The mother of Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty has reportedly found an unexpected supporter during an increasingly bitter family dispute that's casting a shadow over her son's upcoming Christmas wedding to Holly Ramsay.
An Unlikely Alliance Forms
Caroline Peaty, the devastated parent of the 30-year-old gold medallist, has apparently connected with Sarah Symonds - a woman who previously claimed to have had a seven-year affair with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. The TV personality has consistently denied these allegations.
Sarah Symonds reached out to Caroline Peaty after reading about the ongoing family conflict, revealing in an interview with the Mail that she felt compelled to offer support. "I know what it's like to be bullied by the Ramsay cult," Symonds stated, explaining her decision to contact Mrs Peaty.
"Devastated about the cruel jibes I was reading, I endeavoured to reach out to Mrs Peaty to offer my support, not thinking for one minute she would see my message and reply, but she did," Symonds told the publication. She described Caroline as "a lovely woman, a class act actually" and noted they "seemed to hit it off immediately."
Historical Allegations Resurface
Sarah Symonds first made headlines in 2008 when she alleged she had maintained an affair with Gordon Ramsay, who has been married to wife Tana since 1996. Speaking to the Mirror about her connection with Caroline Peaty, Symonds commented: "If anyone knows what it's like to be treated by the Ramsays, and their PR machine, it's me."
She expressed that "the wounds are still somewhat open for me" and added: "So I, more than anyone, can empathise with what Caroline and her family must be going through."
Symonds didn't hold back in her criticism of the celebrity chef, alleging: "Gordon will have reeled them in with shows of affection, and grandiose gestures, and the bonhomie of a true narcissist. He will have forgotten his well-known working-class roots and thrown them under the bus when they didn't fit his mould. How shallow."
Wedding Drama Escalates
The family feud has reached such intensity that Caroline Peaty has now been formally disinvited from her son's extravagant nuptials. This development follows her absence from Holly Ramsay's luxury hen party at Soho Farmhouse, which attracted high-profile guests including Victoria Beckham.
The situation deteriorated further when Adam Peaty's brother, James, was arrested over claims he made threats towards the swimming champion during his stag weekend in Budapest. The incident resulted in Adam requiring a police escort at Manchester Airport upon his return on Sunday.
The brothers' father, Mark Peaty, told The Sun: "They're brothers. They've always been close but like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make-up and start all over again. But it's got out of hand."
Meanwhile, an insider close to Adam and Holly provided a different perspective: "This feud is heart-breaking from both sides. The reality is that Adam sees his mum Caroline to be enabling his brother's actions rather than pushing him to deal with his demons. Poor Caroline must feel utterly torn and it's just very hard for everyone."
The tension between the brothers reportedly began when Adam discussed James's "demons" and previous substance abuse issues in his 2021 memoir. Sources indicate the two haven't communicated since June, despite James initially being asked to serve as a groomsman at the wedding before being excluded from the stag party.
Sarah Symonds, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, offered final words of support to Caroline Peaty: "I pity this lady for losing her son to the Ramsay cult. Mrs Peaty, keep your head high, and be glad you have avoided this wedding full of sycophants and narcissists. You're better than them."
