police are investigating the incident, but conflicting reports on how the crash happened have emerged from official sources.

The Federal Road Safety Corps said the SUV is believed to have been travelling ‘beyond the legally prescribed speed limit’ and lost control while making ‘an overtaking manoeuvre’, before crashing into a truck parked on the side of the road.

But Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN: ‘The accident happened as a result of a burst tire on AJ’s vehicle, which caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle to swerve into the stationary truck parked along the road.’

A friend of the star said that ‘he’s okay but badly shaken up’.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie told Daily Mail Sport just hours after footage of the boxer appeared online: ‘We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is but thankfully he appears okay from what I have seen in the images.

‘We are awaiting more information on what has happened and will update in due course.’

An eyewitness told Punch newspaper: ‘It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV.

Shattered glass at the accident site on December 29, 2025 in Sagamu, Nigeria

Truck being towed at accident site on December 29, 2025 in Sagamu, Nigeria

He is later seen sitting in the front seat of an emergency vehicle, speaking to officials. The star cheated death in a horror car crash in Nigeria on Monday

‘Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash.

‘Other eyewitnesses and I began the rescue and flagged down oncoming vehicles to assist. A few minutes after the crash, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived.’

Jake Paul, Joshua’s recent rival, tweeted following the news of the crash: ‘Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.’

Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, offered his sympathies following the deadly crash.

He said in a post on X: ‘This immense tragedy casts a deep shadow on this season. I sympathise with you and your family as you bear the emotional weight of this unfortunate incident.

‘As a sportsman, you have always shown courage, discipline, and unwavering love for our country. These are qualities that have made you a source of national pride.

‘I pray for strength, wisdom, and grace for you during this painful period. May God grant you a speedy recovery and repose to the souls of the departed.’

President Bola Tinubu later said he had spoken to Joshua personally to send his condolences.

And he added he had also spoken to and prayed for Joshua’s mother who he claimed was ‘deeply appreciative’ of the call.

He said on X: ‘I have spoken with AJ to personally convey my condolences over the passing of his two close associates, Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami in the recent accident.

‘I wished him a full and speedy recovery, and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care.’

The heavyweight has family roots in Sagamu, a town in Ogun State, Nigeria, and has a tattoo of Africa on his right shoulder.

He is believed to have been on holiday and on the way to see relatives when the accident occurred.

A relative of Anthony Joshua, who asked not to be named, told the BBC they were in ‘shock’ upon hearing the news.

‘We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away – I pray for the departed to rest in peace,’ they said.

‘He’s normally coming around for the new year. We haven’t seen him so we were expecting him.’

A truck pictured at the side of the road following the fatal collision in Nigeria on Monday

A large vehicle pictured with a tarpaulin draped over it on Monday afternoon. Five men are believed to have been involved in the crash overall

Joshua was expected to fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February after his sixth-round knockdown of YouTuber Jake Paul in Miami this month.

He had flown back to Britain after his knockout victory before his pre-planned trip to Nigeria where he was expected to stay for a week.

Joshua pocketed a reported £70million from his fight with Paul, which was viewed by more than 30 million people on Netflix.

The father-of-one, as expected, emerged triumphant – breaking his opponent’s jaw in two places ahead of the final knock-out, although later said he should have won sooner.

Joshua gave Paul credit while speaking to reporters after his victory, admitting it took him ‘a bit longer than expected’ to stop the American.

‘It wasn’t the best performance,’ he said.

‘The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him. That has been the request and that was on my mind. Took a bit longer than expected but the right hand found the destination.

The stationary truck which the car Anthony Joshua was travelling in hit on Monday morning

A picture of a truck which was posted on Instagram by his strength and conditioning coach before the group set off

Joshua had posted a story on his Instagram account four hours ago, where he is seen topless in a video playing table tennis with his long-time friend Latif Ayodele

Anthony Joshua lost two of his friends in the tragedy. The trio are pictured here together

Anthony Joshua and Sina Ghami are pictured. Mr Ghami, believed to be in his mid-30s, tragically died in the crash

‘Jake Paul has done really well tonight, I want to give him his props. He got up, time and time again. It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way through.

‘You have to give Jake his respect for trying, trying and trying. But he came up against a real fighter tonight that’s had a 15-month lay-off.’

An Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘We are urgently investigating reports of a road incident in Nigeria involving at least one British national and stand ready to offer consular assistance, if requested.

‘Our thoughts are with those affected, and their families.’

Tis the season to be jolly, but for a number of celebrities this Christmas will be an opportunity to draw a firm line under a year to forget.

The showbiz world has once again been rocked by its own share of controversy throughout 2025 from dramatic court cases to controversial campaigns.

The last 365 days has had it all, from tarnished reputations, abrupt divorces and inappropriate workplace behaviour deserving of rather more than a quiet word from HR.

So as we prepare to take on 2026, the Daily Mail takes a look back at some of the most shocking scandals of the year.

Andrew Byron, the head of the AI startup Astronomer, was broadcast on the big screen at Boston’s Gillette Stadium with his arm around the company’s HR chief Kristin Cabot

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s court case

It’s been a year since Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni – who was her director and costar on their popular romantic drama It Ends With Us – for sexual harassment and retaliation.

She is demanding $161million for personal and financial losses due to the alleged retaliation and smear campaign against her.

And 2025 has been filled with constant updates in the dramatic legal battle between the pair.

In response to Blake’s claims, Justin adamantly denied all of her allegations against him, and responded by filing a $400million countersuit accusing her of extortion and defamation. Justin’s case was later dismissed by the judge overseeing the case.

Now the misconduct case is set to begin next May, after originally being scheduled for March.

Judge Lewis Liman cited a packed court calendar with two criminal trials already slated for March 2026.

‘As important as this case is, criminal trials take precedence,’ the judge said.

In a further twist, Judge Liman referred both sides to a magistrate judge for settlement talks, even though both sides have indicated they want to go to trial.

It’s been a year since Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni – who was her director and costar on their popular romantic drama It Ends With Us – for sexual harassment and retaliation

The following month, Baldoni hit back with a $400million lawsuit of his own that accused Lively and the Gray Lady of defamation, with Ryan Reynolds also added to the file

P Diddy’s trial

Diddy was sentenced last month to four years and two months in federal prison in connection with his July prostitution conviction after originally charged with racketeering and sex trafficking.

The I’ll Be Missing You singer was then transferred from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix in New Jersey on October 30.

There, his publicist Juda Engelmayer insisted to NBC News, his client is committed to sobriety, healing and trying to set an example for others.

He has secured a coveted job at the prison chapel and is enrolled in a drug rehabilitation program that could see his sentence reduced by a year.

He has even reportedly started up his own class to teach other inmates how to be entrepreneurs at the low-security prison, located about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia.

‘His sobriety and self-discipline are priorities,’ his spokesperson said, ‘and he is taking them seriously’.

Sean Combs was found guilty of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act

Coldplay’s Kiss Cam

It was one of the biggest stories of the summer when a couple were caught having an affair on Coldplay’s kiss cam for the world to see.

Andrew Byron, the head of the AI startup Astronomer, was broadcast on the big screen at Boston’s Gillette Stadium with his arm around the company’s HR chief Kristin Cabot during the band’s gig in mid-July.

They rapidly covered their faces, with Andrew diving out of view and Kristin turning her back to the camera, prompting Chris Martin to mischievously joke from the stage: ‘Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.’

The awkward moment went instantly viral and they both resigned from Astronomer, which then released an ad starring the Coldplay frontman’s ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow.

Public records suggested both Andrew and Kristin were married to their respective partners but were living at different addresses from those of their spouses.

Kristin’s husband Andrew Calbot later confirmed he and Kristin were already ‘privately and amicably separated several weeks before the Coldplay concert’.

Gwyneth sent fans into a frenzy by joining Astronomer as a ‘temporary spokesperson’ and starring in a video for their LinkedIn.

‘Astronomer has got a lot of questions in the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones,’ she said, prompting some text to appear on the screen showing one such query that began: ‘OMG! What the actual f**k.’

The text was then quickly cut off and Paltrow reappeared onscreen, deadpanning: ‘Yes! Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow. We’ve been thrilled to see so many people suddenly interested in data workflow automation.’

The kiss cam moment went instantly viral and Byron and Cabot resigned from Astronomer, which then released an ad starring Martin’s ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow

Russell Brand’s sex offender allegations

In May, Russell Brand officially pleaded not guilty after he was charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London.

The comedian was also charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005. Both offences are alleged to have taken place in Westminster.

Criminal charges were brought against Brand following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

The star, who now lives in Florida, appeared at Southwark Court in May and denied all five charges.

He will stand trial next year in June 2026.

Russell was represented by Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky, who successfully defended Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023.

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has arrived at court to face rape and sexual assault charges

The court heard that he allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room in 1999 after they met earlier that day at a theatrical event following the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth.

Prosecuting Dhadda said: ‘He pushed her onto the bed, pulled down her trousers and knickers and he raped her. He left her with an email address.’

The court was then told about the second of Russell’s alleged victims, who accuses him of indecent assault.

He is accused of grabbing the woman by her forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet at a television station.

The court heard the third alleged victim was a television worker Russell met in Soho. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her.

The final complainant is a radio station worker who met Russell while he was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother’s Big Mouth, the court heard.

Russell is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

He arrived wearing gold rimmed sunglasses, a black shirt and trousers

A$AP Rocky’s court case

Prior to welcoming their third child in September, the couple received the news back in February that Rihanna’s boyfriend A$AP Rocky was found not guilty of shooting a former friend during an altercation in Hollywood in 2021.

The three-time Grammy nominee, 37, was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against his former friend, Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli.

Once close, the pair were members of the A$AP Mob crew while at high school in New York, but the relationship broke down after Rocky became famous.

Rihanna erupted in tears as the not guilty verdicts were read out before the rapper, who faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted, ran over and dived into her arms after being spared from a lengthy jail sentence.

‘Thanks y’all for saving my life,’ a jubilant A$AP Rocky told the jury, composed of seven women and five men, as he left the courtroom.

He was later seen enjoying a celebratory dinner with Rihanna in Beverly Hills.

Rihanna broke down in tears as her partner was found not guilty on all counts by jurors in his felony criminal trial this year

During the three-week trial, Relli testified that Rocky, real name Rakim Athelston Mayers, fired two shots from a handgun, grazing his knuckles.

The rapper’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, argued he was actually carrying a prop gun incapable of firing real bullets – and branded Relli an angry pathological liar’ who ‘committed perjury again and again and again and again’ during the trial.

It was not immediately clear whether the verdict was reached because the jury believed he was carrying a prop gun, or that he acted in self-defence.

Rihanna took to Instagram with an uplifting message after the verdict was read out.

‘THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE!’ the We Found Love artist said. ‘THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!’

The musical artist was emotional as he embraced his lawyers after the verdict was read.

A beaming A$AP Rocky leaves court after fighting through the mob of fans outside the court

Sydney Sweeney’s jeans fallout

Sydney Sweeney caused controversy when she collaborated with American Eagle jeans for an advert with the tagline: ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,’ a pun on ‘great genes’.

The phrase – and the actress’s blonde good looks – ignited a heated debate online when it launched in July with many accusing the company of promoting eugenics and white supremacy. Some even compared the ad to ‘Nazi propaganda’.

The actress first addressed the furore over her American Eagle ad in a November interview with GQ, saying she did ‘a jean ad’ and was too busy filming to notice the backlash.

‘I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life,’ she told the magazine.

‘I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn’t affect me one way or the other.

‘I’ve always believed that I’m not here to tell people what to think. I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person. I know that I love a lot, and I know that I’m just excited to see what happens next. And so I don’t really let other people define who I am.’

The actress said she was ‘honestly surprised by the reaction’ and did the ad ‘because I love the jeans and love the brand’

The ad featured the tagline ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,’ a pun on ‘great genes,’ but the phrase – and Sweeney’s blonde good looks – ignited a heated debate online

Her response at that time was perceived by some media critics and fans as dismissive.

Earlier this month the star finally spoke out in the wake of the scandal as she revealed that staying silent about the controversial ad only fuelled the uproar in an interview with People.

‘I was honestly surprised by the reaction,’ she said. ‘I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign.

‘Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true,’ she added.

American Eagle took a strong stance against the backlash, maintaining the campaign focused on personal style, confidence and authenticity.

‘”Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” is and always was about the jeans,’ the company stated in an August 1 post on Instagram. ‘Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.’

Sweeney insisted she’s ‘against hate’ and ‘leads with kindness,’ and the reason she’s confronting the issue now is to banish the negative energy.

‘Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness,’ said the star, who has been busy promoting her new movie The Housemaid co-starring Amanda Seyfried and directed by Paul Feig.

‘In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.

‘So, I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.’

Jay Z’s lawsuit

Jay-Z (seen in February) successfully had a civil lawsuit accusing him of raping a 13-year-old alongside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2000 dismissed by the alleged victim’s attorney

The rapper, 55, was accused of committing the alleged child rape alongside Combs, 55, after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in a civil lawsuit that was filed back in December

Jay-Z hailed ‘victory’ in February after having a lawsuit accusing him of raping a 13-year-old alongside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2000 dismissed by the alleged victim’s attorney.

The rapper, 55, was accused alongside Combs, also 55, after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in a civil suit filed in December by attorney Tony Buzbee.

Jay-Z released a statement saying: ‘Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere.

‘The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone.’

The 99 Problems hitmaker went on to reveal the toll that the case has taken on his entire family including megastar wife Beyonce.

The statement continued: ‘The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.

‘This 1-800 lawyer gets to file a suit hiding behind Jane Doe, and when they quickly realize that the money grab is going to fail, they get to walk away with no repercussions. The system has failed.’

He finished off the emotional statement with a commentary on the court system and sexual assault allegations as a whole.

Jay-Z concluded: ‘The court must protect victims, OF COURSE, while with the same ethical responsibility, the courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused equally.’

Lily Allen and David Harbour’s split

Lily said: ‘If I was to dedicate the album to anyone it would be to my girls because of all the pain. One thing I did want to do was show my kids that you can use that pain and turn it into something else’; pictured with David in 2020

One of the biggest showbiz splits of the year, Lily Allen and David Harbour confirmed they had gone their separate ways in January.

The singer then checked into an £8,000-a-week trauma treatment centre after telling friends she was close to a nervous breakdown after the collapse of her marriage.

Their separation came after Lily turned amateur sleuth after speculating that David had ‘cheated’ on dating app Raya and had had a three-year affair with a costume designer.

Lily was left in ‘agony’ when she allegedly discovered the actor had a secret profile on the celebrity dating app, The Mail on Sunday revealed.

The pop star joined the app herself, pretending to be ‘looking for women’ – and allegedly found that David had already set up a dating profile. He was reportedly listed on the app as being active for at least a month.

Following their split, Lily turned her emotional trauma into art with the release of her new album West End Girl, which details the brutal honesty of her breakup – from the discovery of her husband’s ‘P***y Palace’ to his illicit relationship with ‘Madeline’.

The heartbreaking album opens with Lily revealing David had requested the couple embark on an open marriage – however with stipulations in place.

Speaking to Esquire Spain in September before her bombshell West End Girl album (seen) release, the actor reflected on his ‘pain, slip ups and mistakes’ as he reached 50

She goes on to expose David’s extra-curricular and rule-flouting activities and also shares a number of sordid details of his affair and their union, including the discovery of an abundance of sex toys and condoms at his ‘P***y Palace’.

While many of her confessions are explicit, the star also takes to hinting, including alluding to prostitution on track five, Madeline, in which she states David was allowed to sleep with other women ‘as long as there was payment’.

Madeline is a constant thread of the album, as Lily appears to be naming the woman involved in David’s affair and reads out a message exchange, which sees Lily attempt to investigate whether he was emotionally cheating rather than just having sex.

She repeatedly sings: ‘Who the f**k is Madeleine?’ and even went so far as to dress up as Madeleine for Halloween.

MasterChef scandal

It was once the biggest cooking show on TV, yet now MasterChef has been embroiled in scandal after both the hosts were sacked this year (pictured: John Torode and Gregg Wallace)

It was once the biggest cooking show on TV, yet now MasterChef has been embroiled in scandal after both the hosts were sacked this year.

John Torode, 60, was given the boot in July after being accused of using a racist slur, while co-host Gregg Wallace was sacked after 45 complaints about his conduct were upheld, including inappropriate sexual language and unwelcome physical contact.

John was axed for allegedly using ‘extremely offensive racist language in 2018’, something he claims he has ‘no recollection’ of.

The allegation came to light during an investigation into his former co-host’s behaviour on set.

Meanwhile John took to social media to say that he feels he has ‘nothing to prove’ and ‘doesn’t need to convince anyone he’s a good person’.

He shared a post on Instagram Stories which read in full: ‘The best decision I ever made? To be quiet and move on. I have nothing to prove.

‘I’m not here to convince anyone to love me or that I’m a great person. I’m not fixing what I didn’t break, and I’m not fighting for anyone to see my worth.

‘Whatever you do is on you – and that’s your journey, not mine. As for me? I’m moving forward.’

John went on to front the show alongside new host Grace, before claiming he learned via the BBC News website that he had been axed.

Gregg was fired after 45 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation

Elsewhere Gregg also stepped down from the hit BBC cooking show after complaints were made about his behaviour and 45 of those 83 complaints were upheld following a report into his conduct. In total, 41 people complained.

The review concluded that the ‘majority of the substantiated allegations against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour’.

It added that ‘a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated’, with ‘one incident of unwelcome physical contact’ also substantiated.

The former Eat Well for Less? presenter told The Sun that while he didn’t deny being guilty of some of the claims, he believed things had been ‘perceived incorrectly’.

Gregg claimed that he had worked with around 4,000 people, meaning that just 0.5 per cent of those he has worked with ‘found fault with me’.

He said his actions were the result of learned behaviour and workplace culture and claimed that his recent autism diagnosis also played a role.

‘I know I am odd. I know I struggle to read people. I know people find me weird. Autism is a disability, a registered disability,’ he said.

Gregg has previously said he felt the BBC failed to provide enough support for his condition during his 20 years working on MasterChef.

‘My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef,’ he said.

‘Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years.’

Strictly scandals

From a sex slur scandal to bullying allegations and investigations, Strictly Come Dancing has had a rocky few years;  pictured judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke

From a sex slur scandal to bullying allegations and investigations, Strictly Come Dancing has had a rocky few years.

And back in August, a Strictly Come Dancing star was arrested on suspicion of rape.

The male suspect was reportedly ‘quizzed by police over allegations involving non-consensual intimate image abuse’.

A Met spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘On Friday, August 22, officers arrested a man on suspicion of rape and non-consensual intimate image abuse.

‘This is a joint investigation with Hertfordshire Constabulary and while the investigation is in its early stages, we urge anyone with any information to come forward to us.

‘The arrest follows a third party allegation of sexual and drug-related offences. Enquiries are ongoing.’

The Met Police also added the alleged rape victim is being supported by specialist officers.

A BBC spokesperson said at the time: ‘It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation.’

There is nothing to suggest this is related to the current Strictly production.

It’s the biggest crisis the scandal-hit show has had to face and weeks later hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quit the BBC show after 23 years

It’s the biggest crisis the scandal-hit show has had to face and weeks later hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quit the BBC show after 23 years.

In 2024, Wynne Evans, 53, was accused of inappropriate behaviour and forced to apologise for making an unacceptable sexual remark on stage at a press event. He denied it was a sexual remark but was later sacked by the BBC.

In 2023, Amanda Abbington, 51, complained about Giovanni Pernice, 34, being ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’.

Whilst he was cleared of the ‘overwhelming majority’ of allegations, a probe did uphold some of her complaints of verbal bullying and harassment.

The same year, former Love Island contestant Zara McDermott, 28, was left ‘incredibly distressed’ following her experience in the training room with Graziano Di Prima, 31, who admitted to kicking the documentary maker, resulting in his axing.

The broadcaster has already launched an inquiry into the family show amid claims two of its stars had used cocaine.

One of the stars involved in the drugs probe was also suspected of drinking while working on the show after crew smelt alcohol on their breath.

MADELEIƝE MCCAƝƝ BREAK: THEY BAƝƝED HER FROM THE IƝTERƝET HER WHOLE LIFE

MADELEINE MCCANN BREAK: THEY BANNED HER FROM THE INTERNET HER WHOLE LIFE. A 21-year-old German girl has just come forward claiming to be Madeleine McCann. She reveals her adoptive parents forced her to live in a “digital blackout”—no Facebook, no news, no smart phone. She never understood why… until now. When she finally accessed the web, she unlocked a terrifying memory of how she got to Germany.  READ THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT HER “ADOPTION” IN THE COMMENTS

MADELEINE MCCANN BREAK: THEY BANNED HER FROM THE INTERNET HER WHOLE LIFE.

EXCLUSIVE: “THEY KEPT ME OFFLINE TO HIDE THE TRUTH” — GERMAN GIRL CLAIMS SHE IS MADDIE MCCANN! A 21-YEAR-OLD WOMAN BREAKS HER SILENCE: HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS BANNED HER FROM USING THE INTERNET HER ENTIRE LIFE TO STOP HER FROM SEEING HER OWN FACE ON THE NEWS.

A young German woman has emerged from the shadows with a story that could finally solve the world’s biggest missing person case. She claims she is Madeleine McCann—and the reason she never came forward sooner is because she was living in a “digital prison.” “Heidi W.” (name changed for protection) told The Crime Desk that for as long as she can remember, her adoptive parents enforced a bizarre and strict rule: No Social Media. No Internet. No Smartphones. “They told me the internet was evil,” Heidi said, her voice shaking. “I was the only kid in school without Instagram or Facebook. I wasn’t allowed to watch the news. I thought they were just strict. Now I know they were terrified.” THE FACE ON THE SCREEN Two weeks ago, Heidi borrowed a friend’s laptop in secret. Curiosity led her to search for “missing children cases” after hearing a rumor about her adoption. “I saw the Age Progression photo of Madeleine McCann,” she wept. “It was like looking in a mirror. The eyes. The smile. The mark on the leg.

They kept me offline so I wouldn’t realize who I was.” THE MEMORY OF “THE GERMAN MAN” Heidi’s memories of her early childhood are fragmented, but one terrifying sequence stands out—a memory that aligns perfectly with the timeline of May 2007. “I remember the heat. I remember white apartments and a blue pool,” she recalled. “But then, I remember a car ride. A long one. I was with a man. A German man. He wasn’t my father.” Heidi claims this mystery man drove her from a warm country (believed to be Portugal) directly to a remote orphanage in rural Germany.

THE SUSPICIOUS ADOPTION What happened next is the smoking gun. According to documents Heidi found hidden in her parents’ attic, she wasn’t in the orphanage for months or years. “I was dropped off by the man in the morning,” she revealed. “And by the afternoon, my ‘parents’ had arrived to take me home. It was instant. It wasn’t an adoption. It was a handover.” DNA TEST DEMANDED Authorities are reportedly taking Heidi’s claim seriously.

The resemblance is striking, and the “instant adoption” timeline raises serious questions about illegal trafficking rings operating between Portugal and Germany in 2007. Heidi’s adoptive parents have reportedly refused to comment and have hired a high-profile defense attorney. Is the missing girl actually alive, hidden in plain sight in the very country of the prime suspect?

 FURY ERUPTS OVER CHARITY CLAIM Outrɑge ɑfter ɑ chɑrity sɑid it’s not illegɑl for British Indiɑns to ɑbort bɑbies becɑuse they’re girls — spɑrking ɑ nɑtionɑl bɑcklɑsh

Britain’s leading abortion charity has been criticised for encouraging ‘sex-selective’ terminations – amid fears these are on the rise among the country’s Indian women.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which carries out 110,000 terminations a year, suggests that aborting a baby on the basis of sex is not illegal – despite Government advice explicitly stating it is against the law.

Furious campaigners called the advice ‘irresponsible’ and pointed out that many pregnant British-Indian women are under huge pressure to have boys, and may be coerced into having an abortion as soon as a scan reveals a female foetus.

Women of Indian origin are likely to have aborted 400 girls on the basis of their sex in the five years up to 2021, the latest figures reveal.

But Department of Health guidance issued to doctors in 2014 states: ‘Abortion on the grounds of gender alone is illegal. Gender is not itself a lawful ground under the Abortion Act.’

But the BPAS website says: ‘The law is silent on the matter. Reason of foetal sex is not a specified ground for abortion within the Abortion Act, but nor is it specifically prohibited.’

BPAS carries out almost half the abortions in the UK, through drugs it sends by post or surgical procedures at its 55 clinics nationwide. For 2024/25, the charity netted an income of £64 million – of which £63 million came from its work for the NHS.

Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, a campaigner against forced marriages, said: ‘Without a shadow of a doubt, sex-selective abortions are going on. There are many reasons. There is still the practice of dowry, which means girls immediately become a financial burden.

‘Health professionals need to stop turning a blind eye because of cultural sensitivities or the fear of being accused of racism.’

Britain’s leading abortion charity has been criticised for encouraging ‘sex-selective’ terminations. Pictured: An ultrasound of a baby in a womb

Khadija Khan is a journalist and broadcaster who says aborting a baby based on gender is ‘a repugnant practice’

Rani Bilkhu, the founder of Jeena International, a charity for Asian victims of domestic violence, said: ‘The authorities are reluctant to talk about this issue, because they feel it might be based on racism, but it isn’t.

‘This is lived experience from our communities, and we need to talk about it.’

Senior Tory peer Baroness Eaton said: ‘This is a great tragedy to which society must not turn a blind eye. Parliament needs to change the law to ensure there is an explicit prohibition on sex-selective abortions, protecting both baby girls and women at risk of being coerced into abortions.’

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Catherine Robinson, of pro-life campaign group Right To Life, said: ‘It’s irresponsible for BPAS to publish advice suggesting that sex-selective abortion is not illegal, because it risks normalising sex-selective abortion and is likely encouraging abortions sought purely because of a baby’s sex.’

Ms Robinson added that BPAS’s advice makes it harder ‘for women to push back’ against pressure to have an abortion simply because they are expecting a girl.

‘Women trying to resist by pointing out sex-selective abortion is unlawful may be met with the response from coercive third parties that the UK’s largest abortion provider says it is not illegal.’

The latest Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) figures show that women of Indian origin had a sex ratio for their first and second child that was similar to the national average of 105 boys to 100 girls.

But on the birth of the third child, there was significant gender imbalance, where the ratio jumped to 113 boys to 100 girls.

The DHSC report says: ‘It is estimated that approximately 400 sex-selective abortions may have taken place to female foetuses over the five-year period from 2017 to 2021.’

Ms Bilkhu said: ‘There is a lot of burden on the woman to give birth to a male, even more so if she has given birth to one or two girls. Pressure is imposed by the in-laws and the husband.

‘And it’s regardless of whether they are first-generation or second-generation immigrants, or educated or not.’

Katie Saxon, a spokesman for BPAS, said last night: ‘As our website correctly states, foetal sex is not mentioned in abortion law in the UK.

‘The reasons women may seek abortion care are diverse and complex, and our experience caring for more than 100,000 women every year is that it is vanishingly rare for any woman to seek an abortion on the grounds of foetal sex.

‘However, as the DHSC itself recognises, there are instances – such as serious health conditions specific to one sex – where foetal sex may form a part of both women’s and doctors’ decision-making.’

DHSC said in a statement: ‘This Government’s position is unequivocal: sex-selective abortion isillegal in England and Wales and will not be tolerated.

‘Sex is not a lawful ground for termination of pregnancy, and it is a criminal offence for any practitioner to carry out an abortion for that reason alone.

‘Anyone with evidence that this illegal practice is occurring must report it to the police immediately.’

Additional reporting: Claudia Joseph

 HER LAST PROMISE — AFTER A LIFETIME OF REGRET  Before her death, Brigitte Bardot made a final, deeply personal promise to her estranged son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier — years after admitting she’d rather “give birth to a dog.”

Brigitte Bardot made her estranged son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier a promise before her death after admitting she’d rather ‘give birth to a dog’.

The actress, who was best known as an international sex symbol before turning to animal rights activism, passed away aged 91 after a hospital stay in Toulon.

Brigitte gave birth to her son Nicolas-Jacques while married to actor Jacques Charrier in 1960, with whom she starred in the film ‘Babette Goes to War’.

At the time, she expressed that the pregnancy was the greatest tragedy, and she never accepted motherhood.

‘I looked at my flat, slender belly in the mirror like a dear friend upon whom I was about to close a coffin lid,’ she wrote in her memoir.

After her inevitable divorce from Jacques in 1962, Nicolas did not see his mother for decades due to her harsh remarks.

Brigitte Bardot made her estranged son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier a promise before her death after admitting she’d rather ‘give birth to a dog’ (pictured with her son in 1960)

Nicolas-Jacques had an estranged relationship with his mother after she failed to accept motherhood

Her son later sued the actress for defamatory statements and non-payment of alimony.

However, in the final years of her life, Brigitte appeared to change her approach to speaking publicly about the rift between her and Nicolas-Jacques.

‘I promised Nicolas I would never talk about him in my interviews,’ she said in an interview with Paris Match, published in June 2024.

While Brigitte and Jacques were in the spotlight, Nicolas maintained a private life away from the cameras.

Now, 65, he is a businessman, known for founding the children’s brand Choupette with his wife and Norwegian model Anne-Line Bjerkan.

The couple welcomed daughters Théa and Anna together, and later became grandparents to three children.

In the same interview with Le Point last year, Brigitte revealed she has two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

‘Yes, I’m the great-grandmother of three little Norwegian children who don’t speak French and whom I rarely see,’ she explained.

Brigitte gave birth to her son Nicolas while married to actor Jacques Charrier in 1960, with whom she starred in the film ‘Babette Goes to War’ (pictured 1959)

In the final years of her life, Brigitte appeared to change her approach to speaking publicly about the rift between her and Nicolas-Jacques

‘I promised Nicolas I would never talk about him in my interviews,’ she said in a 2024 interview

Brigitte was reclusive in her final years, instead preferring to remain out of the spotlight at her secluded and very private property in Saint Tropez (pictured in 2001)

Brigitte had suffered a great deal of ill health in recent months, and was frequently admitted to hospital.

In October, she was forced to release a statement confirming she was not dead, after an influencer put out a false report.

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BREAKING NEWS
Brigitte Bardot dies aged 91: France’s original ‘Sex Kitten’ who found global fame passes away

She took to X to announce: ‘I don’t know who the idiot is who started this fake news about my disappearance this evening, but know that I am fine and that I have no intention of bowing out. A word to the wise.’

She was soon back at her home in Saint-Tropez following three weeks of treatment for an unspecified condition.

The star, who married and divorced three times before settling with her fourth husband Bernard d’Ormale in 1992, retired from acting in 1973 to focus on her passionate animal rights activism.

But she drew controversy with her engagement in far-right politics, which saw her endorse National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and be fined six times for inciting racial hatred.

The star was reclusive in her final years, instead preferring to remain out of the spotlight at her secluded and very private property in Saint Tropez.

Adam Peaty has wasted no time embracing his new family after marrying Holly Ramsay on Saturday.

The Olympian has made a huge statement about his future family ties by changing his name on social media to Adam Ramsay Peaty.

The name change is the latest sign that Adam has distanced himself from his own family, after uninviting his parents from his wedding at Bath Abbey.

Adam has followed in the footsteps of Brooklyn Beckham, who added his wife Nicola’s surname Peltz to his name after marrying the US star in 2022.

Like Adam, Brooklyn has cut ties with his parents David and Victoria, with that family feud cited as the reason he didn’t attend Adam and Holly’s wedding, despite being close friends with the bride since childhood.

Adam, 31, tied the knot with influencer Holly, 25, at Bath Abbey on Saturday with a reception following at the swanky Kin House – amid his bitter fallout with his family which saw his mother Caroline uninvited from proceedings.

Adam Peaty has wasted no time embracing his new family after marrying Holly Ramsay on Saturday

The Olympian has made a huge statement about his future family ties by changing his name on social media to Adam Ramsay Peaty

Sitting at home more than 130 miles away in Staffordshire, Adam’s broken–hearted mother Caroline was said to be ‘beside herself’ with grief at missing what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

The Peaty family were all uninvited from the nuptials, aside from Adam’s sister Beth who was a bridesmaid.

According to new reports on Sunday, Adam’s father Mark was the only person beside Beth asked to attend their big day, however he was told he’d have to sit at the back ‘behind the plus ones’.

Meanwhile father of the bride Gordon Ramsay reportedly made a brutal dig at his new son-in-law’s parents in his speech.

Gordon, 59, waded into the Peaty family drama by saying his wife Tana ‘will be a good mum to them both’, according to a new report in The Sun which also claims Adam has now blocked his family from messaging him.

They report that in his father of the bride speech Gordon commented on how beautiful Holly looked and told Adam he was a ‘lucky man’, adding: ‘Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.’

The publication goes on to claim that Gordon couldn’t resist a sly dig at Adam’s absent parents he told his daughter Holly: ‘Shame you don’t have the same.’

Adam is thought to have not mentioned his family or parents in his speech, instead praising his swim coach Mel Marshall for being his ‘everything’, and for ‘grounding and inspiring’ him.

Gordon Ramsay reportedly made a brutal dig at his new son-in-law’s parents in the speech at his daughter Holly’s wedding to the swimmer on Saturday

Adam’s father Mark was seen on Monday near his Staffordshire home after it was reported that he asked to attend the big day, however was told he’d have to sit at the back

In an emotional moment he also reportedly said that he saw Mel ‘like a mum’ due to her support.

A source told the publication: ‘This was the Ramsays’ plan all along. They wanted Adam’s family gone and they have succeeded.

‘You’d think that as parents, Gordon and Tana would have a bit more compassion towards Caroline, Mark and the family.’

Representatives for Adam and Gordon have been contacted by The Daily Mail for comment.

Holly swept into her wedding in Bath Abbey on the arm of her celebrity chef father, but kept her lace gown concealed beneath a billowing hooded ivory cloak.

If the influencer appeared nervous as she made her way through a chaotic crowd of onlookers before she headed down the aisle to exchange vows with Adam, she had good reason.

For behind the couple’s lavish nuptials lay an ugly family drama which resulted in the groom’s mother – and nearly every member of his family – excluded from the dazzling ceremony amid claims of snobbery and classism.

Sitting at home more than 130 miles away in Staffordshire, Adam’s broken–hearted mother Caroline was said to be ‘beside herself’ with grief at missing what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

Adam is thought to have not mentioned his family or parents in his speech, instead praising his swim coach Mel Marshall for being his ‘everything’

Adam has followed in the footsteps of Brooklyn Beckham, who added his wife Nicola’s surname Peltz to his name after marrying in 2022. Brooklyn is locked in his own family feud with his parents

Speaking from the council house where Adam grew up, the 59–year–old told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m not going to be hurt like this again’.

She had told Daily Mail that she felt as if Holly and Adam ‘have cut my heart out’.

This newspaper can also reveal that, moments before he walked into the abbey clutching the hand of his five–year–old son George, Adam Peaty was sent a devastating text message by his aunt Louise, who was also not invited to the wedding.

In it, she wrote: ‘I hope you never suffer the depth of pain you have put your mother through and despite it all she loves you still. Shame on you both. Shame.

‘Remember on this, your happiest day, and on each anniversary of your happiest day, that you hurt your mum so deeply her soul screams.’

The roots of this terrible family conflict go back to September 2024, when Adam and Holly snubbed wider members of the Peaty family by not inviting them to their engagement party.

Caroline, who spent years ferrying her son to early–morning training sessions, was also not invited to Holly’s glamorous hen do at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds last month, even though the bride’s mother, Tana Ramsay, and friends including Victoria Beckham, were at the extravagant bash.

Despite everything Caroline sent a card and gift to her newlywed son for his 31st birthday today.

Meanwhile, Adam’s 73–year–old great–aunt Janet, who was also left out of yesterday’s wedding, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I just feel so sorry for Caroline.

Sitting at home more than 130 miles away in Staffordshire, Adam’s broken–hearted mother Caroline was said to be ‘beside herself’ with grief at missing the wedding

‘I can’t believe he’s done this to his mother who’s done so much for him from an early age. To be treated like this is not kind.’

Despite being shunned, devastated Caroline had threatened to turn up at the wedding anyway – and, if barred from entering the abbey, stand outside and watch from the street.

She said that she changed her mind after her husband Mark convinced her it would be ‘too upsetting’ to go along.

Had she defied her son’s ban, she would have found herself face–to–face with five security guards, placed in front of the abbey’s ancient and elaborately carved wooden doors, which were framed by decorative columns of white roses and hydrangeas.

Security formed a protective ring around the bride and her famous family as they struggled through the confined passageway besides historic the venue.

Following the ceremony the wedding party headed to the reception at the nearby Georgian Manor Kin House

Guests, which included the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, were all required to wear mandatory wrist bands for security reasons.

Meanwhile crowds of onlookers gathered around the Abbey to try and catch a glimpse of the bride, in what was described by one onlooker as ‘chaotic’ scenes.

Security formed a protective ring around the bride and her famous family as they struggled through the confined passageway besides historic the venue.

The Peaty family were all uninvited from the nuptials, aside from Adam’s sister Beth who was a bridesmaid.

According to new reports on Sunday, Adam’s father Mark was the only person beside Beth asked to attend their big day, however he was told he’d have to sit at the back ‘behind the plus ones’.

After being kicked off the invite list, Adam’s estranged brother James posted an old photograph with their mother Caroline Peaty standing outside of the wedding venue.

The poignant photo was deleted just 15 minutes after it was shared on his Instagram Story, perhaps signalling regret at how bitter the feud has become.

It won’t be lost on those who have followed the fallout the choice of location in the image, where Adam and Holly married just hours before the snap was posted.

Adam’s estranged brother James shared a pointed message with a ‘dark hidden meaning’ to his sibling after being uninvited to his wedding

The photo – taken on a different occasion – shows mother and son stood alone and dressed in what could be wedding finery in a symbolic move.

Notably, James – who was arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages to the athlete during his stag do – used a telling song alongside the image.

James’s song of choice was a remix of ‘Speak Softly, Love’, which appears several times in the iconic Mafia film, The Godfather.

The first of the trilogy was released in 1972 and tells the story of the son of a Mafia boss Michael Corleone [Al Pacino] meeting ‘outsider’ Kay Adams [Diane Keaton].

Seemingly in this case, James is comparing The Corleones to the Ramsays, who are the more powerful family – while his brother Adam is ‘the outsider’.

The relationship deteriorates as Michael embraces his role as the Mafia boss, culminating in the last scene where the door shuts on Kay, symbolising her exclusion.

The now-deleted post of James and his mother was the only photo shared to his Instagram page, which has since been completely wiped of any images.

Adam’s ‘distraught’ mother Caroline was spotted the day after her son got married without her in attendance

Adam’s dad Mark was seen walking the dog near their Staffordshire home as he stepped out on Sunday, the day after the wedding

The Ramsay family splashed out thousands on the venue, where weddings normally cost around £2,500, block–booking it for the day to ensure the service took place in absolute secrecy.

Having found fame and fortune for his foul–mouthed antics in the kitchen, Gordon Ramsay was on his best behaviour as he helped his daughter from a black Rolls–Royce which drew up outside the Gothic abbey at about 12.30pm.

He was seen whispering in her ear before kissing her cheek while an attendant straightened her outfit.

Buffeted by an icy wind, the pair were mobbed by well–wishers shouting ‘Merry Christmas’ as they passed.

Waiting inside for a first glimpse of the bride was a celebrity–studded congregation, including Sir David and Victoria Beckham, who are no strangers to family feuds themselves.

The Peaty family were all uninvited from the nuptials, aside from Adam’s sister Beth who was a bridesmaid (pictured back right with Holly’s sisters Megan and Tilly Ramsay)

Their sons Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper, who are close friends of the Ramsays, were also there – but not estranged son Brooklyn.

Marcus Wareing from Masterchef: The Professionals and his wife Jane were also there.

The ensuing ceremony, one guest later told The Mail on Sunday, was ‘beautiful and very emotional’.

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Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay’s wedding day ‘overshadowed by security guards, dog patrols and mandatory wristbands’ which led one guest to compare the nuptials to a ‘hospital appointment’

Like Adam, who is a devout Christian, Holly was determined that they would exchange vows in a religious service. Peaty’s son George, from a previous relationship, was said to have played a pivotal role in the ceremony.

The three bridesmaids were Holly’s older sister Megan, 27, younger sister Tilly, 24, and Adam’s sister Bethany – the only member of his family to be invited to the event, as well as to the hen party.

Other relatives said Bethany had been included as one of the bride’s attendants because she ‘fits in’ with the Ramsays’ glamorous world.

In what was seen by some as a display of defiance against her family, Bethany linked arms with Holly’s eldest sister as they entered the abbey carrying white arum lilies.

The bridesmaids wore red flowing dresses designed by Victoria Beckham. The former Spice Girl also wore one of her own frocks, a £1,290 teal number, and the dark green silk dress worn by the bride’s mother, 51–year–old Tana, was also from Lady Beckham’s label.

Peaty, meanwhile, slicked back his hair and wore the same dinner suit as his new father–in–law.

There was no word, however, on the designer behind Holly’s romantic floral–patterned lace dress which was kept under wraps until the influencer was inside the abbey, away from prying cameras.

Other than the glaring absence of Peaty’s family, the bride and groom were declared man and wife without any drama.

The newlyweds left church at around 1.30pm to a joyful peal from the abbey bells and were driven away to their reception at Kin House, a Georgian manor house 17 miles away, near Chippenham.

Despite being shunned, devastated Caroline had threatened to turn up at the wedding anyway – and, if barred from entering the abbey, stand outside and watch from the street

There, guests were served a wedding banquet which featured prawn cocktail, beef Wellington and pan–roasted halibut followed by a tarte tatin. A traditional wedding cake was served at 8pm.

A source said: ‘Holly and Adam have been meticulous in their planning and it’s come together perfectly. They couldn’t wait to share everything with their guests.’

While the ceremony and reception were conducted in the utmost secrecy, it’s likely they will feature in an upcoming Netflix documentary series about life in the Ramsay family.

Its airing – expected early next year – may well be the first proper glimpse Caroline Peaty will get of her own son’s wedding.

On Sunday morning Adam’s Strictly Come Dancing co-star Dan Walker shared the first glimpse inside the Olympian’s ‘unforgettable’ wedding.

TV presenter Dan, 48, who competed on Strictly with Adam in 2021, took to Instagram to share a photo of the couple’s order of service and gushed over the ‘wonderful’ day.

Dan, who attended the ceremony with his wife Sarah, wrote: ‘We had a lovely time celebrating with @adam_peaty & @hollyramsayy yesterday.

‘Great wedding, top people, wonderful service, unforgettable reception, brilliant speeches and we got to sing some bangers in the church too’.

As well as showing off the illustrated cover of the order of service, Dan included a picture from inside, showing the words to the hymn Be Thou My Vision, which also soundtracked his Instagram post.

Dragon’s Den star Sara Davies, 41, was also among the celebrity attendees after forming a friendship with Adam when they both appeared on Strictly.

Adam’s Strictly co-stars Dan Walker and Sara Davies both shared glimpses of the wedding on Instagram on Sunday

While Sara is yet to share any snaps with the couple on their wedding day, she did post a sweet message to Adam on Instagram on Sunday and shared pictures of the pair.

She sweetly said: ‘Yesterday I had the privilege of being at this amazing man’s wedding – and it also gave me a moment to reflect on how lucky I’ve been to have him in my life over the past four years.

‘From the first day we met on Strictly, we’ve been firm friends, and it was a real honour to sit in Bath Abbey and watch him get emotional as the love of his life walked down the aisle.

‘It was such a special day. Simon and I had the best time, the service was beautiful – and I’m sure you’ll not be surprised to hear me say, it was hands down the best wedding food I’ve ever had.

‘Wishing my wonderful friend and his gorgeous bride a lifetime of happiness together.’