In the high-octane world of Formula 1, track position is everything. Teams spend millions of dollars and countless hours optimizing aerodynamics, tire strategies, and engine modes just to gain a fraction of a second in qualifying. Securing a spot at the front of the grid is the primary objective, the golden ticket that allows a driver to dictate the pace, manage their tires in clean air, and control the narrative of the race. Conversely, the pit lane is the ultimate purgatory. Starting from the pits is not just a disadvantage; it is a sentence. It means no formation lap to warm the tires, no grid slot to launch from, and a long, lonely wait while the rest of the pack screams away into the distance. It places a driver at the very back of the line, often behind slower cars that are difficult to overtake, forcing them to navigate through a chaotic storm of dirty air and unpredictable traffic.

To start from the pit lane and finish on the podium is widely considered an impossibility—a feat that bends the reality of what should be achievable in modern motorsport. Yet, history has shown us that for the very elite, the “impossible” is merely a challenge. Recently, the racing world was left stunned by Max Verstappen’s heroic charge in Brazil, a drive that reminded us all why we watch this sport. But as incredible as that performance was, it stands on the shoulders of giants who paved the way. We are revisiting three specific masterpieces of driving: Sebastian Vettel in 2012, Lewis Hamilton in 2014, and Max Verstappen in 2025. These were not just recovery drives; they were declarations of intent, ruthless displays of skill that changed the course of entire seasons.

The Desert Resurrection: Sebastian Vettel, Abu Dhabi 2012

Cast your mind back to the 2012 season, a year often cited as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. It was a season of madness, featuring seven different winners in the first seven races. By the time the circus arrived in Abu Dhabi, the championship battle had distilled into a fierce duel between Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. The pressure was immense. Vettel, looking to secure his third consecutive title, appeared unbeatable in qualifying. He set a blistering pace, seemingly securing the perfect launchpad for the race.

Then, disaster struck. A fuel irregularity was discovered in his car post-session. The rules are draconian and unforgiving: disqualification. In an instant, his pole position was wiped out. He was relegated to the very back. Red Bull, faced with a crisis, made a strategic gamble. They took the car out of parc fermé, broke the seals to change the setup for straight-line speed, and accepted a pit lane start. It was a roll of the dice born of desperation.

What unfolded under the floodlights of Yas Marina was a drive of surgical precision. Vettel didn’t just drive; he carved. Lap after lap, corner after corner, he dissected the field with a mixture of aggression and calculated risk. He engaged in wheel-to-wheel combat that left spectators holding their breath, managing his tires perfectly while executing overtake after overtake with zero hesitation. The climax of his charge came in a stunning move against Jenson Button—a maneuver that sealed a podium finish. That third-place trophy was worth far more than the points it offered; it was a psychological blow to his rivals and a “season-defining resurrection” that kept his championship hopes alive. Abu Dhabi 2012 wasn’t just a race; it was the day Vettel proved he could win from anywhere.

The Rain Masterclass: Lewis Hamilton, Hungary 2014

Two years later, the narrative shifted to the hybrid era and the internal war at Mercedes. The 2014 season was plagued by what felt like “strange gremlins” for Lewis Hamilton. He faced random mechanical failures and setbacks that made his title fight with teammate Nico Rosberg unpredictable and volatile. The Hungarian Grand Prix seemed destined to be another low point when a power unit problem during qualifying forced Hamilton to start from the pit lane. On a tight, twisting circuit like the Hungaroring, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, this should have been a death knell for his race.

But Formula 1 has a way of balancing the scales with chaos, and in Hungary, the skies opened. Rain is the great equalizer in motorsport. It negates the raw advantage of the car and places the emphasis squarely on the driver’s feel, bravery, and instinct. In these treacherous conditions, Hamilton transforms. With the track surface shifting from wet to drying and back again, the race became a strategic roulette.

Hamilton sliced through the field with a ferocity that bordered on scary. He overtook with confidence and aggression, finding grip where others found only gravel. For a fleeting moment, even victory seemed to be on the table. While he didn’t take the win, he managed something perhaps even more significant: he finished on the podium, ahead of his title rival Nico Rosberg. To start from the pit lane and beat your teammate who started at the front is a statement that transcends points. It was a psychological triumph that reminded the world why Hamilton is considered one of the greatest wet-weather drivers of all time.

The Modern Miracle: Max Verstappen, Brazil 2025

Fast forward to the most recent chapter in this saga: the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen arrived at Interlagos with zero rhythm. It had been a “terrible Friday” and a “painful Saturday.” His Red Bull, usually a model of compliance, refused to behave, plagued by setup issues that left the reigning champion frustrated. The team made the call to break parc fermé, change the setup, and accept the pit lane start.

Nobody—literally nobody—expected him to fight for a podium. The field was too competitive, the midfield too tight. But what happened next was a storm. Verstappen unleashed a relentless pace that seemed to defy the data. He didn’t just pass cars; he hunted them down. Even a puncture, an event that should have ended his race or at least relegated him to the back of the pack again, couldn’t stop his momentum. He recovered, reset, and went back on the attack.

From the back, he cut into the top 10, then the top 5, until suddenly, the impossible became possible. The climax of his race saw him locked in a battle with the sensation of the new generation, Kimi Antonelli, fighting for second place. While Verstappen ultimately had to settle for P3, the context of the weekend made it feel like a victory. To take a car that had been un-drivable all weekend and drag it to the podium from the pit lane was described as a “modern-day miracle.” Brazil 2025 served as a stark reminder to the paddock: never count out Max Verstappen, not even on his worst weekend.

Conclusion: The Spirit of the Comeback

These three drives, spanning different eras and different regulations, share a common DNA. They are stories of resilience. They remind us that in Formula 1, the machine matters, but the human element—the sheer will to refuse defeat—is what creates legends. Whether it was Vettel’s title-saving charge, Hamilton’s wet-weather wizardry, or Verstappen’s relentless pursuit, these moments define why we watch. They turn a Sunday afternoon drive into a cinematic epic where the hero rises from the ashes.

Which of these pit lane podiums was the greatest? Was it the strategic brilliance of 2012, the raw talent of 2014, or the sheer stubbornness of 2025? The debate will rage on, but one thing is certain: these drivers didn’t just race; they performed miracles.

By the time Giuseppe “Nino” Farina took his last breath in 1966, he had already answered a question that modern Formula 1 still struggles to articulate: What does greatness actually mean?

To the casual observer, the dawn of Formula 1 in 1950 is a romanticized era of leather helmets, gasoline fumes, and heroic bravery. But for the men who sat in the cockpits, it was a terrifying lottery of life and death. The cars were fragile aluminum coffins, the circuits were lethal ribbons of tarmac lined with trees and ravines, and survival depended as much on restraint as it did on raw speed. In this theater of chaos, Farina, the sport’s inaugural World Champion, chose a path that baffled his contemporaries: he chose order.

Farina did not race to impress; he raced to control. While the crowds cheered for the drivers who slid corners with reckless aggression, Farina drove with a cold, almost surgical precision. To him, racing was not a heroic gamble—it was a profession that demanded structure, judgment, and dignity. He believed that true greatness wasn’t found in the dramatic, heart-stopping moments of a near-crash, but in the quiet consistency of a lap repeated perfectly, a hundred times over.

Before he died, Farina revealed the five drivers he admired most. They were not chosen for their spectacle or their fame, but for the specific traits they possessed—traits that Farina believed were essential for surviving the sport’s most dangerous years. This list serves as a fascinating window into the mind of a champion who valued intelligence over impulse and character over noise.

1. Tazio Nuvolari: The Master of Purposeful Risk

For Farina, admiration for Tazio Nuvolari was not born from the legends that surrounded the “Flying Mantuan,” but from the cold reality of watching him work. Farina entered the top levels of racing in the late 1930s, a time when Nuvolari was already a national icon in Italy. Nuvolari had famously defeated the mighty German factory teams in their own backyard at the 1935 German Grand Prix, a race that every Italian driver knew by heart.

But Farina saw something deeper than just a victory against the odds. He watched how Nuvolari operated under impossible conditions—outnumbered, underpowered, and physically exhausted. Nuvolari did not win through recklessness or a death wish; he won through impeccable timing, mechanical sympathy, and psychological control.

Farina observed that Nuvolari possessed a profound sense of responsibility to the machine. He understood that to finish first, you first had to finish. Even at his most daring, Nuvolari drove with purpose, never randomness. This distinction mattered deeply to Farina. When the inaugural Formula 1 season began in 1950, Farina was no longer a young romantic. He was a calculated professional, and his championship run reflected Nuvolari’s influence more than his style. Farina won not by dominating every single lap, but by finishing consistently while others broke their cars or themselves. Nuvolari taught Farina that greatness did not protect you from consequences, but discipline gave you a fighting chance.

2. Rudolf Caracciola: The Logic of the Rain Master

If Nuvolari taught Farina about the spirit of the machine, Rudolf Caracciola taught him about the mastery of the environment. Known as the “Rain Master,” the German driver Caracciola had established himself as the most methodical driver Europe had ever seen. He built his legend not on bravado, but on a terrifying competency in conditions that punished mistakes instantly.

Wet races at Monaco, the Nurburgring, and Spa-Francorchamps were not anomalies to Caracciola; they were opportunities to prove a philosophy. Farina studied this philosophy closely. He noted how Caracciola treated weather, grip levels, and mechanical limits as variables to be managed, not enemies to be fought. Caracciola would famously “slow down to go faster,” conserving the car when others were forcing it, and letting the chaos of the race eliminate those who refused to accept the conditions.

This approach was not conservative; it was decisive. In an era where attrition decided races more often than overtaking, Caracciola’s logic became Farina’s blueprint. The 1950 Alfa Romeo cars were fast but incredibly fragile. Winning demanded the restraint to preserve the machinery. Farina’s championship season was an echo of Caracciola’s wisdom: finish the race, preserve the car, and let the reckless disqualify themselves. Caracciola also offered a hard lesson in longevity; despite suffering multiple crashes and lasting injuries, he never relied on heroics to compensate. He adapted, adjusted, and survived—a trait Farina valued above all else.

3. Achille Varzi: The Warning Written in Real Time

Not every lesson Farina learned was positive. In Achille Varzi, Farina found both brilliance and a tragic warning. Varzi was a legend when Farina was just establishing himself, standing at the absolute peak of Italian racing and rivaling Nuvolari in talent. His driving was precise, almost clinical, and his victories came through icy control rather than fiery spectacle. This was the Varzi that Farina initially idolized.

However, Farina also witnessed the darkness that followed. By the mid-1930s, Varzi’s career began to fracture under the weight of personal struggles, most notably a debilitating addiction to morphine. The decline was not sudden; it was a slow, painful erosion of judgment that was visible to everyone in the paddock. The talent remained, but the trust disappeared.

Varzi eventually returned to racing after the war, attempting to rebuild what he had lost. He showed flashes of his old mastery, but the razor-thin margins required for survival were gone. In 1948, at the Swiss Grand Prix, Varzi was killed in a wet-weather accident. To Farina, Varzi’s story was not just gossip; it was forensic evidence. It proved that discipline mattered as much as ability, and that talent without structure could turn against itself. When Farina approached Formula 1, he carried this lesson like a shield. He avoided excess, maintained a strict routine, and protected his physical and mental condition with near-obsession. He did not judge Varzi harshly, but he refused to repeat the mistake of letting brilliance outpace balance.

4. Piero Taruffi: The Engineer-Driver

Farina’s respect for Piero Taruffi came from a place of intellectual kinship. Taruffi was different from the adrenaline junkies that populated the grid. Trained as an engineer, he approached racing as a technical discipline long before data analysis and telemetry became standard. He was known in the paddock as “The Professor”—a description that Farina found deeply apt.

Taruffi studied aerodynamics, braking behavior, and mechanical stress with the same seriousness that others reserved for raw speed. He prepared meticulously, adjusting his driving style to preserve the machinery and treating races as endurance problems to be solved rather than battles to be won. This mindset aligned perfectly with Farina’s own evolving philosophy.

During the 1950 season, Alfa Romeo’s dominance depended entirely on reliability. Farina’s title was built on bringing the car home, and Taruffi’s approach validated that logic. Taruffi’s victory at the 1957 Mille Miglia—achieved by applying scientific preparation to one of the most dangerous races in the world—stood as a statement: Intelligence could survive where bravado could not. Farina respected that Taruffi never chased heroics; he accepted the limits of physics and worked within them. In a period when fatal accidents were a weekly occurrence, Taruffi demonstrated that understanding risk reduced it.

5. Prince Bira: The Dignity of a Gentleman

The final driver on Farina’s list was perhaps the most surprising to outsiders, but the most obvious to those who knew the man. Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand) commanded Farina’s respect not for his trophies, but for his conduct. A member of royalty, Bira competed not for necessity or escape, but by choice. That distinction mattered.

Bira raced to uphold standards. Farina observed how the Prince prepared thoroughly, respected his machinery, and avoided unnecessary confrontation on the track. He was quick enough to win, but selective about risk. In a period where excess was often celebrated, Bira’s restraint stood out as a beacon of class. He won Grand Prix races before Formula 1 existed and competed credibly once the championship began, all without drama, controversy, or chasing headlines.

To Farina, that absence of noise was not weakness—it was the ultimate form of discipline. Bira treated his rivals with courtesy and refused to weaponize aggression. In an era where the danger was already overwhelming, Bira refused to add to it. Farina recognized a kindred spirit. Like himself, Bira believed that racing was a reflection of the man behind the wheel. Control, dignity, and self-restraint were not just stylistic choices; they were moral ones. Prince Bira showed Farina that Formula 1 could accommodate class without arrogance and speed without brutality.

The Legacy of Control

The five drivers Giuseppe Farina admired most were not united by a specific driving style or a shared nationality. They were united by restraint. From Nuvolari’s purposeful risk to Caracciola’s management of chaos, from Varzi’s tragic fall to Taruffi’s scientific discipline and Bira’s quiet dignity, Farina saw a spectrum of choices made under extreme pressure.

Farina’s greatness was not accidental. His 1950 championship was the product of observation, selection, and a refusal to indulge in the excesses that killed so many of his peers. He learned from the triumphs and mistakes of these five men, building a method that prioritized survival, consistency, and character.

Before he died, Giuseppe Farina left Formula 1 with more than just its first championship trophy. He left a standard. It is a standard that measures drivers not by the spectacle they create, but by how they behave when the danger is unavoidable. In a modern sport obsessed with speed, Farina’s legacy—and the list of men he admired—reminds us that true greatness begins with the mind.

The silence within the hallowed halls of the Ferrari factory has been broken, not by the roar of an engine, but by the whisper of a revolution. Following a 2025 season that can only be described as a catastrophe for the Scuderia—a year where the Prancing Horse failed to secure a single Grand Prix victory—the team has made a decision that is sending shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock. They are going “all in.”

Reports emerging from Italy suggest that Ferrari is not just preparing for the 2026 regulations; they are attempting to rewrite the engineering rulebook entirely. With the arrival of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and the mounting pressure on Charles Leclerc, Team Principal Fred Vasseur has authorized a technical gamble so audacious it could either deliver a dominant championship or set the team back for another decade.

The “Lost Year” and the Brave Pivot

To understand the magnitude of Ferrari’s current trajectory, one must first look at the wreckage of their 2025 campaign. It was a season to forget, marked by a car that simply couldn’t compete. Aside from a solitary sprint race victory by Hamilton in China, the year was a barren wasteland of missed opportunities and performance deficits.

Recognizing the writing on the wall, Vasseur made a controversial and bold call as early as April 2025: stop all development. The team effectively sacrificed the remainder of the season, accepting defeat to shift every ounce of resource, manpower, and financial capability toward the massive regulatory overhaul coming in 2026. The 2025 car was deemed a lost cause, and “Project 678″—now officially christened the SF26—became the sole focus of Maranello’s existence. This was an admission of failure, yes, but also a strategic masterstroke to buy time—the one commodity in F1 that money cannot buy.

The Heart of the Beast: A Radical Engine Shift

The 2026 regulations represent a “Day Zero” for Formula 1. The complex and expensive MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) is gone. In its place comes a powertrain split 50/50 between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric power. The electric motor is receiving a massive upgrade, tripling its output to a staggering 350 kilowatts. Furthermore, all teams are mandated to run on 100% sustainable fuels.

It is in this new playground that Ferrari is taking its biggest risks. Insider sources report that the team is collaborating with Austrian engineering firm AVL to develop steel cylinder heads for their new V6 turbo engine. This is a dramatic departure from the industry standard. For decades, aluminum has been the material of choice due to its lightweight properties and thermal conductivity.

So, why steel? The logic is rooted in the extreme demands of the new regulations. Steel is significantly stronger than aluminum, capable of withstanding much higher cylinder pressures and temperatures. Ferrari’s engineers are betting that the ability to run the engine in a more aggressive, high-stress mode will yield a power advantage that outweighs the weight penalty of using steel. It is a classic high-risk, high-reward engineering trade-off. If the material holds, the Ferrari power unit could be a rocket ship. If the thermal management fails or the weight distribution is off, the engine could be a glass cannon—fast but fragile. With teams limited to just four engines per driver for the entire season, reliability will be just as critical as raw speed.

The Fuel War: Bio vs. E-Fuels

The risks don’t end with the metal. A silent war is brewing in the chemistry labs. While the 2026 rules mandate sustainable fuel, they leave the method of creation open to interpretation. This has fractured the grid into different philosophical camps.

Mercedes, along with their partner Petronas, are reportedly focusing heavily on “e-fuels” (synthetic fuels created by capturing carbon and combining it with hydrogen). Ferrari, however, in partnership with their long-time ally Shell, is taking a different path: advanced biofuels.

The speculation is that Shell and Ferrari believe they have cracked a specific chemical formula that allows biofuels to burn more efficiently or deliver more “punch” in the new combustion chambers than their synthetic counterparts. If Shell’s mixture offers even a fraction of a percentage better combustion efficiency, it translates to free horsepower that rivals cannot copy simply by looking at the car. This decades-old partnership could prove to be Ferrari’s ace in the hole, provided the science holds up under race conditions.

The Le Mans Connection

For years, critics have pointed to Ferrari’s split focus between F1 and endurance racing as a weakness. Now, it appears to be their greatest strength. While the F1 team floundered, Ferrari’s Hypercar program was busy dominating the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Reports indicate a significant technology transfer is occurring between the Le Mans team and the F1 division, specifically regarding battery technology. The 2026 cars will carry much larger, heavier batteries to handle the increased electric load. Any weight saved in the energy store is gold dust for car balance and lap time. Ferrari’s endurance engineers have mastered the art of lightweight, high-efficiency battery management over 24-hour grueling marathons. This expertise is being injected directly into the SF26 project, potentially giving Ferrari a leg up on rivals like Mercedes who do not operate a top-tier Le Mans prototype program.

The Human Element: Pressure Cooker

Beyond the nuts and bolts, the human drama at Ferrari is reaching a fever pitch. The SF26 will be piloted by arguably the strongest driver pairing on the grid: the legendary Lewis Hamilton and the lightning-fast Charles Leclerc.

For Hamilton, the SF26 is the machine he hopes will deliver his record-breaking eighth world title. His vast experience in developing cars during regulatory changes is invaluable. For Leclerc, the stakes are even more personal. “It’s now or never,” he reportedly told insiders. After years of waiting for a championship-caliber car, 2026 offers him a clean slate. The dynamic between the veteran king and the prince-in-waiting will be fascinating. Will they collaborate to bring the title back to Maranello, or will the desire to be “the one” spark a fierce internal rivalry?

Ferrari’s engine boss, Enrico Gualtieri, has highlighted that the drivers will have a harder job than ever. The new power units cannot deploy full electric boost for an entire lap on certain tracks. This introduces a strategic layer where drivers must manually adjust engine modes on the fly, deciding when to attack and when to harvest energy. The mental load will be immense, and the team with the smartest software—and the sharpest drivers—will prevail.

The Verdict: A New Hope or False Dawn?

As the January 23rd launch date approaches, the atmosphere in Maranello is described as “aggressive.” Team Principal Fred Vasseur admitted the schedule is incredibly tight, with the car assembly set to finish just 24 hours before the reveal. It is a race against time before the car even hits the track.

Despite the anxiety, the paddock consensus is shifting. While Mercedes remains the safe bet for regulatory mastery, Ferrari is increasingly seen as the dark horse—the “second strongest” force ready to challenge for wins from Day 1. With newcomers Audi and the Red Bull-Ford partnership facing steep learning curves, the door is wide open.

Ferrari has gambled everything—their budget, their engineering philosophy, and their reputation—on the belief that steel engines and biofuels are the future. If they are right, the SF26 will be a legend. If they are wrong, the silence in Maranello may return, heavier than ever.

 NEW YEAR DIG FUELS FEUD: Nicola Peltz has fired back at the Beckhams with a pointed New Year message — after husband Brooklyn Beckham reportedly declared his relationship with his estranged parents is “over.”

Nicola Peltz fired back at the Beckhams with a pointed New Year dig after her husband Brooklyn reportedly declared his relationship with his parents is ‘over.’

The eldest son, 26, and the rest of his family are locked in a bitter feud, which saw both David, 50, and Victoria, 51, blocked on Instagram last month.

Sharing an update to her Instagram Story, Nicola, 30, listed everyone she was thankful for as the couple snubbed the Beckhams once again.

Snapping a photo of her friends and family, she wrote: ‘So grateful to start the New Year with these beautiful humans.’

Nicola tagged her husband Brooklyn, her brother Bradley and her brother Zach Peltz’s girlfriend Aislinn Carne.

Her friends including Quincy Jones’s daughter Kenya Jones, Alison Albright, and Lovette Candice were also pictured in the group.

Nicola Peltz fired back at the Beckhams with a pointed New Year dig after her husband Brooklyn reportedly declared his relationship with his parents is ‘over’

The eldest son, 26, and the rest of his family are locked in a bitter feud, which saw both David, 50, and Victoria, 51, get blocked on Instagram last month (pictured in 2023)

Sharing an update to her Instagram Story, Nicola listed everyone she was thankful for as the couple snubbed the Beckhams once again

Brooklyn reportedly declared his relationship with his estranged parents is ‘over’ as he partied with his wife Nicola in Florida on New Year’s Eve.

While the distraught former footballer and fashion designer posted photos of Brooklyn on social media from their Cotswolds home, the budding chef seemingly snubbed the olive branch as he watched 50 Cent perform at South Florida ultra club E11EVEN with Nicola.

Brooklyn and Nicola showed no signs of family heartache as they sang and danced the night away and shared the results of their passionate moments on social media while enjoying watching rapper 50 Cent perform.

Meanwhile, David was evidently keen to build a bridge over troubled water while sharing a series of family photos with Instagram followers, among them a shot of Brooklyn as a teenager.

But while Brooklyn reportedly dashed any hopes of a reconciliation, there are still some family members he still has affection for.

A source told The Mirror: ‘While things between him and his parents are over, Brooklyn is still very fond of his grandparents. There is a lot of love for them, and that has never faltered.’

Over the festive period David’s mum Sandra and Victoria’s mother Jackie Adams both reached out to Brooklyn after he had been absent from every key family event over the course of the year – among them his father’s milestone 50th birthday celebration and long awaited recent investiture.

A source went on: ‘David and Victoria will never give up trying to secure a reconciliation between them and their son. Nothing will change that, and they live in hope. He will always be their son, and they are not going to stop putting on record their feelings.’

Snapping a photo of her friends and family, she wrote: ‘So grateful to start the New Year with these beautiful humans’ (pictured with her brother Bradley)

Brooklyn, 26, and the rest of his family are locked in a bitter feud, which saw both David, 50, and Victoria, 51, get blocked on Instagram last month

He reportedly declared his relationship with his estranged parents is ‘over’ as he partied with his wife Nicola in Florida on New Year’s Eve

While the distraught former footballer and fashion designer posted photos of Brooklyn on social media, the budding chef seemingly snubbed the olive branch as he watched 50 Cent perform

Meanwhile, David was evidently keen to build a bridge over troubled water while sharing a series of family photos with Instagram followers, among them a shot of Brooklyn as a teenager

Before claiming that despite David’s incredible year with many successes his estrangement from Brooklyn has overshadowed it all.

The Daily Mail have contacted Brooklyn and David’s representatives for comment.

In his New Year post the former footballer captioned the shot of him and his eldest son: ‘I love you all so much.’

Further shots included David with sons Romeo, Cruz and daughter Harper, while a final image featured wife Victoria and all for four of her children, with the caption: ‘You are my life.’

The post was promptly re-shared by wife Victoria who accompanied the image of David and Brooklyn with an affectionate love heart.

THIRD HOME BOMBSHELL Declan Donnelly has reportedly snapped up a THIRD West London home after sealing a jaw-dropping £30 MILLION ITV deal with best mate Ant McPartlin

Declan Donnelly has reportedly splashed out on his third West London property after securing a £30million ITV deal with best pal Ant McPartlin.

The TV presenter, 50, already owns a £7million mansion in West London, as well as the house next door, which he bought three years ago for £2.25million.

Now, Declan is said to have purchased a third home on the same street and has submitted planning applications to develop it, according to The Mirror.

While it is not known how much he paid for the property, homes on the same street are reportedly selling for around £2.5million.

Several years ago, Ant, 50, lived just a few doors down from Declan on the same street before his divorce from wife Lisa Armstrong, 49.

Ant later moved out of the area and now lives in a £6million home in South West London with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett.

Declan Donnelly has reportedly splashed out on his third West London property (pictured 2024)

The TV presenter, 50, who secured a £30million ITV deal with best pal Ant McPartlin, already owns a £7million mansion in West London, as well as the house next door, which he bought three years ago for £2.25million (both pictured 2025)

The couple, who welcomed their first child together, a son named Wilder Patrick McPartlin in 2024, are now said to be on the hunt for a new home too.

Details of Declan’s latest purchase reportedly emerged after plans were submitted to the local council by his wife Ali Astall, 47, to add a side extension and install a new gate.

According to The Mirror, neighbours were delighted when Declan bought the property, which had previously been described as an eyesore.

The home is said to be made up of two flats and will reportedly be given a full makeover, although it is not yet known whether Declan plans to live there or sell it on.

Daily Mail has contacted Declan’s representatives for comment.

The lavish purchase is thought to have been sealed within the past two months, as Ant and Dec negotiated their lucrative three-year ITV deal.

The presenting duo have a busy year ahead, with new series of Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win, Britain’s Got Talent, I’m A Celebrity… South Africa and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here all on the way.

Speaking recently, Declan expressed his gratitude for working on some of ITV’s biggest programmes.

Now, Declan is said to have purchased a third home on the same street and has submitted planning applications to develop it. While it is not known how much he paid for the property, homes on the same street are reportedly selling for around £2.5million (pictured 2024)

Several years ago, Ant, 50, lived just a few doors down from Declan on the same street before his divorce from wife Lisa Armstrong, 49 (both pictured 2015)

Ant later moved out of the area and now lives in a £6million home in South West London with his wife Anne-Marie Corbett (pictured 2021)

Details of Declan’s latest purchase reportedly emerged after plans were submitted to the local council by his wife Ali Astall, 47, to add a side extension and install a new gate (both pictured 2018)

Read More

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! fans go wild after Ruby Wax snogs Declan Donnelly live on air as ‘most chaotic series ever’ comes to an end

He told The Mirror: ‘We’re so lucky to work on some of the biggest and best TV shows and we’re proud of what we have achieved together with ITV over the years.’

He added: ‘We’re excited for the future and looking forward to making more great entertainment together”.’

Meanwhile, ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment Kevin Lygo said he was delighted to secure the duo for a further three years.

He said: ‘Ant & Dec’s impact upon the world of live entertainment is unrivalled, with their triumphant partnership reigning supreme for over three decades.’

He added that the new three-year deal marks an exciting new chapter for the pair at ITV.

Gordon Ramsay has publicly thrown his support behind new son-in-law Adam Peaty — after fans spotted a “subtle jab” in the Olympic champion’s wedding speech

Gordon Ramsay publicly threw his support behind his new son-in-law, Adam Peaty, on Saturday after fans spotted a ‘subtle jab’ in the groom’s wedding speech.

The Olympian, 31, tied the knot with influencer Holly, 25, at Bath Abbey on December 27, with a reception following at the swanky Kin House – amid a bitter fallout with his family, which saw his mother Caroline uninvited from proceedings.

The ceremony was attended by a host of famous faces, including close friends, the Beckhams.

Now, in a new clip shared on Instagram, Adam declared he would ‘always choose’ his wife as he delivered an emotional speech, prompting Gordon to publicly show his love and support.

The groom appeared visibly emotional at the altar, wiping away tears as Holly was given away by her father.

Gordon commented beneath the video: ‘Beautiful words @adamramsaypeaty @hollyramsaypeaty True Love  congratulations love you both so much Dad’

Gordon Ramsay publicly threw his support behind his new son-in-law, Adam Peaty, on Saturday after fans spotted a ‘subtle jab’ in the groom’s wedding speech (Gordon pictured last year)

The Olympian, 31, tied the knot with influencer Holly, 25, at Bath Abbey on December 27, with a reception following at the swanky Kin House – amid a bitter fallout with his family, which saw his mother Caroline uninvited from proceedings

However, fans were quick to speculate about the wording of Adam’s speech, with one writing: ‘I’ll always choose you – hmmmm, can’t help but wonder how Victoria [Beckham] felt hearing that sentence, especially since it’s the same one Brooklyn keeps using in his posts as a subtle jab at his family.’

The comment referenced the widely reported Beckham family tensions, which emerged after Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz were absent from Sir David’s 50th birthday celebrations last year.

Brooklyn later insisted he would ‘always choose’ Nicola, fuelling further speculation that he had fallen out with his family.

Since Adam and Holly’s nuptials, fans have drawn comparisons between the two families, with one writing under wedding photos: ‘I expect the Beckhams are sickened by the behaviour of their ‘besties’ given that Brooklyn is doing exactly this to them.’

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.

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

Now, in a new clip shared on Instagram, Adam declared he would ‘always choose’ his wife as he delivered an emotional speech, prompting Gordon to publicly show his love and support (L-R Gordon, Tana Ramsay, Holly, and Adam)

The groom appeared visibly emotional at the altar, wiping away tears as Holly was given away by her father (Holly and Gordon pictured arriving at the church on the day of her wedding)

Gordon commented beneath the video: ‘Beautiful words @adamramsaypeaty @hollyramsaypeaty True Love  congratulations love you both so much Dad ’

However, fans were quick to speculate about the wording of Adam’s speech, with one writing: ‘I’ll always choose you – hmmmm, can’t help but wonder how Victoria [Beckham] felt hearing that sentence,’

‘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.

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

According to reports, Adam’s father, Mark, was the only person besides 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.

The comment referenced the widely reported Beckham family tensions, which emerged after Brooklyn and wife Nicola Peltz were absent from Sir David’s 50th birthday celebrations last year (L-R Cruz Beckham, Romeo Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, and Nicola)

Brooklyn later insisted he would ‘always choose’ Nicola, fuelling further speculation that he had fallen out with his family

Read More

Holly Ramsay defends father Gordon’s controversial wedding speech and jibes estranged Peaty family by saying HER family paid for honeymoon before sharing very odd snap with Beckhams

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.

The photo – taken on a different occasion – shows mother and son standing 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.

Last month it was revealed Holly and Adam had banned his mother from their wedding after an astonishing family row over Holly’s failure to invite her future mother-in-law to her hen party (pictured with his mother Caroline and Holly in 2024)

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.

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.

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

The newlyweds left the 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.

The Masked Singer has edited a celebrity OUT of the first episode over “potential insensitivities” — following the tragic Switzerland New Year’s Eve fire that killed 40 people

The Masked Singer‘s Red Panda was axed from Saturday night’s episode just hours before it was due to air.

ITV bosses had to step in to remove what was deemed an ‘insensitive performance’, in light of the deadly Switzerland NYE fire that killed 40 people.

The broadcaster confirmed they had scrapped Red Panda’s first appearance entirely, following concerns over the song choice and the staging of the routine.

The mystery celebrity was due to perform the 1976 song, Disco Inferno by The Trammps, with dancers reportedly wearing fire-style suits, a detail that was later deemed ill-judged, given the devastating New Years Eve tragedy in Switzerland.

An ITV spokesperson said: ‘In light of the tragic events in Switzerland, we took the decision to remove Red Panda’s performance on The Masked Singer owing to potential insensitivities within the theme and lyrics of the song.

ITV stressed that Red Panda – and the celebrity inside the costume – would remain part of the 2026 series and would return to the stage in upcoming episodes.

The Masked Singer’s Red Panda was axed from Saturday night’s episode just hours before it was due to air – following the deadly Swiss NYE fire that killed 40 people

They added: ‘Viewers will get to see Red Panda perform in the coming weeks.’

The decision to remove the performance followed a deadly fire at the Le Constellation bar in Switzerland on New Years Eve, where around 40 people were killed after a sudden blaze tore through the packed venue during New Year celebrations.

More than 200 young people had been crammed inside the popular Valais ski resort bar when the fire broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day, leaving dozens dead and hundreds suffering severe burns.

Authorities later confirmed a criminal investigation had been launched into how the fire began in the basement and spread so rapidly.

Owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti are being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.

It comes as The Masked Singer launched its seventh series on ITV this weekend.

As part of the line up, viewers were introduced to two bands, fronted by Goldfish and Emperor Penguin.

Goldfish was the lead singer of a band called No Trout, while Emperor Penguin leads the Antarctic Funkeys.

ITV bosses had to step in to remove what was deemed an ‘insensitive performance’ confirming they had scrapped Red Panda’s first appearance entirely, following concerns over the song choice and the staging of the routine

The mystery celebrity had performed the 1976 song, Disco Inferno, with dancers reportedly wearing fire-style suits, a detail that was later deemed ill-judged, given the devastating New Years Eve tragedy in Switzerland

The Masked Singer launched its seventh series on ITV this weekend with Joel Dommett back at the helm hosting

As part of this years line up, viewers will be introduced to two  bands, fronted by Goldfish and Emperor Penguin. Goldfish is lead singer of a band called No Trout, while Emperor Penguin is leading the Antarctic Funkeys

Previously, host Joel Dommett teased in a trailer: ‘This season, we’ve got the most unmaskings ever’ (pictured: panellists Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, host Joel Dommett, Maya Jama and Jonathan Ross)

The opening episode of the series unveiled Anne-Marie as Goldfish, after she performed the viral hit APT by Bruno Mars and Rose.

The judges Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Jonatahn Ross and Maya Jama correctly identified the pop star.

Read More

Joel Dommett reveals celebrity’s real name on The Masked Singer sending Christmas special into chaos

Maya even went as far to joke: ‘If Goldfish isn’t Anne-Marie hit me with a fish’.

Reflecting on the experience, Anne-Marie said: ‘When I was at school, I had a very short attention span! I’m used to the voice just going that way [in front of me] but in the thing, it was like “Oh, that’s what I sound like!”‘

Following her performance of Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan, The One Show host Alex Jones was revealed as Disc Jockey, with a double elimination.

The Welsh star described the experience as bizarre but said: ‘I have had a lot of fun. We love this programme, as a family, and I just thought, it would be a lot of fun and that to do it for my children would be wonderful.’

Previously, host Joel Dommett teased in a trailer: ‘This season, we’ve got the most unmaskings ever.’

To this end, there will reportedly be four unmaskings across the first two episodes.

Two stars were unveiled during Saturday night’s show with Maya Jama being so convinced about one she joked she could be hit by a fish

The opening episode of the series unveiled Anne-Marie as Goldfish, after she performed the viral hit APT by Bruno Mars and Rose – the star went on to be a guest judge

Following her performance of Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan, The One Show host Alex Jones was revealed as Disc Jockey, with a double elimination

Last series saw stage and screen actress Samantha Barks named the winner, having competed as ‘Pufferfish’.

She fought off stiff competition from ‘Dressed Crab’ (Gregory Porter) and ‘Wolf’ (Wet Wet Wet’s Marti Pellow) to claim the victory.

Addressing everyone after her unveiling, Samantha said: ‘I’ve had the best time. Underneath the mask, I’ve been smiling so hard – it’s hurting my cheeks! It’s been amazing.’

The Masked Singer airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

“HE COULDN’T STOP CRYING…” Holly Ramsay has revealed the emotional role her dad Gordon Ramsay played at her lavish wedding to Adam Peaty — admitting the tough-talking chef was in floods of tears

Holly Ramsay has revealed the second important role her famed father, Gordon, had for her lavish wedding to Adam Peaty.

The daughter of the celebrity chef, 26, married Olympic swimmer Adam, 31, last Saturday during a lavish ceremony in Bath.

But she has now revealed that Gordon not only walked her down the aisle, but he also took control of the food.

‘Dad has been extremely involved in the food,’ she told British Vogue before explaining that he and London’s Savoy Grill designed the menu.

The fancy menu included one of Gordon’s famed dishes- a traditional beef Wellington matched with wine pairings.

But later in the evening, Holly took more creative control of her guests’ food and organised spicy vodka pasta and fries.

Holly Ramsay, 26, has revealed the second important role her famed father, Gordon, had for her lavish wedding to Adam Peaty, 31

The daughter of the celebrity chef married Olympic swimmer Adam last Saturday during a lavish ceremony in Bath

Holly also revealed that Gordon’s tough persona crumbled in the weeks leading up to the special, as she reported that he ‘couldn’t stop crying’.

‘Dad cries every time I talk about the wedding,’ she said ahead of the big day.

Read More

Holly Ramsay reveals she had FOUR wedding dresses for her nuptials to Adam Peaty

Holly, who is the first of Gordon’s six children to get married, continued: ‘The other day I was asking him which car he and I would take to the church, and he welled up immediately.’

While the Ramsay clan turned out in their droves to watch the couple say ‘I do’, Adam’s mother and father, Caroline and Mark, were not present amid a spiralling family feud.

In the same interview with British Vogue, Holly defended her father Gordon’s speech, saying she felt ‘overwhelmed with happiness’ during it.

Gordon had said how his wife Tana would be ‘a good mum to them both’ in an apparent dig at Adam’s mother Caroline, who was uninvited after a row over her not being invited to Holly’s hen do.

The Sun reported 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 went 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.’

But she has now revealed that Gordon not only walked her down the aisle, but he also took control of the food

Holly also revealed that Gordon’s tough persona crumbled in the weeks leading up to the special, as she reported that he ‘couldn’t stop crying

Holly shared a photo of herself and Adam smiling and laughing during Gordon’s speech with Vogue.

The photo was captioned: ‘Listening to dad’s speech, looking around the room and feeling overwhelmed with the love and the happiness on our guests’ faces.’

In a jibe at the estranged Peaty family, Holly revealed that her parents paid for her and Adam’s luxurious Honeymoon to Mauritius, saying it was their ‘wedding present’.

She said: ‘We’re going to Mauritius to just lie by the sea – that was our wedding present from my parents. I had to tell Adam we weren’t basing our honeymoon around a 25-metre pool…’

LOCKED IN TO D|E? An emergency exit was “always locked,” a bartender has claimed — as investigators probe the deadly Swiss ski resort inferno

A criminal investigation was launched yesterday into the French owners of the Swiss ski bar engulfed by a deadly inferno on New Year’s Eve, amid claims that an emergency exit at the venue was ‘always locked’.

Police announced that Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica, 40, were being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm and arson after a horrific blaze killed 40 and injured 119.

The inferno at Le Constellation in the Alpine resort of Crans–Montana erupted in the venue’s basement bar when sparklers in champagne bottles set a ceiling covered in insulation foam alight.

Harrowing video footage showed revellers, many of whom were teenagers, continuing to party as the flames spread across the ceiling, losing crucial seconds during which they could have fled.

The venue was branded a ‘deathtrap’ after it emerged that partygoers squeezed up a narrow staircase to escape the flames and toxic smoke in the basement.

But in a major development, it was yesterday claimed there was another potential escape route via an emergency exit within the basement – but that it was allegedly always locked.

Andrea, 31, a bartender who works elsewhere in the resort but was a regular at Le Constellation, told German newspaper Bild: ‘There was an entrance that also served as an exit. And there was an emergency exit. But whenever I was there, it was always locked.

‘Everyone in town knew things were bound to go wrong eventually.

‘The emergency exit was in a separate smoking room. Hardly anyone used it; most went up to the conservatory. The smoking room was used as a kind of storage room. There was a sofa inside in front of the door, and carelessly discarded objects lay outside.’

Pictured: 16–year–old girl Chiara Costanzo, from Milan, Italy, was the second person to be named as a victim

A makeshift memorial outside the ‘Le Constellation’ bar following the fire

Another witness, Grigori, who was on his way to the bar when the fire erupted, and whose friend is among the missing, said: ‘There’s another exit, but I think they were locking it because some people were escaping without paying.’

Read More

Pictured: How Swiss bar owners renovated club themselves – as they say they are ‘very unwell’

The Mail on Sunday has also identified a third exit on the ground floor of the bar, which led into a covered shopping area that includes a ski rental shop.

Anyone using that exit would then, however, have to go through another glass door to escape on to the street. It is unclear whether either of those doors were open or locked when the fire started at 1.30am.

The revelations came as a 16–year–old girl from Milan, Italy, was the second person to be named as a victim. Chiara Costanzo’s father, Andrea, told an Italian newspaper he felt a ‘great emptiness’ after receiving a call ‘that should never come to a father’.

‘Until the very end we hoped that Chiara was among the injured admitted to the hospital but not yet identified,’ he said. ‘Then, without warning, the world collapses. You’re never ready. You can’t be.

‘It’s unnatural for a father to lose a daughter. I wish she wasn’t ‘just’ a name on a list of victims. Because she was never a number. She was a beloved daughter.’

Italian national Emanuele Galeppini, 17 and a golf prodigy, was the first victim to be reported dead, with the news confirmed by the Italian Golf Federation on Friday.

Police yesterday said eight Swiss victims had been identified and their bodies released to their families. They are four women and four men, including two 16–year–olds.

Dozens of families, however, continue to face an agonising wait as experts attempt to identify the remaining 30 victims and five of the most seriously injured.

The entrance of the bar Le Constellation where a fire ripped through the venue during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Alpine ski resort town of Crans–Montana

Mourners hug alongside floral tributes to the victims of the fire near the bar in Crans–Montana

Swiss justice minister Beat Jans (second from the right) looks at the tributes to the victims

A firefighter pays tribute to the victims of the deadly fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans–Montana, Switzerland

A photo appears to show the moment champagne sparklers set fire to material on the ceiling of the Swiss nightclub

Footage shows the deadly flashover, when extreme heat caused everything inside the enclosed space to ignite almost at once, that left people little chance to flee

‘It’s a wait that destroys people’s stability,’ said Elvira Venturella, an Italian psychologist working with the families. Those missing include French–born Charlotte Niddam, 15, who attended Immanuel College, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, and the Jewish Free School in North London.

Read More

Firefighters who braved Swiss ski resort inferno honour victims they couldn’t save

One of her friends, Summer Chesler, yesterday posted a video montage showing the pair dancing together with the caption: ‘I miss my best friend.’

Another friend, Sophie, shared a separate TikTok video with a caption that read: ‘My heart has broken. Please come home Charlotte, we are all waiting for you.’

Sixteen–year–old Arthur Brodard is also among the missing. His mother Laetitia, from Lausanne, Switzerland, said: ‘There are five unidentified people in hospital [but] the authorities refuse to tell us where they are, in which country, in which canton. Anger is starting to rise. There are more than 30 parents looking for our children.’

Stephane Ganzer, state councillor in charge of the Department of Security, said the identification of victims was ‘a top priority’, acknowledging the ‘unbearable wait’ endured by families.

Mr Moretti yesterday appeared for the first time since the tragedy, near a restaurant he owns in the nearby village of Lens. He refused to answer questions from the MoS.

Meanwhile, last night’s episode of ITV’s The Masked Singer scrapped a performance of the song Disco Inferno, which featured dancers in fire suits, ‘owing to potential insensitivities’.

France has threatened to arrest Britons who attempt to stop migrant crossings — as activists are accused of **slashing dinghies bound for Dover

France is considering arresting British nationals who try to stop migrant crossings  after several activists were accused of slashing dinghies.

The French interior minister, Laurent Nunez, has warned that any Brits interfering with the crossings could be arrested for possible obstruction and aggravated violence, according to local reports.

He has supposedly stepped up efforts to stop such incidents following a number of vigilante-style actions by members of the Raise the Colours movement.

The group, which spearheaded a drive to raise Union Jacks and St George’s cross flags across the country, have been travelling to beaches along the French coast to disrupt migrants as they try to board dinghies crossing the Channel.

They claim they have been forced to take matters into their own hands following failures by the UK and French authorities and have launched Operation Overlord, a reference to the Normandy landings in WW2, to curb the crossings.

Videos posted on social media in recent months show members, including co-founder Ryan Bridge, racing across the sand searching for migrants and supposedly sabotaging small boats that had been bound for the UK.

But in a bid to stop any further actions, Nunez has now ‘requested that members of these groups be identified, apprehended if they act, and that measures to obstruct them be considered’, a source close to the minister told La Voix Du Nord.

He has also ‘taken monitoring and coordination measures at various levels… in response to these activities’, the source added.

French interior minister, Laurent Nunez, has threatened to arrest British nationals who try to stop migrant crossings

Debris of a small boat used by people thought to be migrants to cross the Channel lays amongst the sand dunes in Gravelines, France, on December 11

A group of migrants on an inflatable dinghy leave the beach of Petit-Fort-Philippe in northern France in September last year

Responding to the threats, a Raise the Colours source told The Telegraph that the French ‘should be putting more effort into actually stopping the migrant boats’ rather than focusing on the group’s actions.

‘I doubt this will stop the people who are trying to stop the crossings,’ they added.

While the group claims that over 5,000 people have offered their support to stop the boats, other French groups have accused them of taking part in ‘intimidation tactics’.

A group of nine French organisations working to help migrants, including L’Auberge des Migrants, Utopia 56, Medecins du Monde, Human Rights Observers and the Refugee Women’s Centre, issued a statement last month in response to the actions.

It read: ‘Structured intimidation tactics, reported, yet without an effective response from the authorities.

‘None of their publications aimed at recruiting, informing and funding their activities have been removed and none of them have been subject to any measures denying them entry to French territory.

‘These inaction measures contribute to normalising and encouraging violent and xenophobic practices that directly threaten exiled people and their support organisations.’

A total of 41,472 migrants arrived in the UK in 2025 after crossing the English Channel, the second highest annual figure on record, putting paid to Keir Starmer‘s vow to smash smuggling gangs and cut small boat crossings.

The Home Office confirmed on Thursday that no migrants made the journey on New  Year’s Eve meaning the overall number of arrivals last year finished 9 per cent below the all-time high of 45,774 in 2022.

Embarrassingly for the Government, the total for 2025 was 13 per cent higher than the figure for 2024, when 36,816 migrants made the journey, and 41 per cent higher than 2023’s total of 29,437.

More and more people seeking asylum are packing themselves into boats, with an average of 62 arrivals per boat last year, up from 53 in 2024 and 49 in 2022.

Keir Starmer is also less than 1,000 migrants away from an unwanted record – having the most people cross the Channel in his premiership after less than two years.

As of yesterday, 64,714 people have made the journey after 545 days in office, at a rate of 118 a day. Boris Johnson saw 65,676 people cross during his time in Government after 1,140 days – an average of just 57 a day.

The Conservatives and Reform have both blasted Labour’s failure to tackle the growing small boats crisis and to deport those who arrive illegally, blaming Starmer’s reluctance to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘Small boat crossings are the inevitable product of a system that guarantees entry and obstructs removal.

‘As long as the ECHR sits at the centre of our asylum system, illegal immigration is effectively hardwired in. Until Labour confront that reality, nothing they announce will ever change the outcome.

‘There is no deterrent and anyone who crosses the Channel know they can invoke human rights law and remain indefinitely. Labour lack the backbone to confront that truth.’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to ‘smash the gangs’ had been ‘a complete disaster’ and the ‘one in, one out’ deal with France is a ‘farce’.

‘The numbers coming over are huge,’ he said. ‘Many of the young men that have arrived last year will do us great harm.’