Paul Hollywood caught speeding at 96mph while ‘rushing cat to the vet’

7 May 2026 • 4:43 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Paul Hollywood caught speeding at 96mph while ‘rushing cat to the vet’

  • Paul Hollywood, the Great British Bake Off star, was stopped by Surrey Police on January 9 after being clocked driving his Land Rover Defender at speeds of 96mph on the M25 and M26 motorways.
  • Police observed Hollywood aggressively tailgating other vehicles, sometimes at distances as close as two metres while travelling at 80mph, to 'bully' them out of the fast lane.
  • When pulled over, Hollywood informed officers he was rushing his unwell cat to the vet, a reason he later acknowledged was no excuse for his dangerous driving.
  • At Worthing Magistrates’ Court, Hollywood pleaded guilty to speeding and was sentenced to five penalty points on his licence, a £293 fine, £120 in costs, and a £117 victim surcharge.
  • A second charge of driving without due care and attention was withdrawn by the police following intervention from his legal team, with Hollywood accepting his punishment for his actions.

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