A TikTok clip shows Hugh Grant allowing an onlooker to lean into his limited‑production Ferrari F12tdf and press the start button outside Bluerider ART on Albemarle Street. The brief, genial exchange — which drew affectionate comments from viewers — sits in contrast to the actor’s recent public interventions on school rules and device use; the F12tdf is commonly valued at about £925,000.
A short, genial exchange in Mayfair has provided a reminder that even long‑established film stars can still surprise passers‑by. According to the original report, a clip posted to TikTok shows Hugh Grant allowing an onlooker to lean into his silver Ferrari F12tdf and press the button that starts the car, drawing a warm response from viewers online.
The car at the centre of the moment is not an everyday roadster. Industry listings and auction catalogue entries describe the F12tdf as a limited‑production, track‑focused variant of Ferrari’s F12berlinetta, fitted with a 6.3‑litre V12, substantial weight reductions and aerodynamic upgrades. Auction records have reinforced the model’s collector value: a 2017 example sold at RM Sotheby’s’ Arizona sale for just over $1.24 million, underlining why the vehicle is frequently described in media coverage as being worth in the region of £925,000.
Fans of both supercars and celebrity spotting will not be surprised to see the F12tdf in central London. Previous footage and motoring reports have documented sightings of Grant with the same V12 Ferrari around Knightsbridge and other upmarket pockets of the capital, a run of appearances that has helped cement the car’s association with him among enthusiasts.
The exchange took place outside an established Mayfair gallery. Directory information confirms Bluerider ART’s presence on Albemarle Street, giving a concrete location for the clip and situating the moment amid the galleries and boutiques that line the district.
Reaction to the short video was largely affectionate. The TikTok post’s comments, as reported, praised Grant’s affability, with many users describing the interaction as a small but telling example of his public charm and calling him a “class act”.
The sighting coincides with a separate, more combative strand of public commentary from Grant. He recently appeared at a Close Screens, Open Minds event at Knightsbridge School alongside US psychologist Jonathan Haidt and actress Sophie Winkleman, criticising what he described as restrictive school rules and the growing reliance on devices in classrooms. Speaking at the event, he called some school policies “pathetic” and said Chromebooks were “the last f***ing thing they need”, remarks reported in coverage of the appearance.
To put the episode in financial context, widely cited celebrity wealth estimates place Grant’s net worth in the low hundreds of millions — commonly reported at about $150 million (roughly £111 million) — reflecting decades of leading roles, production income and property holdings; such figures, however, are estimations based on public information rather than audited accounts.
Small moments like the TikTok clip — a celebrity sharing a brief, human interaction on a public street — sit uneasily alongside the very deliberate, public campaigning he has been undertaking and the very exclusive nature of the cars in his possession. The footage therefore reads as a reminder that public figures can occupy both worlds: the everyday and the extraordinary, often in the same afternoon.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14988971/Hugh-Grant-allows-excited-passerby-start-925k-Ferrari-Mayfair-fans-laud-jolly-old-fella-sweet-exchange.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/az23/lots/r0062-2017-ferrari-f12tdf/ – RM Sotheby’s lists a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf offered at its Arizona 2023 auction, describing the model as a limited production, track‑focused variant of the F12berlinetta. The lot page details the car’s 6.3‑litre V12, elevated power output, extensive carbonfibre options and bespoke interior, and notes only 799 examples were built. It records provenance, mileage, service history and photographs, and states a final sale price of $1,242,500. The catalogue explains performance upgrades, weight reduction and aerodynamic enhancements that distinguish the TDF from the standard F12. The entry functions as provenance and market evidence for the model’s rarity and value to collectors worldwide.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_F12 – The Wikipedia Ferrari F12 entry summarises the F12berlinetta and its high‑performance F12tdf variant introduced in October 2015. It explains that the F12tdf is a track‑focused version of the F12berlinetta, with the same 6.3‑litre V12 uprated to around 780 PS, significant weight savings, aerodynamic refinements and revised gearing. Production was limited to 799 units and Ferrari claimed sub‑three‑second 0–62 mph acceleration alongside a top speed in excess of 340 km/h. The article lists technical specifications, design origins, Fiorano test lap comparisons and places the F12tdf within Ferrari’s model chronology, offering a technical overview for enthusiasts and researchers globally.
- https://www.autoevolution.com/news/here-s-hugh-grant-driving-his-v12-ape-ferrari-f12-tdf-in-london-122626.html – The autoevolution piece reports a 2018 sighting of Hugh Grant driving his Ferrari F12tdf in London, illustrated with stills from video footage and contextual commentary. It notes prior sightings, references the car’s striking V12 character and the F12tdf’s place in Ferrari’s line‑up, and situates the clip among other supercar appearances in central London. The story describes the car’s temperament, mentions Knightsbridge and Q‑Park locations in passing, and links to the original video. Written for motoring enthusiasts, the short article frames the footage as an engaging glimpse of celebrity supercar culture on London streets and evokes interest among car collectors worldwide.
- https://people.com/hugh-grant-blasts-pathetic-rules-at-his-kids-posh-private-schools-11722723 – People magazine reports on Hugh Grant’s appearance at a Close Screens, Open Minds event held at Knightsbridge School, describing his criticism of restrictive school rules and reliance on technology. The article quotes Grant calling some school policies ‘pathetic’, summarises his concerns about children’s screen time and reduced outdoor play, and notes he joined social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and actress Sophie Winkleman at the event. It frames Grant as a concerned parent of five, records his remarks about Chromebooks and homework, and situates the conversation within wider debates about technology’s impact on young people’s mental health and learning in British schools.
- https://www.mayfair-london.co.uk/listing/bluerider-art/ – The Mayfair‑London directory entry for Bluerider ART outlines the gallery’s Mayfair location at 47 Albemarle Street and describes its founding, curatorial focus and international connections. It notes Bluerider ART’s origins in Taipei, expansion to Shanghai and the opening of the London space, and highlights exhibitions and artist representation that blend Eastern and Western practices. Contact details, opening times and a brief history are provided, presenting the gallery as an established Mayfair venue. The listing supports the article’s claim about a sighting occurring outside a named gallery in Mayfair by confirming the gallery’s address and presence in that central London district.
- https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/hugh-grant-net-worth/ – Celebrity Net Worth provides an estimate for Hugh Grant’s wealth, listing his net worth at approximately $150 million. The profile summarises Grant’s career earnings from hit films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary, outlines notable salaries and cites property holdings and investments as contributors to his fortune. It references recent projects and notes that net worth figures are estimates based on public records and industry reporting. The page functions as a commonly cited celebrity wealth reference and supports the claim that Grant’s fortune is in the low‑hundreds of millions of dollars for media.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The Daily Mail article is dated August 10, 2025, and no substantially similar content was found online. The report includes updated data, such as the current valuation of the Ferrari F12tdf at £925,000, which may justify a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes attributed to TikTok users praising Hugh Grant’s affability are not found in earlier material, suggesting originality. However, the specific wording of these quotes cannot be independently verified, as the TikTok post itself is not accessible.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the specific TikTok post referenced is not accessible, which limits the ability to verify the primary source of the quotes.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Hugh Grant’s interaction with a passerby in Mayfair and the valuation of his Ferrari F12tdf are plausible and consistent with known information. The mention of Bluerider ART on Albemarle Street provides a concrete location for the event. However, the specific TikTok post referenced is not accessible, which limits the ability to verify the primary source of the quotes.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be original and plausible, with no evidence of prior publication. The Daily Mail article is dated August 10, 2025, and includes updated data, such as the current valuation of the Ferrari F12tdf at £925,000. However, the specific TikTok post referenced is not accessible, which limits the ability to verify the primary source of the quotes. Given these factors, the overall assessment is a pass with medium confidence.
