Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) is a Coronation Street icon, having been a familiar face on the cobbles since 1997.

Unfortunately, she hasn’t been very lucky in love during that time – but that could be set to change.

Executive Producer Kate Brooks has revealed a brand new love interest for the soap stalwart, and he is connected to Alya Nazir (Sair Khan).

‘We have Idris. He’s Alya’s cousin. He is very, very charming. The charm oozes out of every pore of this guy,’ Kate teased.

‘He’s a savvy kind of business guy, he’s got a bit of a ruthless streak, he’s not ready to get his hands dirty slightly, but he can charm the birds from the trees.’

Leanne has been known to fall for charm in the past, having previously been won over by cult leader Rowan.

Her involvement with The Institute led to the end of her relationship with childhood sweetheart Nick Tilsley (Ben Price), who broke her heart by cheating on her with sister Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor).

Nick and Leanne had an on-and-off relationship for decades, and were even married for some of that time.

Away from Nick, Leanne has had relationships with Peter Barlow, Jamie Baldwin and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), among others.

And now, it seems that Idris will be the next man to catch her eye.

‘He’s a new love interest for Leanne,’ Kate explained. ‘The attraction is instantaneous. It gives Leanne a new lease of life.

‘She’s been harbouring a deep-rooted resentment towards Toyah and Nick, because that’s the life she had. And this guy comes along, he’s got it all, he makes her laugh. He’s funny, he’s a handsome chap, and he ruffles a lot of feathers, but he’s not without an edge. He’s not soft, and he’s certainly no pushover. ‘

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Will Leanne finally find the one in Idris? Or will it all end in tears?

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A Georgia high school teacher is facing multiple charges after she allegedly had sex with a student on campus, authorities say.

Maris Nichols, 25, a biology teacher at Alexander High School in Douglas County, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say Nichols had sexual intercourse with the same student on at least two separate occasions, according to arrest warrants obtained by 11Alive.

The first encounter allegedly happened on April 23 in a closet between classrooms at Alexander High School.

The second allegedly took place on May 2 inside a Hummer parked in a driveway in Douglasville.

The warrants describe Nichols as “having supervisory/disciplinary authority over” the student and being “a person in a position of trust.”

Authorities alerted parents about the situation on Thursday. Nichols’ profile appeared to have been removed from the school’s website.

In a statement, the school district said it is “deeply troubled” by the allegations.

“Upon learning of the alleged misconduct, the district immediately launched an investigation. Student safety is the district’s highest priority. The alleged behavior is unacceptable and violates the professional standards all employees are required to uphold,” the district said.

“The Douglas County School System will continue to cooperate fully with state and local law enforcement,” the statement continued. “The district cannot provide additional information regarding the allegations. Any further inquiries should be directed to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.”

The district has not said whether Nichols remains employed or will face disciplinary action as the investigation continues.

Nichols appeared in court via video on Friday. Her bond was set at $40,000 and she was booked in the Douglas County Jail.

Voters in Sutton in London have had their say in the 2026 local elections.

Seats on Sutton London Borough Council were up for election in the wards of Beddington, Belmont, Carshalton Central, Carshalton South & Clockhouse, Cheam, North Cheam, South Beddington & Roundshaw, St Helier West, Sutton Central, Sutton North, Sutton South, Sutton West & East Cheam, The Wrythe, Wallington North, and Wallington South, Hackbridge, St Helier East, Stonecot, Worcester Park North, and Worcester Park South.

All 55 seats on Sutton London Borough Council were up for grabs, with each ward represented by either two or three councillors.

Before the 2026 election, the London borough council was run by the Liberal Democrats, who had 29 seats.

Councillors have been elected in all 32 London boroughs, with a total of 1,817 seats up for grabs. London borough elections take place every four years.

Polls closed at 10pm on Thursday, May 7, with the count taking place overnight. Results for the Sutton local elections are due from 4.30am on Friday.

In total, more than 5,000 council seats were up for grabs across 136 local authorities in England on election day. Mayoral elections also took place in six areas.

Below you can see the full results for every seat up for election in Sutton. You can select your ward from the drop-down list.

Speaking before the event, Monty Python star Sir Michael told the Press Association: “David, I think, is the most influential person in my life. Not just because of his programmes, and the nature of his programmes, and the messages he sends out about the state of the world, but the way he does it.

Prince William stopped for lunch at The Farmers Arms in Muker on Tuesday (May 5), where he was served a hearty plate of chicken and ham pie, chips, mushy peas and gravy.

The community-owned pub shared the moment online, saying the dish had received the “royal seal of approval” during what they described as an “incredible day” in Swaledale.

The full post from the pub read: “What an incredible day here in Swaledale!

“The team at the Farmers Arms were honoured to host HRH Prince William for lunch during his visit to Swaledale.

“He enjoyed a hearty lunch of chicken and ham pie, chips, mushy peas and gravy, which got the royal seal of approval.

“It’s certainly a day we will never forget!”

The meal is a familiar choice for regulars at the popular village pub, which has built a strong reputation for its traditional food and generous portions.

Visitors frequently praise the pies in particular, with one recent guest saying on TripAdvisor: “Food was excellent, we had the pies, the chips were great with a side of mushy peas.”

Another reviewer described the pub’s steak and ale pie as “top drawer”, while others highlight the Sunday roasts, noting “thick cuts of meat” and “lots of veg” as standout features.

Set in the heart of Muker in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, The Farmers Arms has become a go-to stop for walkers and tourists exploring Swaledale.

Since being bought by the community in 2024, it has continued to thrive as a hub for both locals and visitors, with many praising its friendly atmosphere.

The Prince of Wales meeting well wishers during a visit to the River Bain Hydro plant, a community-owned hydroelectric power station, in the village of Bainbridge in North Yorkshire (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)

“It’s a fantastic local pub,” one reviewer said, adding that there was “hardly a seat to spare” during their visit.

Another described it as offering “a slice of the Dales with good food, beer, dogs and helpful staff.”

The atmosphere is often highlighted alongside the food, with guests mentioning the warm welcome and cosy setting. One visitor who stopped by after a winter walk said the pub was “warm and beautifully lit” with “exceptional service”.

While the Prince’s visit may have brought a fresh spotlight, regulars say the pub has long been one of the area’s highlights.

“Nothing but praise,” one customer wrote after a recent meal, adding that they would “travel the miles” to return.

Now, with a royal endorsement to its name, the dish enjoyed by Prince William is likely to be in even higher demand.

The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) held its fourth annual Staff Recognition Awards to celebrate staff who “go above and beyond” to support the Trust’s vision of “Excellence in all that we do.”

Nominations were made by colleagues from across the trust, covering teams and individuals working in community services, hospitals and support roles.

Ken Bremner MBE, chief executive of STSFT, said: “Each year, our Staff Recognition Awards provide a powerful reminder of the incredible people who make up our Trust.

“The quality and volume of nominations reflect the dedication, compassion and professionalism shown by colleagues every single day.

“We saw outstanding examples of people going above and beyond for patients, supporting one another as teams, and living our values in everything they do.

“While these awards recognise just a snapshot of the amazing work taking place across our services, they give us a vital opportunity to pause, say thank you, and celebrate those who are making a real difference for our communities.”

This year’s event received more than 450 nominations across 16 categories, highlighting excellence in patient care, leadership, innovation, and sustainability.

The nominations also highlighted unsung heroes and those whose careers have been dedicated to helping others, including recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The ceremony was held at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland.

Mr Bremner said: “On behalf of our governors, board and executive team, I would like to congratulate all those who were nominated and recognised this year, and thank everyone involved in making the evening such a memorable celebration.”

The awards night was made possible thanks to support from sponsors including the trust’s own STS Charity, NHS Professionals, Spark TSL, Trustmarque, Health Innovation North East and north Cumbria, DAC Beachcroft, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Serve and Protect.

Additional backing came from Choice, the trust’s wholly-owned subsidiary for estates and facilities services.

The event not only celebrated individual achievement but also reinforced the importance of teamwork and shared values across the trust.

It served as an opportunity to formally thank staff who contribute daily to improving patient experiences and delivering high-quality care throughout the region.

Nicky Butt can see Manchester United bringing James Garner back to Old Trafford after his impressive performances at Everton.

Garner came through the United academy and had loans at Watford and Nottingham Forest before leaving the club to join Everton for £15million in 2022.

The versatile midfielder has grown to become a vital figure in David Moyes’s side this season, registering eight goal contributions to help give the Toffees a shot of qualifying for Europe.

Garner’s impressive performances at club level also saw him rewarded with a first England call-up back in March, with the 25-year-old featuring in both matches against Uruguay and Japan.

This has raised the possibility that Garner could be named in the final 26-man England squad for the World Cup, which must be announced by May 30.

United have made improving their midfield a key priority in the summer transfer window after confirmation that Casemiro will leave the club at the end of the season.

And while Butt thinks a return this summer is unlikely, the former Red Devils midfielder insists that he wouldn’t be surprised if Garner ended up back at Old Trafford in the not-so-distant future.

‘I don’t see why he couldn’t be back at United,’ Butt told Paddy Power. ‘He’s performing well, he’s playing for a big club with a big expectation with their crowd.

‘Obviously they’re not expected to go and win the Premier League but they’re expected to win and they’ve got passionate support.

‘So he plays under pressure every week, he knows Man United and yeah, he’s doing amazingly well now.

‘He’s got to do it again next season, it’s a bit soon to go and pay big money for him now, but I’m confident he can go and do it.’

Butt, who helped oversee Garner’s development during his time in charge of United’s academy, added: ‘At the time Jimmy wasn’t at the level to burst into United and play regularly. It wasn’t working so quite rightly he moved on and kick-started his career.

‘Jimmy is a bit like the player I was. Not the most talented but his drive and desire to get to the top is up there with anybody I’ve seen.’

Butt is confident that the Everton star will be with the Three Lions in North America this summer, where England will be looking to win their first men’s trophy since 1966.

‘Jimmy Garner has done himself a massive, massive favour playing how he played,’ he added. ‘He’s been phenomenal this season. He’s got it all, he can pass through the lines, he can defend, he can tackle, he can sprint.

‘He’s like a poorer man’s version of Gerrard. Not as good as Gerrard, but he’s in that mould, he can do everything as a modern day midfielder.

‘He will definitely be going [to the World Cup] after that, he’s got his ticket on the plane.’

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After all the predictions, projections and polling permutations, Welsh Labour’s defeat has been confirmed.

In 1985, Welsh historian Gwyn Alf Williams described Labour majorities standing “like Aneurin Bevan’s memorial stones”. Forty years on, the stones have finally been eroded. On the worst day for the party in its history in Wales, even its leader, Eluned Morgan, lost her seat.

After more than a century as Wales’ dominant political force, the figures and symbols that once anchored Welsh Labour now lie broken.

The scale of the defeat is difficult to overstate. Losses in historic heartlands that have voted Labour consistently for more than a century represent a devastating indictment of a party that has long mistaken dominance for consent. This is not a routine electoral setback, but a collapse.

Short-term factors played their part. Welsh Labour’s decision to abandon its “standing up for Wales” rhetoric and attach itself to an unpopular Keir Starmer-led UK government led the party to surrender one of its strongest political identities.

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Furthermore, the short-lived, scandal-ridden leadership of Vaughan Gething, and an incumbency backlash among certain voters, contributed to Labour’s worst-ever Senedd result. But while these factors shaped the timing and scale of the loss, they cannot by themselves explain it.

This election marks a reckoning that has been coming for a while. After more than a century of political dominance, the myths and symbols that sustained Welsh Labour (and the idea that Labour is Wales, and Wales is Labour), have finally withered. The defeat reflects not simply a bad campaign or unpopular leaders, but a party that has run out of steam and ideas.

Since devolution, Welsh Labour has spoken the language of radical politics while failing to realise radical outcomes. Limited powers and constrained budgets are real obstacles, but they do not excuse the absence of political ambition from a party that has governed Wales uninterrupted for nearly three decades. Few parties in democratic systems have enjoyed such long-term dominance; Welsh Labour has failed to take advantage of it.

Longer-term decay

The electoral collapse reflects a deeper unwillingness to confront Wales’ long-term material decline. Across health, housing, education and the economy, rhetorical ambition has been undermined by narrow, managerial interventions. Child poverty remains entrenched, educational standards have declined and the NHS is under sustained pressure. Progressive language has failed to translate into material improvement.

In defending Wales against Tory austerity, Welsh Labour neglected the harder task of articulating what Wales could become and how devolved powers could be wielded effectively to improve people’s lives. The result has been a politics that speaks the language of progress while leaving the structures of inequality largely untouched.

Over time, this gap between promise and experience has eroded trust. In an era of weakening party attachment and fluid political identities, historical loyalty can no longer be relied upon. The continued invocation of figures such as Aneurin Bevan may still resonate within the party but beyond this, their power has faded. Nostalgia has become a liability, especially when it substitutes for critical reflection or ideological renewal. Welsh Labour came to mistake familiarity for consent.

The Senedd election result is not a rejection of progressive values, but of Labour’s symbolic performance of them. Many voters were not turning away from radical ambition when they voted for Plaid Cymru; they were seeking a party they believed could still embody it. Welsh politics has often been defined by its radical traditions – and progressive voters have put their faith in Plaid to inherit them.

One-party dominance insulated Welsh Labour from the pressures that force political renewal. When that dominance finally fractured, the party found itself unable to articulate an alternative sense of purpose.

The collapse, therefore, is not a sudden termination, but the culmination of a prolonged period of stagnation. The majorities once symbolised by Aneurin Bevan’s memorial stones have been gradually eroded, enduring for decades but now standing merely as reminders of a Labour legacy that no longer finds resonance in Wales.

There are 96 politicians in total in the new-look Senedd

The names of the 96 people elected to the Senedd are now known, and xxxx will be people elected for the first time.

The previous Senedd was made up of 60 politicians, and while a large number of Labour politicians chose not to seek reelection, most of the other parties candidate lists included incumbent politicians, however the increased size of the Senedd and the arrival of Reform UK in large numbers, up from the two the party had at the end of the last Senedd means many people who have been elected for the first time.

We now know xxxxx have been re-elected and that xxxxx are new politicians in the Senedd.

Each of the 16 new constituencies has elected six politicians each. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

One of those will be named Llywydd, or presiding officer, and their deputy, at a vote that has to take place within two weeks of the election. The new First Minister has to be voted in by June 4.

The new Senedd members for each constituency

BangorConwy

• Helen Jenner (Reform UK)
• Mair Rowlands (Plaid Cymru)
• Elfed Williams (Plaid Cymru)
• John Clark (Reform UK)

Clwyd

• Adrian Mason (Reform UK)
• Louise Emery (Reform UK)
• Thomas Montgomery (Reform UK)
• Becca Martin (Plaid Cymru)

Fflint Wrecsam

• Christiana Emsley (Reform)
• Carrie Harper (Plaid)
• Nigel Williams (Reform)
• Marc Jones (Plaid)

Gwynedd Maldwyn

• Beca Brown (Plaid Cymru)
• Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru)
• Andrew Griffin (Reform UK)
• Claire Johnson Wood (Reform UK)

Gŵyr Abertawe

• Gwyn Williams (Plaid)
• Francesca O’Brien (Reform)
• Safa Elhassan (Plaid)
• Steven Rodaway (Reform)
• John Davies (Plaid)

Ceredigion

• Susan Archibald (Reform UK)
• Kerry Ferguson (Plaid Cymru)
• Paul Marr (Reform UK)
• Anna Nicholl (Plaid Cymru)

Sir Gaerfyrddin

• Gareth Beer (Reform UK)
• Nerys Evans (Plaid Cymru)
• Carmelo Colasanto (Reform UK)
• Sarah Edwards (Reform UK)

Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd

• Ian McIntosh (Reform UK)
• Rebeca Philips (Plaid Cymru)
• David Mills (Reform UK)

Afan Ogwr Rhondda

• Sera Evans (Plaid)
• Alun Cox (Plaid)
• Elyn Stephens (Plaid)
• Benjamin McKenna (Reform UK)
• Steve Bayliss (Reform UK)

Pontypridd

• Jason O’Connell (Reform UK)
• Lis McClean (Plaid Cymru)
• David Hughes (Reform UK)
• Sara Crowley (Plaid Cymru)

Blaenau Gwent

• Niamh Salkeld (Plaid)
• Llyr Powell (Reform UK)
• Catherine Cullen (Reform UK)
• Joshua Kim (Reform UK)

Sir Fynwy Torfaen

• Matthew Jones (Plaid Cymru)
• Stephen Senior (Reform UK)
• Donna Cushing (Plaid Cymru)

Casnewydd Islwyn

• Dan Thomas (Reform UK)
• Art Wright (Reform UK)
• Lyn Ackerman (Plaid Cymru)

Caerdydd Penarth

• Anna Brychan (Plaid)
• Keira Marshall (Plaid)
• Joe Martin (Reform UK)
• Anthony Slaughter (Green)
• Leticia Gonzalez (Plaid)
• Huw Thomas (Labour)

Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf

• Dafydd Trystan (Plaid Cymru)
• Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK)
• Zaynub Akbar (Plaid Cymru)
• Shav Taj (Labour)
• Nick Carter (Plaid Cymru)
• Paul Rock (Green)

Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg

• Mark Hooper (Plaid Cymru)
• Sarah Cooper-Lesadd (Reform UK)
• Sarah Rees (Plaid Cymru)
• Gareth Thomas (Reform UK)