You may have found yourself in a situation where a well-meaning compliment hasn’t been received well. So what should you do in this scenario? “This can actually provoke shame in both the person giving the compliment and the person receiving it,” says Rachel. “The receiver might have a negative bias toward that particular compliment or even toward the person giving it. At the same time, the giver can feel exposed or rejected.” She adds that the brain also tends to hold onto negative experiences longer than positive ones, so a moment like this can linger and feel harder to move past. Because of that, it can take more conscious effort from both sides to reframe the interaction and not let it define future exchanges.”
NewsBeat
How to compliment someone
We often think kind things about the people around us, but how often do we share them? Giving a compliment not only gives the recipient a huge boost but it also releases feel-good endorphins in the brain of the giver.
However, the thought of giving compliments can feel daunting. What if it sounds cheesy, awkward or insincere? What if it’s not received in the way it was intended? While these worries are all understandable, with a few simple considerations, giving a genuine compliment can be easier than you think.
Read on to learn more about how to compliment someone effectively, with expert insight from relationship coach and author Rachel Rose.
How to compliment someone
Knowing how to compliment someone effectively comes down to three main steps: understanding the power of a compliment and how you want to make the recipient feel, preparing yourself to give it, and considering the elements that go into a good delivery.
Step 1: Understand the power of a compliment
First things first, consider how powerful a genuine compliment can be to the recipient. By complimenting someone on their character, energy or how they make you feel can positively impact them for months, if not years, to come. When a compliment feels disingenuous, however, the recipient will feel it. It may make them feel misunderstood or point to the fact that you’ve created a false sense of who they are in your head.
What makes a compliment meaningful?
A meaningful compliment is always one that you genuinely feel or have thought to yourself. For instance, you may have noticed how charismatic someone is, or how others seem to feel comfortable in their presence. Likewise, you might admire their quick wit or listening skills. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re really taking notice and like the person, genuine compliments should come easily.
Read more: How to tell if someone likes you
The psychological benefits of giving and receiving compliments
We all know how warm we feel inside when someone gives us a really thoughtful compliment. But what actually happens in our brains during this type of interaction? “Giving and receiving compliments activates reward pathways in the brain and gives you a hit of dopamine,” explains relationship coach Rachel Rose.
“The more you do this, the more your brain starts to associate compliments (both giving and receiving) with a feel-good emotional state.” She adds that this is why, for people who feel comfortable with giving compliments, it can become something they naturally want to do more often. “Over time, it builds positive reinforcement and can even shift your baseline mood in a more optimistic direction.”
Step 2: Preparing to give a compliment
Once you know what you’d like to compliment someone on, the next step is preparing yourself to give it. Delivering it in the right circumstances can make all the difference in how it’s received. Here are a few pointers to consider:
Recognise appropriate situations for compliments
First of all, think about an appropriate situation when you could give a compliment such as on a walk, at an intimate dinner, or having a coffee. It should flow naturally with the conversation. A compliment delivered out of context could surprise the recipient and make them feel embarrassed.
Understanding your intent: genuine vs superficial compliments
Compliments are generally well received when the recipient understands that your intent is real. Superficial compliments that you don’t really mean will land badly and come across as insincere. For example, there’s no point telling someone they look amazing when they are unwell and tired and not looking their best.
Tailoring your compliment to the person
Dishing out generalised and impersonal compliments can come across as transactional. Instead, think about the things you like about the recipient and the positive moments or exchanges that have affected how you feel about them.
Step 3: The art of giving compliments
Delivering an authentic compliment is easy when you know how. Here’s what to bear in mind:
How to be sincere
The most convincing compliments are offered when the moment’s right or it flows within a conversation. For instance, you may be having a conversation about how you first met and your first impressions – prime time for a compliment. Or, if you’ve noticed something you really love about them, such as how funny they are, you could say this after they’ve made you laugh. If the person makes you feel uplifted, tell them so after spending the day with them. “You’re so naturally funny – I haven’t stopped laughing all day!” for instance, or “you always put me in such a good mood”.
Use compliments to acknowledge shared interests
Acknowledging your shared interests is also a natural way of delivering a compliment. For instance, if you both love film and you admire how much they know about the subject, tell them.
Or, if you both enjoy running or playing tennis, saying something like, “Just when I thought I couldn’t be more obsessed with tennis, you came along and made me love it even more”. Likewise, if food is your thing, share a compliment such as, “I really love how much thought you put into organising our dates. You’re so good at finding the best restaurants’. Compliments like this aren’t overdone or grand, but they reinforce a positive relationship built on trust and honesty.
Focus on effort and achievements rather than just physical traits
While it’s always nice to tell someone they look good, if the only thing you ever compliment someone on is their physical traits, it may make the recipient feel like that’s all you value about them. Instead, compliment them on their effort and achievements, such as how good a parent or friend they are, how dedicated they are to charity and community work, or how you admire their talent for hosting.
Pay attention to your recipient’s body language
Taking notice of a person’s body language is a great way of knowing when to give a compliment. If they’re sitting in a relaxed position, giving you plenty of eye contact and mirroring your body language, you’ll find it easier to deliver a compliment in a confident way. If a person’s body language feels more closed and dismissive, you may be more likely to receive a negative reaction. In cases like this, wait for a better time when the mood feels lighter.
Types of compliment to give
Struggling for ideas of how to compliment someone you care about? Here are a few places to start:
Best compliments for women
- I really admire how you always see the best in people.
- You always put me in the best mood.
- You’re so knowledgeable about such and such. It’s really impressive.
- You have the warmest energy. That’s why so many people gravitate to you.
- I feel so relaxed and happy when we spend time together.
- I really value your opinion so I’d love to get your perspective on something.
Best compliments for men
- I love how passionate you are about such and such
- You always make me feel really understood.
- You show such dedication to such and such. I really admire that about you.
- I love that you aren’t afraid to show your softer side.
- I love the way you treat the women in your life.
Best compliments for friends and family
- You always make sure that everyone is included.
- You’re such a kind friend/sister/brother/mum. I’d be lost without you.
- I love spending quality time with you.
- I can always count on you.
Building a habit of complimenting others
If you’d like to feel more confident in complimenting others, you need to build it into your life as a habit. Here are some simple ways to do so:
How to integrate compliments into daily life
Start with the simple rule: if you think of something kind, share it. If you love what someone is wearing, tell them. If you enjoyed spending time with a friend, send them a message afterwards to tell them. If you’ve noticed a friend or loved one has made extra effort in an area of their life such as exercising more, or committing to a community project, tell them how much you admire them and how they motivate you.
Encourage others to compliment
Some people find giving compliments easier than others. You can encourage those around you by paying someone a compliment and asking them if they agree. This allows them to add their own thoughts and feelings without having to initiate it. This fosters a culture of positivity and inspires those around you to concentrate on each other’s strong points.
Track the impact of your compliments on a relationship
Once you feel comfortable enough around someone to give them a compliment, you may see that it strengthens and deepens your relationship. This is because a compliment that shows you really understand a person improves trust and connection. When you make others feel good, they will feel more positive. These feelings will form the basis of your entire relationship.
FAQs
The best compliments are always ones that are the most genuine. Complimenting someone on their character or how they make you feel, for instance, is also a nice thing to share with someone you care about. “I think telling someone that their energy radiates a positive vibration is one of the best compliments you can give,” says Rachel. “It doesn’t focus on physical appearance, so it avoids accidentally offending or triggering insecurities. Instead, it highlights something more personal and unique. Energy is individual. No one else has the same presence or aura so it feels more meaningful and less tied to social expectations or conventional standards.” She adds that compliments like this also tend to land as more genuine, because it reflects how someone feels to be around rather than how they look.
Giving compliments doesn’t come naturally to everyone and it’s understandable to feel shy about it. Rachel suggests you gently gauge the recipient’s level of receptivity first. You could say something like, “I noticed something really lovely about you. Would you be open to me sharing it with you?”
“That small step sets the scene, gives the other person a sense of choice, and makes the interaction feel more emotionally safe,” she explains. “It also takes some pressure off you, because you’re not just putting the compliment out there without context. You’re creating a moment that both of you step into more consciously.”
“It’s generally in good taste, and really important for your own self-worth, to receive and accept a compliment,” says Rachel. “Simply acknowledging it with a ‘thank you’ allows the moment to land.” She adds that rejecting or deflecting a compliment can unintentionally activate shame in the person giving it, even if that’s not your intention. “Over time, consistently downplaying positive feedback can also reinforce a habit of self-depreciation, where it feels more comfortable to dismiss praise than to accept it. Learning to receive compliments, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable at first, helps build self-acceptance and confidence over time.”
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Abusali Rahman, 35, a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford, appeared in Bolton Crown Court today (May 28) via video link from custody.
He admitted to various charges against pupils at seven schools across Bolton, Bury and Salford.
The court heard Rahman published an image of a child’s face transposed onto an adult on X.
Rahman also published an obscene article of a female in school uniform next to two males on the social media platform with the caption read: “I must have been a good girl to get two BBCs”, the court heard.
Rahman’s defence barrister, Emma Kehoe, told the court: “He knows that this is a prison sentence, but he was going through a mental health crisis at the time of these offences.”
She asked for a psychiatric report ahead of his sentencing.
A sentencing date has been set for Tuesday, September 1, and Rahman will remain in custody until then.
At the hearing, Rahman pleaded guilty to the following 21 offences:
- 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting)
- 4 counts of publishing an obscene article (AI-generated sexualised images)
- 3 counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child (making AI-generated images)
- 1 count of distributing an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (sharing an upskirting image with another user)
- 1 count of operating equipment beneath the clothing of another without consent (the act of upskirting)
Detective Sergeant Simon France, of GMP, addressed the media outside Bolton Crown Court where he said the force’s online child abuse investigation team first received reports about suspected of offending in March 2025.
He said: “Reports like this will cause understandable concern and anxiety in our school communities.
“However, throughout the investigation, the safeguarding teams have been at the forefront of carrying out enquiries and our decision-making.
“Protecting children remains our highest priority.
“All parents and guardians of those affected and their schools have been made aware of the investigation, and support will remain available from the police and our partner agencies.
“Without these crimes being reported in the first place and support from parents and guardians, we may never have reached this point.
“As this is still a live investigation, I would urge people to refrain from online speculation.
“We have had contact with all schools we know Rahman has worked in in the North West since he became a qualified teacher in 2023.
“As it stands, no further alleged criminal offences have been identified at this time.
“However, if you have any further information, please contact Greater Manchester Police or Crimestoppers, quoting Operation Pomerie.”
Thirteen girls have been identified, who were aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending, at seven high schools in Bury, Bolton and Salford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say four girls from two high schools have not yet been identified, and officers are continuing to work directly with those schools.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, and the upskirting charges relate to alleged offending in schools.
All affected schools and the parents of the 13 identified girls have been informed.
GMP say all necessary safeguarding personnel have been made aware of the investigation, and of the specialist support that they and their partners are offering them throughout this case.
Officers say that if you, as a parent, have not been personally informed, your child has not been identified as a potential victim in this case.
If GMP receive further information relevant to the investigation, then they will sensitively and directly approach impacted schools, like they have done so far, to ensure that parents are informed.
GMP have been in contact with all schools that Mr Rahman has worked at as part of their enquiries.
He has not worked in schools since he was arrested in June 2025 after a concern was raised by a parent about an image of their child in a school uniform being circulated by a social media account.
The discovery of further images prompted an upskirting investigation by the force’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT).
GMP say a significant amount of specialist and sensitive work has since gone into trying to identify girls on those images.
Mr Rahman was charged and appeared at Wigan Magistrates’ Court in April 2026.
He has since been remanded in custody and will appear at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday, May 28.
By law, alleged victims of sexual offences have a lifelong right to anonymity.
The force asks that people respect their privacy and protect the integrity of the case by not speculating or commenting on this case in-person or online.
Anyone who wants to report an offence or has any information on this investigation should contact operation.messina@gmp.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Pomerie.
You can also pass details anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Support available
If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.
Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester, provides a comprehensive and coordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support, as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk
We Are Survivors provides specialist trauma-informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.
There are two doubles wildcards available for the tournament at Queen’s, and one is reserved for a team which includes a former world number one, a Grand Slam champion of the past 10 years or a current top-30 player.
WIlliams has never liked the word retirement, preferring instead to say she was “evolving away” from tennis in 2022.
She lost to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 US Open, in what the world thought would be her final match.
Williams had reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier that year, and won her last Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne in 2017 at the age of 35.
The Lawn Tennis Association has consistently prioritised British players when determining who should receive wildcards at domestic grass court events.
All four available for the singles draw are very likely to go to British players, but the LTA are likely to feel differently about the doubles given the “exceptional circumstances” of a potential Williams return.
“Never say never, and not wanting to speak of any one individual player, but you will have seen over recent years that those wildcard opportunities are afforded to British players – that is absolutely my fundamental personal belief and philosophy,” LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said at a briefing for journalists in April.
“There might be exceptional circumstances which might influence a unique wildcard, but otherwise those playing opportunities we want to afford to British players.”
The organisation’s performance director Michael Bourne also hinted commercial opportunities could be a factor.
“It’s also really important to remember that we in the performance team understand that players have to earn that right,” Bourne said.
“We don’t take them for granted. If we didn’t think we had a depth of player where it was right for them to take those opportunities, and there was something else that was good for the business, we would hold our hands up.”
North Yorkshire Police were called to the violent incident, which involved at least two individuals, at around 7pm on Wednesday (May 27) in Fairfax Avenue, Harrogate.
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A force spokesperson confirmed: “One person has been arrested following the incident and the investigation is still ongoing.
“We’re particularly appealing for witnesses to the incident or any CCTV footage showing the incident, or the events leading up to it.
“Please email ben.wheatley@northyorkshire.police.uk if you have any information that could help our investigation.
“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
“Please quote reference 12260097125 when passing on information.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — A roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term was supposed to be an easy lift for Republicans.
But progress stalled over concerns about the inclusion of White House ballroom security funding in the package and the creation of a $1.8 billion fund to finance claims of government mistreatment. The stumble has not only delayed action on a top GOP priority but also is raising questions about other parts of the party’s legislative agenda, including whether Republicans can enact another catchall, party-line bill referred to in Washington parlance as “Reconciliation 3.0.”
Republicans have spent recent weeks laying the groundwork for such a bill, which they hope will serve as a final sales pitch to voters going into the midterms.
Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both of Louisiana, have been meeting with committee and caucus chairs to screen for proposals that have strong buy-in from the rank and file. They are aiming to follow up on last summer’s big tax and spending cuts bill with a measure that would increase Pentagon spending by hundreds of billions of dollars and would include cuts elsewhere to help pay for it, which they are couching as tackling government waste and fraud.
It’s a high-stakes gambit in an election year. Success will reinforce the GOP’s message of being able to deliver on legislative priorities. Failure will underscore some of the Republican fractures under Trump that could leave voters seeking an alternative.
Here’s a look at the coming debate as Republicans hope to pass a bill before leaving for their August recess.
House Republicans sound confident
Johnson navigated the House GOP’s slim majority in passing Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill last summer. The vote was 218-214. At the time, Republicans could afford to lose three votes from within their ranks. They lost just two.
They’ll have a thin margin of error again, but Johnson said he’s even more confident of success this time around.
“It will be just as beautiful, but not as big, so it’ll have less provisions and less things to get everybody to yes on,” he said.
Rep. Jodey Arrington, chairman of the House Budget Committee, said Republicans are just as motivated as they were last year on the tax cuts bill.
“This one, I think you’ll have potentially money to support our troops in conflict,” said Arrington, of Texas. “I can’t imagine a Republican not wanting to support our troops and military community in a time of conflict.”
The Trump administration has called on Republicans to provide $350 billion to defense through a reconciliation bill.
But Rep. Brendan Boyle, the lead Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said Republicans will have a more difficult path than they did with Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill.
“I think it will be for a couple of reasons. First is the president’s approval rating. He was at a much higher level a year ago than he is right now,” said Boyle, of Pennsylvania. “Number 2, we are much closer to the November midterm elections. So, if you’re one of a dozen or a couple dozen House Republicans who are really vulnerable in a swing district, you have to think even more carefully about voting for something that has even more health care cuts in it.”
The tax cuts bill that passed last summer reduced spending on Medicaid by more than $900 billion over a decade. It also reduced spending on nutrition assistance by about $187 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Caution in the Senate
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called a third reconciliation bill to get around the filibuster a “potential option,” hardly a ringing endorsement.
“We haven’t made any commitments on that, but we’re hearing people out,” said Thune, of South Dakota.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said lawmakers should know what will be in the bill before the legislative process begins. That way, it’s less likely to unravel.
“If it just becomes another exercise where you’re not really sure what’s going to be the end product, then I think it’s a mistake even to pursue it,” Tillis said. “We ought to be smart about it if we do a third one, but it is kind of a moonshot.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she worried about the strategy.
“A third reconciliation may or may not happen. I’m just being direct,” she said.
Little time and fractured relations
The House is expected to be in session for about 24 more days before it breaks for its August recess. That leaves little time to pass a budget blueprint in both chambers, which is the first hurdle for pursuing party-line tax and spending bills. Committees would also have to wrap up their work advancing their portions of the legislation.
Another hurdle could be Trump’s treatment of current senators whose votes he will need for any package to become law. Trump endorsed opponents of two senators who faced stiff primary challenges and eventually lost — Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas.
Cassidy has already shown more willingness to buck the president. Fresh off his primary loss, he voted last week to advance a bill that seeks to force Trump to withdraw from hostilities with Iran.
What could make it into the bill
Lawmakers said they could tweak and resurrect some proposals that did not pass muster with the Senate parliamentarian for inclusion in last year’s reconciliation bill. For example, Republicans tried to prevent states from providing Medicaid coverage for immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.
Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, said the bill should rest on three pillars, making the country more affordable and secure while reducing fraud.
Among the group’s recommendations is a proposal to eliminate the capital gains tax on the sale of homes to first-time homebuyers, which they say would incentivize the market, and a proposal to impose a 5% tax on funds sent by noncitizens back to their home countries.
Arrington said he would also like to tighten the rules for the earned income tax credit, a program that increases the financial reward for working but that also has a high rate of improper payments. He also called for prohibiting immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally from living in housing units financed by a housing tax credit paid to developers who construct and rehab affordable housing for renters.
“There’s a lot more work to be done to build on what we did in the first one with Medicaid and SNAP (nutrition assistance), with respect to fraud,” Arrington said.
___
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.
Fire crews rushed to Talbot Road in the early hours of Thursday morning (May 28).
No injuries have been reported. Engineers from Electricty North West are on the scene, along with GMP officers and firefighters.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Just after 12.35am this morning (28 May), a number of fire crews from Moss Side, Ashton and Manchester Central attended an incident involving a collapsed building on Talbot Road in Old Trafford.
“Crews are currently working to make the area safe with a number of partners including GMP and Electricity North West.
“No injuries have been reported.”
She will donate all proceeds from sales of the single to Wishaw-based mental health charity Chris’s House, in honour of William.
A Blantyre mum has penned a charity World Cup single in honour of her son as she looks to raise funds for a local mental health organisation.
Gail Gillon lost her son, William, in 2022 and turned to writing as a source of solace during her grief.
After writing a poem for William’s eulogy, which later became a song, former Tartan Army member Gail discovered a passion for music and songwriting.
Now, working with Carluke-based musician and long-time friend Peter McAtamney, she has released a charity single ahead of Scotland’s World Cup campaign in the US this summer.
Titled Hearts of Tartan, the track celebrates Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years and pays tribute to Scott McTominay’s ‘audacious overhead kick’ against Denmark, which helped Steve Clarke’s side secure qualification for the tournament.
The 63-year-old former nurse and café owner, who is originally from Castlemilk and also spent part of her life living in Inverness, will donate all proceeds from sales of the single to Wishaw-based mental health charity Chris’s House, in honour of William.
Gail said: “Four years ago, I lost my son in tragic circumstances. I wanted to write something from the heart for his eulogy, although at the time I honestly didn’t know if I had it in me.
“I ended up writing a poem which later became a song, and through that process I realised I had a genuine passion for songwriting. It became a very cathartic outlet for grief and emotion.
“Fast forward to now, and I was inspired by the Scotland v Denmark game. I heard the phrase ‘an audacious overhead kick’ online and instantly knew there was a song in it – something that captured not only the match, but the emotion, pride and passion of the Scotland fans.
“Peter also has an incredible musical background of his own. In his younger years, he toured internationally after being recommended by The Prince’s Trust to travel to London, where he performed alongside artists including R.E.M., Atomic Kitten, the Spice Girls and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame.
“After hearing him sing, I knew he was the perfect voice for this track.
“We’ve released the song on Bandcamp for just 87p, with every penny going to Chris’s House in Wishaw.”
To buy Gail and Peter’s song visit: https://pedrotws.bandcamp.com/album/hearts-of-tartan-scotland-world-cup-26
And to find out more information about Chris’s House visit: www.chrisshouse.org
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It’s the perfect day out to keep the kids entertained during half term
Half term is in full swing and parents will be planning or looking for things to keep the kids entertained with. While it’s over halfway through the week already, there is still plenty on offer in Cambridgeshire for families to enjoy a day out.
At the popular Nene Valley Railway in Wansford, a friendly face is making his return to the railway. This is, of course, Thomas.
Although it’s the home of Thomas, the beloved children’s book and TV character only appears at Nene Valley three times a year. He makes one of his appearances this Friday (May 29).
Due to the hot weather expected for Friday, Thomas will be helped by his friend the Teddy Bear Diesel engine. Visitors will be able to enjoy a ride on Thomas, as well as other family fun at Nene Valley.
Thomas is due to depart Nene Valley at midday. He will then arrive back to the station at around 3.30pm.
As well as a ride on the special train, visitors will be able to meet train drivers Frankie and Royce, enjoy party games on the platform, and watch Thomas take on water at Wansford.
There will also be a Thomas buffet, cars serving light snacks, and miniature railway rides on the day. People will also get access to the playground at Wansford.
Tickets are still available to buy online at the time of writing. For adults it costs £23 and £20 for children aged three to 15 years old. It costs £10 for toddlers aged one to two, and babies are free.
It also costs £20 for a carer and £2 for dogs. To find out more about the event, visit the Nene Valley website.
Coronation Street fans have spotted a major clue about Gary Windass and Sarah Platt’s mystery plot on the ITV soap, convinced a behind-the-scenes snap reveals the truth
A Coronation Street twist could be on the cards for Sarah Platt and Gary Windass after all.
As the characters continued to hide something this week, a social media post has left fans wondering if an affair is about to be confirmed. In a recent episode set on the night Theo Silverton was killed, Sarah was attacked and left for dead.
Sarah has no idea Jodie Ramsey was behind the attack, while she has been struggling with her mental health since the assault. While some have put this down to her traumatic ordeal, other fans are convinced there’s more going on.
This is because Gary is also up to something, clearly hiding things from his partner Maria Connor. With Gary and Sarah having secret chats and both of them being very protective of each other amid recent drama, it seems they are both hiding something that is yet to be revealed.
Many fans have predicted an affair twist, believing Sarah and Gary slept together that night. Others have questioned if it’s a mental health storyline for Sarah or a head injury that has not been detected.
With the latest theory doing the rounds being that Sarah is pregnant, a new behind-the-scenes snap on Instagram by a Corrie director has sparked further speculation. One viewer noted the snaps, shared by TV director Dom Stephenson, could have a hidden clue in them.
The pics are of a dinner party or a dinner, with candles, food and at least two people. The location is not clear, nor is the people in the shot.
But after Maria actress Samia Longchambon recently posted a snap of herself in a pink dress, one viewer speculated this was the outfit worn by one of the people in the blurred out BTS picture. Director Dom had shared the snaps on his Instagram Story, with the word “spoiler” covering up things to stop spoilers being revealed.
That said, a viewer predicted Maria was in this shot, and immediately questioned, given it seems to be a big episode due to the hype around it, whether this could be the moment Gary is rumbled. The scene being filmed is shown on a camera monitor.
Text reads, on a Instagram story that is no longer available but was screen grabbed by a viewer: “Edit locked on a very special block! Proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for everyone to see what we’ve cooked up. This is about the only spoiler free shot I could find.”
There was also a rather cryptic side-eye emoji. This all alludes to it being a big episode or block for the soap, with things needing to be kept under wraps.
Someone shared another post from earlier in May to their story, saying: “What a block! Thanks to our brilliant director.” Coronation Street shared Dom’s latest post to their own story, teasing the big block to fans.
So is this seemingly huge episode about to reveal what Gary has been hiding from Maria? Fans think so, with a viewer predicting that Gary and Sarah are having an affair, and Maria could find this out.
One fan posted: “Defo the affair reveal between Gary and Sarah. That’s Maria on the right as well.” A fan replied to this saying: “Good detective skills wonder who she is with?”
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
A new daytime dance craze is bringing together spirituality, physicality and a whole lot of fun
Sunday mornings are usually for lazy breakfasts or a few domestic chores. Today, however, I’m joining another 100 ravers at The Bath House in Hackney Wick, east London, for some ecstatic dancing to sweat out the stresses of the week.
Part rave, part mindful meditation and 100% workout, ecstatic dance events have been growing in popularity across the UK and beyond. Roving DJs provide the beats and participants span all ages, from young families and limber twenty-somethings to older generations. Events are hosted in community spaces, and some gyms are getting on board – David Lloyd Clubs, for instance, now offer ‘spirit dance meditation’ classes.
At its heart, ecstatic dance is about inclusivity, mindfulness and emotional expression through movement – sans alcohol. “There’s a little rhyme: no booze, shoes, no chit chat,” says Richard Batts, the co-founder of Ecstatic Dance UK, the company behind the event I’m attending.
The practice also functions as a joyous alternative to late-night party sessions, which can leave us feeling fuzzy-headed, low-energy and disspirited. For parents or those who have chosen a sober lifestyle, a Sunday morning spent shaking out the tensions of the week can feel like an unusual treat. It can also feel uncomfortable.
“People are sober – it can feel very edgy,” says Batts. But, he explains, that discomfort is part of the experience. “You might feel really silly doing this, and that’s okay. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t. But lean in if you can.”
Ecstatic dance, as it’s practised today, has roots in the ‘5Rhythms’ style of dance, which was developed in the 1960s and ’70s. The free-form practice, which centres around exploring one’s inner landscape, moves through five stages: flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness.
Participant Valerie Chartrand has been to several of Ecstatic Dance UK’s weekly events at The Bath House, and describes the experience as “a kind of engaged, interactive movement therapy session”. Turned off by the often structured, serious nature of conventional dance classes, Chartrand was looking for something that would give her a chance to exercise and dance freely, but also let her process emotion through movement.
“When I’m doing it, it’s absolutely wonderful, very liberating, very freeing. You get that dancer’s high. For days afterwards I feel I’m in a better state of mental health.” She also says that as an introvert, she appreciates not feeling the pressure to make conversation, but that dancing still gives her a sense of social connectedness.
It was this mental health benefit combined with social connectivity that made the events extremely popular during the pandemic, says Batts. When lockdown hit, they moved everything outdoors. Following government guidelines, people were permitted to dance in groups of six.
‘For days afterwards I feel I’m in a better state of mental health,’ says participant Valerie Chartrand
“It was a legal, healthy, fun dance practice outside in nature,” says Batts. “Some people would literally say, ‘this has saved my life’.”
About 50 minutes into my own ecstatic dance experience and we must be approaching the ‘chaos’ stage. Limbs and hips swirl and sway around me – it’s that intoxicating point in the DJ set when the music is on the cusp of crescendo and any minute the crowd is going to explode in pandemonium.
And BOOM. A merman wearing glittery fish-scale armbands spins past me and a pregnant woman in spandex veers vivaciously to my left. Delicious endorphins fill my brain.
For days afterwards I feel I’m in a better state of mental health
I sip a ‘ceremonial cacao’, bought from an onsite vendor. This warm, chocolatey drink has South American origins and is made from minimally processed whole cacao beans. It has “activation properties to enable you to be a bit more heart-open or present before you enter a dance,” says Paulina Angel Davey, executive assistant for Ecstatic Dance UK. The drink is sometimes available infused with cannabidiol (CBD) or blue lotus flower to counteract the stimulating effect.
Reinvigorated, I enter the dance room again and a woman and man, each with a baby strapped to their front, are bopping gently beside me. Davey says that’s also part of the appeal of ecstatic dance.“It is intergenerational and it’s multicultural, and I think there’s something quite special about that – you can celebrate and be in full expression, across generations, cultures and backgrounds.”
Images: Teodora Andrisan
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