One Married At First Sight couple was forced to get creative after a class 3 cyclone hit the area they were staying at for their honeymoon
Married At First Sight UK newlyweds Bailey and Rebecca were forced to get creative after a class 3 cyclone left them stuck in their hotel rooms during their honeymoon. When Rebecca walked down the aisle, she was initially unimpressed with Bailey as she revealed she was looking for an ‘alpha male’.
“I’m not sure if he’s alpha or not. He’s not my type,” the 32-year-old said in a confessional. However, Bailey has seemingly won her over with his romantic gestures during their honeymoon trip after he organised a sweet date when the hotel restaurants shut down due to a cyclone.
In a first look clip shared with The Mirror, Bailey is seen throwing rose petals onto the bed while Rebecca finished getting ready in the bathroom.
“Because of the cyclone, the restaurants are all closed in the hotel tonight so Bailey has told me to get dressed up and he’s going to sort it,” Rebecca said in a voiceover.
Bailey placed a plate of food in the middle of the bed, lit a few candles and poured them two glasses of rosé wine. When she emerged from the bathroom, an impressed Rebecca told him: “Wow, this is so nice.”
“It’s so nice to see him being really romantic and gentle and go to loads of effort for the date,” she told the cameras.
“Is this what you do for all your first dates?” she asked her new husband after they took a sip of wine. He cheekily answered: “No, only for you.”
Before their wedding ceremony, Rebecca discussed her ideal partner, stating: “I’m attracted to the alpha male. I’m attracted to the big man that can lead me by the hand.”
She added: “My standards are very high, I like to be in order and I like things to look nice. I won’t settle for anything less than perfection in my life and I feel the same about my relationships.”
Rebecca explained: “I’m attracted to the alpha male. Somebody tall, confident and who’s sure of themselves,” before adding she hoped an “alpha male” would be waiting for her at the altar.
“I’m picturing a man who’s got stature about him, I want him to be a dominant figure. I’ve walked away from something before because I didn’t want to settle. If they don’t tick enough boxes for me straight away, I will say how I feel,” she said.
However, when she finally met her new husband, the contestant admitted: “Alarm bells are going off in my head. He’s not my type.”
She stunned mourners during her emotional speech saying she forgave her late husband’s killer.
“I forgive him,” she told the crowd, breaking down in tears.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And is what Charlie would do.
“The answer to hate is not hate, the answer we know from the gospel is love and always love.
“After Charlie’s assassination, we didn’t see violence, we didn’t see rioting, we didn’t see revolution.
“Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival [of Christian faith].”
Dressed in a white blazer and matching trousers, Erika thanked attendees for travelling from across the globe to celebrate her late husband.
She told mourners she was living through a “heartache I never knew existed” as she delivered her moving tribute.
Remembering the tragic day of her husband’s assassination, Erika said: “On the afternoon of September 10th, I arrived at a Utah hospital to do the unthinkable: To look directly at my husband’s murdered body.
Charlie Kirk memorial speakers and special moments
“I saw the wound that ended his life.”
Erika added: “I will miss him so much.”
The heartbroken widow would end her emotional speech by speaking directly to her late husband in a touching moment.
She said: “I love you Charlie, baby. I will make you so proud.”
President Donald Trump, his Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk were also at the huge memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona — home of the Arizona Cardinals American football team.
Musk told reporters: “Charlie was someone who believed in dialogue and open debate. He was a man of ideas. He spoke eloquently and basically never raised his voice. He was a man of peace and now he has been murdered in cold blood.
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Donald Trump took to the stage after Mrs KirkCredit: Getty
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The President embraced Kirk’s widow on stage before delivering his speechCredit: AP
“He was killed because his voice made a difference.
“He was showing people the Light and he was killed by the Dark.”
Vice President JD Vance described Kirk as having built a movement that has “changed the course of American history”.
He told Mr Kirk’s sea of supporters: “They tried to silence my friend Charlie Kirk but we are spreading his message loudly.”
Mr Vance, whose Catholicism has been central to his own political rise and mission, added: “We must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America — and he is a martyr for the Christian faith.”
He noted that the Trump administration was at the memorial not just because of their relationship with Kirk, but because “we wouldn’t be here without him”.
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Thousands watched on as Erika delivered her heartfelt speechCredit: Getty
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An estimated 100,000 people turned up at the event to pay their respects to KirkCredit: AFP
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Fans were left in tears by Mrs Kirk’s emotional wordsCredit: Reuters
Tearful fans queued up for 12 hours for the first-come, first-admitted service organised by Turning Point USA, the high school organisation set up by Kirk to help spread conservative politics on campuses.
Some wore black, others attended in flag-emblazoned T-shirts and Make America Great Again hats.
Sporting a Trump T-shirt, Aaron Knight, 28, from Houston, Texas, reckoned: “Charlie Kirk was a godly Christian man.
“He provided a sacrifice for this country and the fight for free speech. We are here in mourning but also celebration for the incredible man he was.”
Ashley January, 35, brought her seven-month-old baby Theodore from Kansas to “witness history”. She said she and husband Skylar “fell in love with Charlie after seeing him in Kansas.”
She added: “We want to raise our son to have the same morals as him. It’s going to be something Theo will read in his historybooks and he can say he was there.”
A man said he had camped out from 8pm the night before. One woman even brought a buggy full of puppies with her.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the stadium when Charlie’s widow Erika spoke about her love for the husband she lost.
We had already been confronted with a picture of her and Charlie at the doors of the stadium but hearing her speak made it hit home.
Seeing his family up on stage – who have been cruelly robbed of a husband and a father – brought a tear to the crowd’s eye.
One lady said being a part of it was special as she got to witness how loved Charlie was. The mood shifted from defiance when JD Vance was speaking to one of tenderness and sadness.
Those who were cheering at other speeches and chanting ‘USA’ fell silent when Erika spoke.
A hush fell when Trump came on stage. His speech is more personal than most presidential speeches revealing how close the pair really were. Aides say he had a lot of input in writing the speech.
The nearby Desert Diamond Arena served as overflow for an additional 19,000 people who watched the event on TV screens.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead while giving a speech at Utah Valley University earlier this month.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder. He is in custody and could face the death penalty if convicted.
She said: “I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger.
“When I get to heaven, and Jesus is like, ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’.
“And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?”
Before the service started, photos of Kirk were projected on big screens accompanied by a playlist of praise and worship songs.
Among those paying respects and giving speeches were President Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr, right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson and homeland security adviser and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA — whose headquarters are in Phoenix — in 2012, at the age of 18.
Mrs Kirk has been unanimously elected to succeed her late husband as CEO of the organisation.
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Attendees at the event wore patriotic red, white and blue to honour CharlieCredit: Getty
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President Donald Trump would take to the stage shortly after Erika KirkCredit: Reuters
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Mourners were given signs with a drawing of Charlie on them reading ‘Here I am lord, send me’Credit: Getty
As a new season of Married at First Sight UK begins today, we look at some behind-the-scenes facts, including how weddings are planned and how couples are matched
16:46, 21 Sep 2025Updated 16:50, 21 Sep 2025
Experts Mel Schilling, Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas match the couples(Image: Channel 4)
The programme, which airs on E4, is known for its dramatic moments and has proved extremely successful with fans in the past. The first trailer for the latest series dropped on Monday, revealing the first four couples and promising many twists and turns.
This year, producers have also announced a schedule shake-up meaning the show will air from Sunday to Wednesday each week at 9pm on E4 and Channel 4 on demand, which deviates from the usual Monday-Thursday episodes. Here, we look at some behind-the-scenes curiosities die-hard fans may want to know ahead of tonight’s premiere.
The show is returning to our screens this evening(Image: Channel 4)
How are contestants matched?
MAFs contestants are matched by a team of relationship experts who use extensive questionnaires and interviews to understand each person’s personality, core values, life goals and preferences. Initially, producers select the participants through a rigorous application and vetting process, which includes medical and mental fitness checks.
Then, experts such as Paul Brunson, Charlene Douglas and Mel Schilling pair individuals based on their psychological profiles, their lifestyles and believes to create compatible couples. The matched couples meet for the very first time on their wedding day – and sparkles don’t always fly between them.
They pair individuals based on their psychological profiles, their lifestyles and believes to create compatible couples(Image: Channel 4)
How are weddings planned?
Contestants have a say in what they want their wedding day to look like, but ultimately it is the show’s production team that arranges all the details including the venue, catering, floral arrangements and other logistics. The matched couples can select their engagement rings and wedding attire and can select their preference for different aspects of the wedding through a booklet.
The production team then compares the preferences of the matched couple and tries to find compromises that align with both individuals’ tastes. The fact that producers are behind the organisation means many elements are often surprising for the couple – even key choices such as their honeymoon destination.
Costs, including everything needed to prepare the ceremony, stag and hen dos, as well as the honeymoon, are covered by the production.
Luke Worley said contestants can only leave the house a certain amount of times per week(Image: Channel 4)
Limited freedom while filming
While filming, the brides and grooms have limited freedom – and can only leave the house a certain amount of times per week, former contestant Luke Worley revealed. Stars also have their personal phones confiscated and are given a device by production which prevents them from having too much contact with the outside world.
Those who take part in the show are also not allowed to drink too much alcohol, according to Erica Roberts, who was matched with Jordan Gayle. She previously shared: “If [the crew] could see someone was having too much, or it was getting a bit out of hand, the alcohol would stop.”
Erica Roberts was matched with Jordan Gayle(Image: Erica Roberts/Instagram)
Do couples actually get married?
Even though the show is called Married at First Sight, the couples don’t actually enter into a legally binding marriage on their wedding days. A spokesperson for the show previously said: “Following the Australian format, rather than legal marriages, the couples will make a lifelong commitment to one another at a glamorous ceremony, overseen by a wedding celebrant, that includes guests, bridal gowns, dancing, speeches and cake.
“After the ceremony and celebrations are over, true love is well and truly put to the test, as they embark on a luxurious honeymoon, before moving in with each other AND their fellow couples. Relationships will be put under the microscope, by fellow brides and grooms at weekly dinner parties – as well as by the experts, at recurring commitment ceremonies, where couples choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process.”
A fresh batch of singles try to find their match in MAFS’ new season, promising bombshells. But Paul C Brunson vows the anticipated reunion is set to be the most explosive yet.
07:00, 20 Sep 2025Updated 07:06, 20 Sep 2025
Paul C Brunson, Melanie Schilling and Charlene Douglas are back on our screens in Married At First Sight(Image: Channel 4)
Get ready for fireworks – and maybe a few tears. Married At First Sight expert Paul C Brunson has already warned viewers to brace themselves for the show’s upcoming reunion. And the new season hasn’t even yet started.
Married At First Sight UK is back on E4 for its landmark tenth series, promising another season of whirlwind weddings, fiery dinner parties and explosive commitment ceremonies.
At the helm once again are relationship experts Melanie Schilling, Charlene Douglas and Paul C Brunson, who all return to guide the newlyweds as they gamble everything on love with a stranger.
The show feels like home for Paul. “Charlene, Mel and I have worked together for so many years, we really fit together,” Paul says. “We were very much in sync.”
The format is familiar – nine couples meet at the altar, honeymoon and then move in together before facing weekly make-or-break ceremonies.
But series 10 is upping the ante with a cast that Paul describes as “a true cross-section of the UK”. This year, contributors hail from Manchester, Liverpool, Essex, London, Edinburgh – and also New Zealand – bringing different politics and professions into the experiment.
“It’s important, especially in this day and age, where you feel like we’re in the middle of a culture war,” Paul says. “We’ve taken different parts of the UK and they live together. They’re able to work through their differences, they don’t always resolve them but they manage them.”
Paul teases plenty of twists, with the reunion episode set to be the most explosive yet. “I truly believe that our reunion for MAFS this year will be the most memorable reunion in MAFS history,” he promises.
New singletons try to find love at the end of the aisle in Married At First Sight, but Paul C Brunson has already revealed this upcoming season is set to be explosive(Image: Channel 4)
But beneath all the drama, experts face weighty challenges with this year’s brides and grooms throwing around therapeutic terms like “gaslighting”, “coercive control” and “narcissism” that need careful unpacking.
“We’re acquiring more language than ever before. People will talk about things like manipulation or coercive control,” he says. “For us, it’s becoming more challenging because the language is there, but the understanding isn’t.”
Paul says the biggest hurdle is emotional intelligence. “That’s fundamentally the bigger challenge because everyone assumes that they’re emotionally aware,” Paul says.
“If you can’t even tap into your feelings or emotions, how in the world can you identify that in your partner. How do you expect to emotionally connect with your partner? It’s learning to dance together.”
Then, there’s the shadow of social media. “Experts only see what happens at the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies,” Paul says.
“But I wish the audience would know that every time they comment about one of the contributors, they’re most likely seeing it. They’re human beings, they have loved ones who don’t need to see you talk about their body, their physicality or perceived intelligence.”
After years in the spotlight, Paul has found ways to protect his own wellbeing. “I used to be so immersed in it,” he says. “That’s why I go to therapy. But now, I’m entirely emotionally disconnected [from the drama]. I am constantly doing things with loved ones.”
He’s also channelled his energy into sport, becoming an investor in Sutton United FC. “As a sports fan, it’s a religion,” Paul says. “If we win or lose, that sways my mood a lot more than someone’s comment.”
Benidorm star Crissy Rock, who played hotel manager Janey York on the beloved ITV show, has announced that she has separated from her husband after marrying him in 2018
The Girlfriend has just dropped on Prime Video and the ending of the series has left fans with their jaws on the floor as they discover what Cherry is really capable of
Daniel (Laurie Davidson) with girlfriend Cherry(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
The Girlfriend, a new addition to Prime Video’s roster, centres around successful businesswoman, wife and mother, Laura, portrayed by Robin Wright.
Her idyllic life is thrown into chaos when her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson), the apple of her eye, introduces his new girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke).
Adapted from Michelle Frances’ novel of the same name, the series sees Laura growing increasingly suspicious of Cherry – but is she just being overly cautious?
Viewers are presented with two contrasting narratives – Laura’s and Cherry’s – both starkly different, but which one holds the truth?
Here’s everything you need to know about the shocking conclusion of The Girlfriend as fans uncover Cherry’s true colours.
In the series finale, Daniel pops the question to Cherry after regaining some of his memory post-accident.
While Daniel prefers to keep the engagement under wraps, Cherry insists on celebrating, persuading Daniel to throw a party.
Just as things start looking up for the couple, the relationship between Howard (Waleed Zuaiter) and Laura reaches breaking point, with Howard unable to tolerate his wife’s unsettling behaviour any longer.
Determined not to let go of her suspicions, Laura pays a visit to Cherry’s father at his care home, discovering that he had survived a fall from a building while working on a construction site.
Seeking more answers, Laura paid a visit to Cherry’s mum, Tracey (Karen Henthorn), who revealed that her husband had left both herself and Cherry in debt.
Laura tried to play Cherry at her own game(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
Cherry had managed to find her father in the hope of persuading him to return, but in a fit of anger she had pushed him from the building.
Laura, having recorded the conversation as evidence for Daniel, arranged a meeting to explain everything to her son.
In the meantime, Cherry vandalised Laura’s gallery after discovering what she had done, leaving Laura’s lover Lilith (Anna Chancellor) devastated.
Cherry was arrested at her engagement party for criminal damage, but her mum bailed her out, although she vowed not to keep Cherry’s secret about what she did to her dad any longer.
Back at Laura’s home, Daniel confronted his mother and vented his frustration about her controlling behaviour.
Wanting him to know the truth, Laura slipped sleeping pills into Daniel’s drink so he wouldn’t try to escape when she showed him the evidence.
Daniel and Laura had a close relationship(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
However, Cherry managed to break into the house and a fight broke out between Cherry and Laura, resulting in them both falling into the swimming pool.
As Daniel saw his mother trying to drown Cherry, he jumped in to rescue his fiancée and began holding his mother’s head under the water.
Cherry screamed for him to stop, but by then it was too late and Laura had drowned.
A flash forward revealed that Cherry and Daniel had gone ahead with their wedding and Cherry was expecting a baby.
In a chilling twist, Daniel stumbled upon Laura’s misplaced phone under the sideboard, revealing a recorded conversation with Cherry’s mum.
Upon hearing the shocking truth about Cherry’s violent tendencies, Daniel was forced to accept that his mother had been correct all along.
Joe Swash didn’t have much luck when he tried to give wife Stacey Solomon a present for Valentine’s Day but it made the family laugh
Stacey Solomon and husband Joe Swash remain a close and loved up couple(Image: Lia Toby/Getty Images)
It was meant to be a declaration of his love for wife Stacey Solomon. But Joe Swash left his partner and their family in stitches after getting a tattoo on his finger.
The tattoo is meant to show a love heart that Stacey uses on social media alongside the letter S as a symbol of his love. But once he put his wedding band back over the top, the tattoo looks very different.
Stacey and husband Joe Swash continue to do well and are loved by TV viewers thanks in part to their family reality show on BBC1 and their down to earth nature. A second series of BBC’s Stacey And Joe began tonight.
A close up of how the tattoo looks with his wedding ring on
Explaining how much he loves her, Joe, 43, tells viewers: “She’s got just the most morally moral compass. Is that a word? The most morally moral compass I’ve ever come across. I want to show Stacy how much I appreciate her, and I think the best way to do that is to use my body as a canvas. I’m hoping she’s gonna love it.
“It is all good intentions but things don’t ever work out how I expect them to.”
In the second episode Joe then gets a tattoo for Valentine’s Day to show his love for her, but when he puts his wedding band back on over the ink, it makes the tattoo look like a man’s private parts.
“It’s not as romantic as I thought it was going to be,” admits Joe. “I knew it looked like a p*nis, I just didn’t want to believe it. It is a bit like a Transformer, it starts off as a truck and then when you put the ring on it looks like a c*ck and balls. Are we allowed to say that on the BBC?”
Joe tries to take Stacey on a romantic sunset date away from the kids during the skiing trip.
After she is shown the tattoo, Stacey burst out laughing: “That’s not the same as mine. Why did you draw a p*nis.
“Start thinking of a bigger design. Why didn’t you just get the name?”
Stacey had previously got a tattoo for Joe on her finger in 2023, with his name spelled out and joked it was her “midlife crisis” moment.
Despite the odd looking tattoo, Stacey is still impressed by the gesture. Hugging Joe, Stacey says: “Being married to you is a constant turn of event when I feel special.”
This is not Joe’s first tattoo and he has now ended up with three tattoos, none of which are perfect. As he was getting the third one done he explained: “My experience with tattoos ain’t great, so I’ve got one on my back. That was like for my dad, it said, Protected in love from above’ but it reminds me of Shooting Stars[TV show] like the dove from above and also the tattoo, sort of like dips into my bum, so it is a bit like I have farted it out.
“The other one I got when I was on holiday with the boys. I got drunk on an 18-30s holiday, and my mate’s paid for me to have a tattoo, it says something in Hebrew on my hip here.
“I haven’t really looked into what it says. I can only imagine It’s not something lovely. Why? Why anything? Why did I trust my friends? Why was I so drunk? Where was my mum looking out for me?”
Stacey and Joe married in 2022 and have been together nine years. They have filmed more of their home life for the BBC. After rising to fame on the X Factor in 2009, Loose Women star Stacey has become a national treasure and is best known for her bubbly personality and as the Instagram DIY queen.
She keeps her social media followers in the loop as she has transformed Pickle Cottage into a family home.
As well as her dream home which features in the series, Stacey has the dream family life too with former EastEnders actor fiancé Joe Swash, and her five children; Zachary, 17, Leighton, 13, Rex, six, Rose, three, and Belle, two.
In the opening episode she told how she thought she has “had her last baby”.
The cameras showed their youngest Belle going to nursery. And Stacey admits she gets “sad” as the kids grow up.
“Another one flies the nest. All the kids are at school, and we can have a lot of fun,” says Joe before asking: “D’you think that’s our last baby?”
Stacey replied: “I think that’s our last baby, bubs.”
Joe said: “I think what we need to do is start looking forward to the future bits of the kids growing up instead of it being like ‘awww’.”
Stacey replied: “Yeah, that’s why I’m getting more animals, to be honest with you!”
* Stacey And Joe is on BBC1 on Tuesday nights at 7pm and available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Holly Willoughbymarried TV exec Daniel “Dan” Baldwin in Amberley, West Sussex in 2007 and the couple, who have three children together, have recently moved house
00:22, 09 Sep 2025Updated 02:01, 09 Sep 2025
Holly Willoughby has been married to Dan Baldwin for 18 years(Image: Getty Images Europe)
TV power couple Holly Willoughby and husband Dan Baldwin have moved into “an amazing” mansion, it is reported.
Holly, 44, recently bought the “an insanely beautiful forever home” with her 50-year-old partner whose media company, it is said, struck a deal with America’s National Football League (NFL), Channel 5 (which now wants to be known as 5) and US media giant Paramount to bring live coverage of American football to UK viewers.
As the consortium has even bagged the rights to broadcast the Super Bowl in this country, it is thought Dan and Holly have been eager to explore opportunities to relocate. It is understood they’ve now snapped up a six-bedroom mansion, said to be worth millions of pounds.
A source who knows the couple, who married in 2007, said: “Together, Dan and Holly make a smashing pairing. They have the whole industry covered between them.”
The TV power couple have recently moved home(Image: @hollywilloughby/Instagram)
The Super Bowl is the most-watched annual sporting event in America and the second most popular around the world after the FIFA World Cup – with nearly 200million people worldwide tuning in each year.
And so television sources suggest the deal could be worth “well over £2million” for Baldwin and his consortium. The new American football show, which started last week, is presented by one of Dan’s best friends, Dermot O’Leary, 52, along with former NFL player Osi Umenyiora, 43, and hockey player-turned-sports-presenter Sam Quek, 36.
Presenters: Dermot O’Leary, Sam Quek & Osi Umenyiora can’t wait to get started with new NFL show
An industry insider told Mail Online: “It is the deal of the year. Dan pulled it off. It’s lovely, actually, as it means the pressure is off Holly to wait for the right job to come up… She has been to hell and back in the past two years. It has been awful for her.”
They referred to Holly’s ordeal at the hands of former security guard Gavin Plumb, who planned to kidnap and murder the star. He was jailed for life in July last year for the sinister plot, which a court was told was “life-changing for the victim.. both in private and personal terms”.
This came after Holly’s This Morning career ended abruptly in 2023 after a distressing fallout with her best friend Phillip Schofield over his brother Timothy’s sex offences trial. These episodes “knocked the wind out of Holly,” a source told Mail Online.
But Dan’s recent success has reportedly brought new vigour into both Holly and Dan’s lives, as mum-of-three Holly now has “some time to decompress”. The star, originally from Brighton, East Sussex, did co-host You Bet! last year with pal Stephen Mulhern, a revival of the game show after 27 years. The programme, though, was largely panned by viewers and critics.
A BRAZILIAN model has revealed how a hidden tumour made her shoot up to almost seven feet tall – and how her shorter partner won her over.
Elisane Silva, 26, from Salinopolis, stands at a staggering six foot eight and towers over her five-foot-four husband, Francinaldo Da Silva Carvalho, 31.
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Brazilian model Elisane Silva is 6ft8 due to a benign tumour
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She towers over her five-foot-four husband Francinaldo
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Despite bullying, Elisane now embraces her height and pursues a modelling career
But she admitted their nearly two-foot height gap doesn’t faze them – in fact, he was the one to win her over.
Elisane said: “Since I was 10 years old, I always noticed that there wasn’t something quite right as I was the only one in my family and class that stood at a staggering five feet nine inches.”
Her parents, Ana Maria Ramos and Luiz Jorge, were left stunned.
“My mother is only five feet four inches and my father is just five feet seven inches, so it was a shock to our entire family when I was the tallest member at so young,” she explained.
By age 10, Elisane was suffering painful pressure in her bones and head as she continued to grow at an alarming rate.
A doctor recommended tests, but her family couldn’t afford them.
Then a national TV network stepped in, offering to cover her medical bills if she told her story on air.
“A national television network approached my family after hearing my story, and in 2010, we flew to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I appeared on national television and had all my tests done for free on behalf of the network,” she recalled.
“Although this was embarrassing, I was just glad to finally have an answer and to stop the pain that I was going through as a result of my height.”
Fans stunned at size of Newcastle’s Isak replacement Nick Woltemade as he dwarfs over Liverpool star
Doctors discovered a benign tumour on her pituitary gland, which had triggered an overproduction of growth hormone – a condition known as gigantism.
But while Elisane had answers, school became unbearable.
Classmates bullied her mercilessly, calling her “tower” and “giant.”
“I remember locking myself up at home as I felt so sick with the hurtful comments and words people were constantly saying to me,” she said.
“I decided to give up and it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make, as I wanted to continue studying, but I knew that I wouldn’t last any longer in that environment.
“At the time, I was 17 years old, so my parents didn’t have much to say on the matter and I was really lost about where to go next in life.”
Everything changed when she met Francinaldo in 2011.
“I fell for him right there and then, as he was the first person to treat me like a human being and not some freak of nature,” she said.
“Although there is an obvious height difference, we don’t see it as an issue as we love each other just the way we are and wouldn’t want anything to change.”
The couple got engaged quickly and tied the knot in September 2015. They later welcomed their son, Angelo, now three.
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A TV network covered tests for her gigantism after her family couldn’t afford them
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Elisane found love with Francinaldo, who is five foot four and embraced her for who she is and not her height
“We used to get comments from people in the street when we were walking together, I’m no longer the center of attention now we have our beautiful son,” Elisane said.
Angelo is already three foot three, but Elisane doesn’t believe he’ll inherit her towering stature.
“I don’t believe he will grow to be as tall as me because I don’t think my condition is hereditary,” she explained.
“I think he will grow up to be average height – but even if not, he should embrace the unique asset he has been given.”
After years of shame, Elisane now embraces her frame and is pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a professional model.
“Although I haven’t been successful just yet, I usually go out and take professional photos of myself and add it to my portfolio to pass on to agencies,” she said.
“Despite no agencies picking up on them yet, these photo sessions have helped my levels of confidence immensely and I have started to love myself for who I am.”
While she’s been branded the “tallest woman in Brazil” online, Elisane says it’s not an official title – though she’s learned to wear the label with pride.
“I have learned to love myself for my unique height, as there’s no one quite like me and I think that’s rather special,” she said.
“I have found a good man to love, have a wonderful son, a beautiful family, and I am grateful that God has taught me to overcome these obstacles in life.
“Don’t let people’s evil comments interfere with your life, as it’s not for them to judge you based on how you look or who you love – stay true to yourself and you’ll live happily.”
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The couple live in the town of Salinopolis, Brazil
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She’s been branded the ‘tallest woman in Brazil’ online
In the second season of the Netflix series, we saw three pairs tie the knot: Kieran and Megan, Kal and Sarover and Billy and Ashleigh.
However, it seems the latter two couples have since called it quits not long after the show finished filming.
It comes after fans were concerned that Billy would turn Ashleigh down at the altar, after previously expressing concerns about their different work schedules would impact the relationship.
In an exclusive interview, Cabin Crew Manager Ashleigh opened up about the breakdown of her marriage to Billy, admitting they now ‘don’t speak much’.
Ashleigh felt ‘reassured’ on their wedding day(Image: Netflix)
She revealed that their relationship had ended “within a day” of fellow ex-couple Sarover and Kal, who also tied the knot on the show but split soon after.
Speaking about their difficult break-up, Ashleigh explained: “There was a follow-up conversation two weeks later.
“But yeah, we left the experiment; he said ‘yes’ to me and I was like, ‘This is all I needed. Billy has reassured me with that yes that this is going to work.
“‘He’s getting married for the second time, this is the real deal,’” she added.
“But unfortunately it wasn’t the real deal and he walked away with no fight. It was three months where I felt I was problem solving and looking to the future and he was just walking away from me.
“And I think, when you fall in love with someone, you grow to love them even more when the cameras are away and it’s just us now,” she reflected.
Fans wondered what Billy would say on the wedding day (Image: Netflix)
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“But I felt he was more and more cold towards me and icy and my friends and family saw that side of Billy.
“And he walked away with no fight in January and we haven’t really spoken much since,” she admitted, as Sarover also confirmed that she and Kal “don’t speak either”.
Sarover had a similar perspective on her relationship with Kal, saying: “We tried to make it work, I was in love with him and he just ended it and I was blindsided.
“That was it, there was no conversation to be had, he just walked away.”
Meanwhile, Jed and Bardha have also called it quits after Bardha said ‘no’ to Jed at the altar, and Katisha and Javen have also parted ways following her decision to leave the process early.
Nonetheless, one happy marriage has come out of the experiment, as Kieran and Megan have confirmed it is still “all plain sailing” for their relationship.
Love Is Blind UK season 2 is available to stream now, exclusively on Netflix.
In the Netflix show’s season 2 finale, we saw three couples tie the knot: Kieran and Megan, Billy and Ashleigh and Kal and Sarover.
Meanwhile, Bardha made the difficult decision to turn down Jed at the altar, and Katisha chose to walk away from her relationship with Javen ahead of their wedding day.
In the reunion, it was revealed that just one couple – Kieran and Megan – have stayed together, while the other two pairs called it quits months after filming had wrapped.
In an exclusive interview, four stars from Love Is Blind UK season 2 sat down to speak about their experience on the Netflix show, including the emotional ordeal of watching their wedding episodes back after their relationships had ended.
The drama didn’t end after the cameras stopped rolling(Image: Netflix)
Admitting it felt like they were ‘living double the trauma’, Ashleigh began: Can we just talk about when we watched the weddings together? Because that was like…”
“That was horrible,” Katisha confirmed, as Ashleigh continued: “We were all curled up on one bed sobbing. Fetal [position], intertwined, all four of us just sobbing.”
Bardha then expanded: “It was really hard to watch, I think. And we didn’t realise how we were going to react.”
However, she went on to highlight the bond they had formed with one another, adding: “It was just so nice to have each other and support each other through that. Like, I don’t think I could have watched that alone.”
“We cried for each other,” Sarover reflected sadly, adding that they were “holding each other so tight”.
Looking back at their time on the show, Ashleigh elaborated: “This is real lives, this is real human beings.
Some people didn’t get their happy ending(Image: Netflix)
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“We really got married, we really went through break ups and it’s been difficult, you know, with comments as well.
“You have to cancel that outside noise because we’ve been on a journey for a year where we’ve not been able to talk about it. So, we’re actually living double the trauma now.”
Sarover concluded: “It’s really bittersweet to watch it back because I really feel like we were all so in love during the filming and it’s bittersweet memories because of what happens later. It’s a tough watch.”
Meanwhile, Kieran and Megan were all smiles as they confirmed their marriage was still “all smooth sailing”.
They are the third lasting marriage to come out of Love Is Blind UK, as season 1 also saw Nicole and Benaiah and Bobby and Jasmine tie the knot, while former married pair Steven and Sabrina have also sadly parted ways.
Love Is Blind UK season 2 is available to stream now, exclusively on Netflix.
A travel influencer has revealed how she was “bombarded with sudden marriage proposals” during a nightmare solo trip to a tourist hotspot and warns others how to handle unwanted attention
Karolina Wachowicz in Morocco.(Image: Jam Press/Karolina Wachowicz)
It should have been the holiday of a lifetime but a trip to Marrakesh in Morocco turned into an experience that was challenging and exhausting for one young woman.
Influencer Karolina Wachowicz, 35, who is originally from Poland, said she felt like a “neon sign” as she walked the streets of Morocco as a “blonde single woman” and couldn’t even cross the road or sit alone without having to fend off unwanted attention from men.
The travel lover said she was motivated to visit Morocco by fellow travel influencer Katarzyna Lawrynowic, who regularly posts content about her time in Marrakesh. But she is warning other travellers to wear appropriate clothing and develop a thick skin in order to survive.
Karolina warned other travellers to wear appropriate clothing (Image: Jam Press/Karolina Wachowicz)
“As a blonde, single European woman, you are not seen as just another traveller, you become the spectacle,” Karolina, who originally comes from Krakow in Poland, told What’s The Jam. “Every glance, every comment, every offer of help is loaded with meaning you never asked for.
“Here, it’s not about seeing Morocco as a tourist, it is a daily lesson in holding your boundaries, keeping your nerve, and realising you have to rewrite the rules for every block, market, or bus stop.
“In Marrakesh, the onslaught is sharp and constant. Men make comments out loud, sometimes in French, sometimes in Arabic, as you walk by. At first, you think the compliments are harmless, maybe even flattering, but they don’t let up, and you realise their persistence is never just about curiosity.”
And she said refusing politely is rarely respected because men often push for your name, your plans and your relationship status. Sometimes, a casual ‘I have a boyfriend’ is the only answer that truly stops them. Yet the moment you let your guard down, or even just smile out of nervousness, it can be read as a signal to try harder.
“In cafes and markets, you quickly learn to focus your gaze, answer monosyllabically and keep walking. Men bombarded me with questions and compliments, even sudden proposals!”
Women are advised to cover their shoulders and legs in Morocco(Image: Jam Press/Karolina Wachowicz)
Karolina said the attention became even more intense when she left the city and travelled to small towns and rural villages. The 35-year-old said, “The attention is sometimes suffocating. Simple acts, like sitting in a café or shopping for groceries, become events.
“I couldn’t cross the street without at least one person asking for a photo or money.
“Marriage proposals were, of course, also common. Here, any visible skin or uncovered hair is read as a statement, no matter how modestly you think you are dressed. Suddenly, you realise that even a light summer dress and exposed shoulders can make you the focal point for requests, proposals, or relentless questions.”
But despite the challenges, Karolina said it’s possible to enjoy time in Morocco “if you understand just how different the social codes are”.
She added: “Morocco can challenge and exhaust you, but it will also teach you resilience, flexibility, and the importance of cross-cultural kindness, if you’re willing to look beneath the sometimes exasperating surface. The key to survival is a blend of thick skin, improvisation, humour, patience, and cultural sensitivity.”
A WOMAN busted her bigamist husband’s secret marriage after the second wife gave birth at the hospital where she worked.
Vaithialingam Muthukumar from India married his Singaporean wife in 2007 – only to cheat on her 15 years on.
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The bigamist was caught after his second wife got pregnant (stock picture)Credit: Getty
He then moved to Singapore and got into a relationship with Salmah Bee Abdul Razak, a younger work colleague.
She reportedly knew about his marriage.
In 2022, Muthukumar married Salmah in a secret wedding, promising he would divorce his first wife.
The sick liar managed to juggle both wives until last year, when Salmah got pregnant.
She was rushed to a hospital for delivery, which also happened to be Muthukumar’s first wife’s workplace, according to CNA.
To his nightmare, Muthukumar was caught emerging from the hospital’s delivery suite – where no guests were allowed – by his first wife.
When confronted, Muthukumar revealed he was secretly married to Salmahn in a bigamy, which is a criminal offence in almost all countries.
Salmah later reported to the Ministry of Manpower that he was still married to another woman, leading to a police probe.
Investigations revealed that Vaithialingam had also lied in immigration documents when applying for permanent residency as the spouse of a Singapore citizen.
He falsely declared he had no other marriages, though his application was rejected.
New vid of Coldplay kiss cam CEO Andy Byron shows ‘cheating’ pair standing out in crowd in plain view of Chris Martin
Muthukumar pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiring to commit bigamy and another for making a false declaration in his permanent residency application.
A Singaporean court jailed him for three months and three weeks.
Bigamy carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and a fine of up to Singaporean $7,800 (£5,800).
THIS is the woman who is hired by others to get their husbands to dump their lovers in secret.
Wang Zhengxi, who operates out of Henan province in northern China, helps women deal with a growing problem.
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Wang Zhengxi, who operates out of Henan province in northern ChinaCredit: Susan Norget Film
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She has been featured in a documentary by the Hong Kong filmmaker Elizabeth LoCredit: Getty
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Wang comes to the rescue after Ms Li found texts on her husband’s phone suggesting he was having an affairCredit: Susan Norget Film
As growing numbers of women suspect their husbands of cheating, Wang is on call to help save their marriages.
Speaking to one client Ms Li, she said: “The most urgent matter at hand is how to inject me organically into your family.”
Wang comes to the rescue after Ms Li found texts on her husband’s phone suggesting he was having an affair.
Instead of confronting her husband, Ms Li is employing Wang to help save her marriage.
She will befriend a cheating husband and his mistress and convince them to both break it off.
Wang is one of a growing number of “mistress dispellers” – and has been featured in a documentary by the Hong Kong filmmaker Elizabeth Lo.
In the film, Wang says: “When people come to me for help because a mistress has appeared, I can provide them with solutions to fix the problem.”
It comes amid a crisis of confidence in the institution of marriage across China.
There were fewer than 300,000 divorces back in 1978, but this jumped by 2019 to 4.7 million.
Lo said: “In Asian cultures, the mode of conflict resolution is different.
Meet China’s shady ‘Sea Dragons’ – the elite unit training for Taiwan invasion with underwater pistols & pirate battles
“Solving a problem and maintaining face on the surface while not poking a hole directly in the bubble or reality they live in is a form of preserving harmony.”
When she approaches the husband and mistress, Wang works subtly.
She asks Mr Li to teach her badminton and befriends the mistress at the same time.
Wang said: “When someone becomes a mistress, it’s because they feel they don’t deserve complete love.
“She’s the one who needs our help the most.”
Eventually, at his home, Wang reveals Ms Li’s suspicions to her husband when the wife is out of the room.
“He confessed everything, but you should pretend to know nothing,” Wang whispered to Mrs Li.
“I think there’s hope, but I don’t know the girl yet. I can only advise you after I see her.”
Mr Li even broke down in front of Wang at one point.
Hillary Clinton has shared her grim prediction on the future of same-sex marriage in the US.
On 15 August, the former Secretary of State stopped by the Raging Moderates podcast to discuss some of the most “pressing challenges of our time”, including Donald Trump’s volatile presidency, the future of democracy in the US and the economy.
In addition to the aforementioned topics, Clinton shared her candid thoughts on the recent petition formally asking the US Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell v. Hodges rulling.
In 2015, the landmark 5-4 decision legalised same sex marriage in all 50 states.
While some legal experts have expressed doubt that the Court will hear the case, Clinton didn’t share the same sentiment.
“American voters and, to some extent, the American media don’t understand how many years the Republicans have been working in order to get us to this point,” she explained.
“It took 50 years to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court will hear a case about gay marriage. My prediction is they will do to gay marriage what they did to abortion. They will send it back to the states.”
Clinton went on to encourage LGBTQIA+ couples to consider getting married in the meantime.
“I don’t think they’ll undo existing marriages, but I fear that they will undo the national right. And so fewer than half the states will recognise gay marriage,” she continued.
Elsewhere in her interview, the former First Lady and presidential candidate shed light on the Republican Party’s political game plan regarding the 2026 midterm elections.
“There are going to be real world consequences, but a lot of them are not likely to hit with the velocity and intensity until after the 2026 election. So they’re trying to set it up so that they can win that election and dump all of this other bad news on the American people,” she explained.
“And they’re doing state capture of capitalism. State capture of institutions. The courts are doing their best, but, you know, it’s a slow process. And the Supreme Court gave Trump a big victory when they say no nationwide injunctions to stop allegedly illegal activity.
“So, I think that in an election we have a better fighting chance, but we’re going to be fighting with maybe one or even two hands tied behind us if Texas does what it wants to do, if other states do what Trump tells them to do because they don’t want a fair fight. They don’t want to have a fight about the issues. They want to distract and divert attention away from all of their problems.”
As previously mentioned, former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis – who made headlines in 2015 when she refused to issue marriage licenses to LGBTQIA+ couples – filed a petition in July, urging the US Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.
In the filing, she described the ruling as being “grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process” and further claimed that it forced her to choose “between her religious beliefs and her job.”
For more information about the petition and expert opinions on whether the Court will hear the case, click here.
Handy Andy – real name Andy Kane – was a hugely popular member of the Changing Rooms team with viewers. But what has he been up to since he left the show in 2004?
Changing Rooms aired on the BBC between 1996 and 2004(Image: BBC)
Popular 90s DIY show Changing Rooms was a firm favourite on our screens, but the cast look very different to nowadays.
Viewers of the BBC show tuned in weekly to see the team take on some major home transformations, making the stars of the show household names in the process.
Hosted by Carol Smillie, Changing Rooms drew in a whopping 10 million viewers at its peak on BBC One and created some iconic moments – who can forget when a £6,000 teapot collection was destroyed in one fell swoop by a floating shelf in series 8?
Designers Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Linda Barker, and Anna Ryder Richardson were the ones tasked with helping members of the public transform a room in someone else’s house – be it a friend, family member or neighbour. And then to help them make it a reality, the show’s handyman, Handy Andy (Andy Kane) swooped in.
‘Handy Andy’ with his co-star Carole Smillie(Image: BBC)
DIY expert Andy appeared on the show from 1996-2004 and was a key player in the transformation process. But what has he been up to in the years since?
After the show ended, Andy landed a role on the American version of the programme, named Trading Spaces, and he also presented three shows for UK Style, Room Rival , Garden Rivals and Streetcombers.
One of his biggest programmes was Increase Your House Price By Ten Grand, which saw Andy work with a team to increase a house’s value by £10,000 in just three days with a £1,000 budget.
Andy has also appeared on I’m Famous And Frightened, Cirque de Celebrite and The Adam And Joe Show, and he has hosted a number of BBC Primary Geography programmes since 2008. He is happily married to his wife Geraldine and together they have four children.
Disaster struck in series 8 when a floating shelf collapsed(Image: BBC)
Andy was a popular member of the team and the chatty Cockney proved to be a big hit with viewers too. While he frequently impressed with his DIY, it didn’t always go to plan, and he later spoke about his most major mishap – when the teapot collection was destroyed.
Designer Linda had commissioned a floating shelf to house them but weighed it down with heavy books, causing the shelf to collapse overnight.
Andy told the Metro: “It went wrong because they put too much weight on it. The shelf was obviously just for show and just the teapots on it would have been fine, but then they started loading up with books at the bottom.
“I did say at the time that books are very heavy but they carried on and you know, it’s one of them things. When it happened, it was really, really awful, everyone felt really bad, but now you just laugh about it. But it was good entertainment, wasn’t it?
“In other episodes of the show they’d mount chairs on the wall or hang chairs from ceilings and as a builder, you’re like ‘really?!’, but that’s interior design for you.”
A new study revealed that LGBTQIA+ people in the US want to get married.
In 2015, the queer community achieved a massive victory when same-sex marriage was legalised across all 50 states – following the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case.
Over the last decade, thousands of LGBTQIA+ couples have exercised their right to get married, with many more considering the possibility.
According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 59% of LGBTQIA+ US adults under 50 who have never been married say they want to get hitched. Comparatively, 63% of non-LGBTQIA+ individuals under the same age bracket say the same thing.
Upon further investigation, researchers found that of the surveyed LGBTQIA+ adults, those between the ages of 18 and 29 were more than likely to say they wanted to get married compared to those aged 30 to 49.
Non queer adults also displayed similar stats, with 79% of 18 to 29-year-olds embracing marriage, while only 49% of 30-49 year olds agreed.
When surveying those who are divorced, widowed or separated, 49% of LGBTQIA+ adults said they were more likely to get married again. The same couldn’t be said for their heterosexual peers, with only 33% expressing an interest.
The study also shed some light on the respective groups’ views about having children.
47% of non-LGBTQIA+ adults under 50, who don’t have kids, were shown to have more of an interest in starting a family, while only 33% of LGBTQIA+ adults shared the same sentiment.
However, a nearly equal portion of LGBTQIA+ adults (28%) and non-LGBTQIA+ adults (29%) were unsure if they wanted to have children.
Lastly, it was revealed that 37% of LGBTQIA+ women and 36% of LGBTQIA+ men want to have kids someday.
There was a bigger disparity between the straight individuals. 54% of non-LGBTQIA+ men were reported to want children, and 39% of non-LGBTQIA+ women shared the same interest.
The recent data comes at a time when marriage equality is facing a new wave of attacks from Republicans and conservative figures.
In July, former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis – who made headlines in 2015 when she refused to issue marriage licenses to LGBTQIA+ couples – filed a petition urging the US Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.
In the filing, she described the ruling as being “grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process” and further claimed that it forced her to choose “between her religious beliefs and her job.”
For more information about the petition and whether the Court will hear the case, click here.
When will the US Supreme Court make a decision on whether it will hear the case?
As of now, no date has been set for when the US Supreme Court will make its decision. According to the Court’s website, the case will be considered by the nine justices during their 29 September conference, with a decision potentially coming in October. However, it could take longer, as the Court sometimes “re-lists particularly controversial cases,” meaning they may be discussed at multiple conferences, per Forbes.
What are legal experts saying about the petition and the likelihood of same-sex marriage being overturned?
Many legal experts doubt that the US Supreme Court will (1) hear Kim Davis’ case or (2) overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.
In an interview with Newsweek, Northeastern University law professor Daniel Urman said it was “very unlikely” the Court would take on the case, despite the current conservative majority on the bench.
“There’s a chance that a conservative majority could use the case to expand the rights of religious objectors to same-sex marriage. But that’s not the same as overturning the right itself, and I don’t see a majority of the Court ready to do that,” Urman told the outlet.
“Culturally, same-sex marriage has become embedded in American life, and it is still popular in public opinion polls.”
Carl Esbeck, a religious liberty expert at the University of Missouri School of Law, and Geoffrey R. Stone, a law professor at the University of Chicago, expressed similar views in statements to USA Today.
“It would be a useless act to overturn Obergefell. The politics have simly moved on from same-sex marriage, even for conservative religious people,” Esbeck said.
Stone noted that while some Supreme Court justices may disagree with the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, they are unlikely to overturn it given the public’s support for marriage equality and a desire to “avoid the appearance of interpreting the Constitution in a manner that conforms to their own personal views.” He added: “Even some of the conservative justices might not vote to overrule Obergefell.”
“Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett seem wildly uninterested. Maybe Justice Neil Gorsuch, too,” she continued. “It would have to come up as a lower court holding that Obergefell binds judges to accept some other kind of non-traditional marital arrangement.”
What will happen if same-sex marriage is overturned? Is there current legislation to combat the decision?
If marriage equality were overturned, the US would likely revert to the pre-Obergefell v. Hodges system, leaving the decision to each state. However, existing same-sex couples would still be protected under a 2022 law signed by former US President Joe Biden.
On 13 December, he enacted the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires the federal government — and all US states and territories — to recognise same-sex and interracial marriages performed in other states. For example, if a gay couple from Arkansas — where marriage equality would be banned if Obergefell were overturned — married in California, Arkansas would still be required to honour their union.
Is Kim Davis the only one targeting marriage equality through legal means?
No, Kim Davis isn’t the only conservative figure targeting same-sex marriage. According to a February report from NBC News, lawmakers in at least nine states — including Michigan, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota — have sought to reverse the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have introduced proposals to create a new category of marriage, called a “covenant marriage,” which would be reserved for one man and one woman.
In this Thursday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day from the sad news of how the mum of a slain schoolboy learnt about his death, to the reality of one of Europe’s top ‘party strips’
River Island plans to shut 33 shops(Image: PA)
Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we pull together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Sport teams and more. This Friday, we’re featuring everything from River Island’s planned closure of 33 high street stores, to the tragic story of how slain teen Harvey Willgoose’s mother found out about his death.
In other news, we’re also taking a look at how two cruise ship tourists died in bad weather, the depressing reality of the Magaluf ‘party strip’ in 2025, and the sad news of the death of Corrie icon Frank Grimes.
Harvey Willgoose: Mum learned schoolboy son had been killed through ‘RIP’ post
(Image: Facebook)
Earlier this afternoon, our UK News team shared the story of how Harvey Willgoose’s mum screamed in horror when she found out her son had been murdered at school. And she said she will forever be haunted with guilt because she urged the 15-year-old to return to the “lions’ den”.
Caroline Willgoose, 51 and her husband Mark, 52, spoke to The Mirror about only discovering their “amazing” son had died after seeing a social media post saying ‘RIP Harvey’. Despite their grief the couple have vowed to fight on until knife arches are installed in schools. “Children are going to school scared,” she told the Mirror. “This cannot be allowed to happen again.”
The defendant, a fellow pupil also aged 15 who cannot be named, had already admitted manslaughter but denied murder, saying he lost control and did not remember stabbing Harvey twice. But after more than 14 hours of deliberations the jury convicted him of murder with a majority verdict of 11-1. He is expected to be sentenced later this year.
River Island to shut 33 stores with hundreds to lose their jobs
River Island plans to shut 33 shops(Image: PA)
Our Money team reported earlier today that major high street chain River Island has announced it will shut dozens of stores – leaving hundreds of people jobless. The move, part of a long-in-the-works “restructuring plan” worked up to prevent the chain from collapsing into administration, will see River Island shutter 33 shops and pay reduced rents on a further 71.
The clothing retailer is looking to secure further funding later this year to avoid falling into millions of pounds’ worth of debt. Landlords are being asked to cut rents for three years and potentially stop payments completely on some sites in a bid to stem losses. Matthew Weaver KC, for River Island, told a hearing on Friday that the company “simply has not been able to reverse” a trend of financial difficulty as the restructuring plan was approved by the High Court in the UK.
Frank Grimes dead: Coronation Street actor dies after short illness
Frank Grimes as Barry Connor in the ITV soap Coronation Street
Our Showbiz team shared the sad story this afternoon that Coronation Street actor Frank Grimes has died at the age of 78. The actor died following a short illness, with The Irish Cultural Centre paying tribute to the acting legend.
Frank starred as Barrington “Barry” Connor in the ITV soap at regular intervals between 2008 to 2015 and played the father of Paul Connor, Liam Connor and Michelle Connor. Barry even made a return in 2015 to attend Michelle’s wedding to Steve McDonald. In all, he appeared in more than 50 episodes over the years and was a key character in the Connor family.
In a statement, they said: “Frank was undoubtedly one of Ireland’s greatest actors, he was a dearly loved friend of the ICC’s and over the past three decades, he trod the ICC’s stage on so many occasions.”
Two cruise ship tourists killed as gales batter Greece
Two tourists have died at sea after gale-force winds battered Milos, Greece(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Our World News team reported that two cruise ship tourists have died at sea in Greece after strong winds battered a holiday hotspot – causing travel chaos for thousands of travellers.
A man and a woman, both from Vietnam, were found on the Sarakiniko beach on the popular holiday island of Milos. The coastguard confirmed the travellers died following a tragic incident on Friday.
A spokesperson for the local coastguard said: “The man and woman were found unconscious in the sea and were taken to the local health centre.”
At the start of the season, the sight of vacant sun loungers was telling. What’s more, pub landlords confessed to adjusting opening hours in response to the changing tourist demographic. This downturn in visitor numbers is attributed to stringent measures against disorderly holidaymakers.
A WIFE is sharing her secret ‘3-hour rule’ that keeps her marriage alive, and other married couples can’t get enough of it.
TikToker Rachel Higgins posted a video sharing the simple way she and her husband manage to reconnect after long days.
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TikToker Rachel Higgins shared her secret to keeping her marriage aliveCredit: TikTok/rachelleehiggins
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The three-hour night involves carving out phone-free time for each otherCredit: Getty
Higgins and her husband began following a three-hour night back in 2024, and the mother said it has been a “game changer” in their relationship.
What is the three-hour night? Higgins explains it as dividing up three hours into three different sections, which allows them to accomplish chores and connect.
Higgins and her husband would previously spend the entire night taking care of their young daughter, lounging on the couch while scrolling through their phones, and then going to bed.
However, after prioritizing their relationship, their nights take on a slightly different look.
“What we do is after my daughter goes to bed…we take an hour of productive time,” Higgins explained.
“Anything that’s productive for the household.”
During the productive hour, they do chores that they couldn’t accomplish throughout the day, such as cleaning the kitchen or laundry.
“The second hour we’re dedicating to our marriage.
“During this time, we put our phones away and we’re solely dedicated to each other and to our marriage.”
Higgins said that this hour can look a little different every night.
How can I bring up kinks with my partner?
Some nights it may mean taking a shower together, while others it may just be as simple as playing a game together.
The purpose of this hour is to debrief, discuss, and connect.
“The last hour is about taking time to yourself,” she said.
In the final hour, both of them can do whatever they want without judgment.
Carson Daly’s relationship rule
In 2024, Carson Daly revealed his secret relationship rule to People:
Daly told People that he and his wife, Siri Pinter, sleep in separate rules. “It’s been good for us,” said theTodayhost before revealing that he and Siri “secretly love it.”
Daly isn’t the only celebrity to participate in the “sleep divorce” trend. Cameron Diaz said in 2023 that she and her husband Benji Madden also sleep in different rooms. “We should normalize separate bedrooms,” she said. “To me, I would literally, I have my house, you have yours.”
This may be lying on the couch, on your phone, or any other self-care activities you need to do.
“Main point is to inspire you to be intentional with your time if you feel stuck doing the same thing every night like we did,” Higgins wrote in the comments.
“No hard rules.”
Higgins said that they don’t necessarily accomplish their three-hour night goal every night, but they try to do it three to four times a week.
The mother said that even just succeeding one night a week can be enough.
Higgins’ three-hour night drew the attention of over 300,000 TikTok users, with many people rushing to the comments to support the idea or question how she manages to make it work.
“Such a good idea,” one woman commented.
“Good for us empty nesters too! The phone scrolling is outta control!”
