At first glance, my emails are polite and warm; after all, “I’m just checking in” on a deadline, but “no worries either way.”
However, a closer examination reveals that unnecessary apologies, smiley faces, exclamation marks, and even kisses punctuate my messages.
I believe I’m being friendly and approachable, but according to experts, these linguistic habits may be quietly undermining how seriously I’m taken at work.
Careers coach Hannah Salton and etiquette coach William Hanson explain why so many of us write like this and the impact it could be having on how we’re perceived and even promoted at work.
Is your punctuation extra?
“Many thanks!” I’ve responded to numerous emails, and while my punctuation may seem excessive, a complete stop can come across as abrupt.
People use exclamation marks to show “positivity and enthusiasm,” says Hannah.
Women use them three times more often than men, a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found.
She thinks that’s likely down to the idea that “women are often judged more harshly than men when they are direct and are called ‘bossy’ and other gendered negative words.”
And while a single exclamation mark isn’t the problem, the cumulative effect can be, warns Hannah.
Written communication is notoriously easy to misread, which is why many of us insert an emoji as a picture of our warmth or humour.
But etiquette coach William Hanson warns this can backfire.
“One emoji can mean different things to different people or something entirely unintended,” he says.
“It would be better if people used words and a good command of English,” he advises.
Emojis can have an “infantile connotation,” which could lead people to perceive you as younger, less senior, less capable, or less responsible, he says.
“I would not put an emoji in an email,” he says. “You can be friendly in your writing and remain professional at the same time.”
And when it comes to signing off with a kiss, he says, “I would never put a kiss on the end of an email unless I kissed them on the cheek in real life.”
Softening language can dilute authority
“Are you following me, and does this all make sense?”
Emails containing reassurance checkers can be self-deprecating, Hannah says, adding that over time, that tone can subtly shape how someone is perceived.
“As a manager, it’s a difficult balance between being liked and respected; if you’re not direct, there’s a risk of creating the impression of being less capable,” she says.
“There are definitely times where communicating in an overly apologetic or overly measured way can make you come across as less impactful.”
“A lot of it is unconscious,” Hannah says. “No one reads an email and thinks, ‘Oh, they don’t back themselves’; it’s more subtle than that.
“But if you’re consistently communicating in a people-pleasing way, that can build up an impression of someone who doesn’t back themselves or who is potentially less competent.”
What to cut out of your emails?
Here are some of the things you might want to consider losing in order to appear more professional, our experts suggest:
Qualifying words such as “just” (“just checking,” “just wondering”).
Pre-emptive apologies like “sorry to bother you” or “I’m sure you’re really busy, but…”
Reassurance checkers such as “does that make sense?”, “hope that’s ok” or “no worries either way”
Exclamation marks
Emojis
Kisses or overly warm sign-offs
Hannah and William stress it’s not about stripping all warmth or personality from professional communication.
“Personal style is important,” Hannah says. “Showcasing personality at work is not a bad thing. You don’t want to feel like you have to filter everything you write and remove any personality from it.”
But at the same time you shouldn’t use certain words and symbols “as a tool to be liked”.
A practical way to spot and reduce these habits without losing personality is to pay attention to the emails you receive and notice how different styles make you feel – what sounds clear, confident or reassuring, and what feels excessive, she says.
Salton says AI tools can also be useful for reviewing drafts and removing excess filler or qualifier words.
Primal Scream, whose lead singer Bobby Gillespie is pictured performing in 2022, said the video was a piece of art
A Primal Scream concert has been cancelled over claims antisemitic imagery was shown on stage at a previous gig.
The rock band had been due to perform at the Trentham Live festival at the Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, on 21 August 2026.
But following criticism of a film screened at a concert in London, the festival’s organiser said it had cancelled the performance, as the graphics used did not align with its values.
Primal Scream said the film was a “piece of art” that was meant to provoke debate, not hate.
The film was screened on stage during the band’s performance of ‘Swastika Eyes’ at a one-off gig at The Roundhouse in Camden last Monday.
It appeared to show the Star of David entwined with a swastika in the eyes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The slogans “stop genocide” and “free Palestine” were shown on a large screen.
The graphics were used at a recent Primal Scream concert.
Confirming the Trentham Live cancellation, a spokesperson for Trentham said, “The graphics used at a recent Primal Scream concert do not align with our values. We therefore decided to cancel their performance at Trentham Live 2026.
“While we understand some fans may be disappointed, our priority is ensuring we host an inclusive and fun event for all and we will announce a replacement headliner for the Friday night.”
Ticketmaster has contacted fans who bought tickets to tell them organisers had cancelled the band’s appearance.
‘Totally inexcusable’
Following the London gig, Primal Scream were reported to the Metropolitan Police by the Community Security Trust, which claimed the video risked “encouraging hatred of Jews”.
It was also condemned by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which described the video as “sickening and totally inexcusable”.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said the report was being assessed by officers.
Managers of the venue said they deeply regretted that the “highly offensive” graphics were displayed, adding that it was done entirely without their knowledge.
A statement on Primal Scream’s Instagram page said, “The film is a piece of art. It clearly draws from history to question where the actions of current world governments sit in that context.
“It is meant to provoke debate, not hate. “In a free, pluralistic, and liberal society, freedom of expression is a right that we choose to exercise.”
The BBC previously contacted Primal Scream for further comment.
Despite not being able to save all jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rishi Sunak asserts that the government successfully prevented mass unemployment.
The former prime minister, who was chancellor at the time, said it “wasn’t going to be possible to save every person’s job”.
But he said the government was “successful in preventing mass unemployment” and the impact of the pandemic on employment was “considerably better than what anyone had forecast at the early stages of the pandemic”.
Sunak said there was “no playbook” for the economic shock from COVID, and ministers were “dealing with something no one had dealt with before.”
The former PM provided evidence to the public inquiry into the pandemic on Monday, answering questions about the policies he set out to support workers’ incomes and keep businesses afloat.
He said that during the crisis, there was “enormous uncertainty,” with policymakers and experts unsure of the virus’s scale and duration and how the public would respond to government measures.
He said that there was no toolkit or playbook available with instructions on how to handle pandemics like other economic or financial crises.
Over the past three weeks, the inquiry has been focussing on the economic response to the pandemic and hearing from former ministers, Treasury officials, and central bankers.
A key finding from the COVID inquiry last month was that the government did not take the virus seriously enough until it was “too late,” making February 2020 a “lost month” for action.
Sunak’s appearance on Monday was the second time he has taken the stand, after previously providing evidence in December 2023 when he was still prime minister.
He was appointed chancellor of Boris Johnson’s government on 13 February and was preparing to present a budget before the pandemic hit UK shores and the country was put into lockdown a month later.
Sunak told the inquiry that one of his priorities was to prevent mass unemployment and said “speed was paramount” in the government’s response.
He said there was an “acknowledgement” in the Treasury that they were not going to “get everything right away.”
“We could not allow perfection to stand in the way of progress,” he stated. “We had to get things out fast.”
Sunak said, “I’m proud that the impact on living standards, especially for the most vulnerable, was stronger than I would have perhaps anticipated going into this.”
Sunak announced the coronavirus furlough scheme in March 2020.
At his previous appearance in front of the inquiry, Sunak defended his Eat Out to Help Out policy, which was one of the government’s policy measures aimed at supporting businesses reopening after the first lockdown.
Medical officials advised Sunak not to intervene “too early” when the pandemic struck, he told the inquiry.
“Especially in those early conversations, a lot of what the medical and scientific community were advising us at that time was not to go too early with the various interventions, because they were worried about public acceptance of them,” he said.
The furlough scheme was the centrepiece of Sunak’s intervention in the UK economy, designed to stave off a wave of job losses as the country shut down in the face of the virus.
Richard Wright KC, counsel to the inquiry, said hearings to date had received “generally positive evidence” in relation to the policy.
Sunak stated that after the original scheme was implemented, the government created a targeted version of it that “never saw the light of day.”
“We spent an inordinate amount of time over the summer iterating a more targeted version of furlough; hours and hours of work to do exactly that, on the basis that we were moving to a different phase of the pandemic,” he said.
“We developed the JSS (Jobs Support Scheme), but we never implemented it due to another lockdown.”
Sunak added there “wasn’t a way of targeting that I felt comfortable with.”.
The former chancellor responded to criticism that the furlough scheme could have been shorter or longer by saying, “I think this is something where we have to be really careful about hindsight,” but he added that he believed the approach was balanced correctly.
He said, “If this happens again, I don’t see how that time would help someone like me find that balance.”
On support for self-employed workers, Sunak said there were challenges with the scheme, given that those applying had to self-certify.
But he said it was appropriate to support self-employed people and that he would “do it again” if in the same position.
The couple were found dead in their home with multiple stab wounds, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News
A son of film director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner has been arrested and booked on suspicion of murder after the couple were found dead in their Los Angeles home.
The Los Angeles Police Department said on Monday that Nick Reiner, 32, had been arrested and that he was in custody with no bail.
The deceased couple’s 28-year-old daughter, Romy, found her parents in their home with multiple stab wounds on Sunday, sources told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
Rob Reiner is known for directing several iconic films.
Rob Reiner is known for directing several iconic films in various genres, including When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men.
Emergency services were called to provide medical aid at the Reiners’ Brentwood, California, home at around 15:38 local time (23:38 GMT) on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said two people – later identified as Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 68 – were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said Nick Reiner was arrested several hours later, at about 21:15 local time on Sunday. Investigators have not publicly outlined a motive and said the investigation remains ongoing.
Getty Images
Rob Reiner and his family, including son Nick (fourth from left), attend a movie premiere
Nick Reiner has spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and homelessness. His experiences formed the basis of the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which he made with his father in 2015.
The family’s home is in Brentwood, a wealthy celebrity enclave full of large mansions, boutique stores, and restaurants. On Monday morning, a security guard stood outside the home as media gathered outside the front gate.
Rob Reiner, the son of comedy great Carl Reiner, began his career in the 1960s and rose to fame playing Meathead in the TV sitcom All in the Family.
He cemented his success with the cult mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, which he directed and starred in.
Reiner was married to Laverne & Shirley actress Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981 and is the adoptive father to Marshall’s daughter, actress Tracy Reiner.
He married Michele Reiner in 1989, whom he said he met during the making of the romantic comedy-drama film When Harry Met Sally. The couple have three children together.
EPA
A guard stood in front of the Reiner home on Monday as people and media gathered after hearing the news
Michele Reiner was an actress, photographer and producer, and the founder of Reiner Light, a photography agency and production company.
Rob Reiner was also known for his outspoken political activism and support for Democratic candidates.
In a post calling their deaths “very sad,” President Donald Trump criticised Reiner, saying that they “reportedly” died “due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction” with “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
“He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession with President Donald J. Trump,” the president wrote.
The police have not commented on a motive, and the investigation is being treated as a homicide.
The president and his allies often used the term ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ in reference to those who are critical of him. Reiner was a vocal critic of Donald Trump.
Several Republicans criticised Trump over the post, including former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, who said the deaths were a “family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies”.
“Many families deal with a family member with drug addiction and mental health issues. It’s incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy, especially when it ends in murder,” she said.
“These go to 11” – watch Rob Reiner in the amplifier scene from This is Spinal Tap, one of the films he directed
Trump’s post was also met with anger by some of the Reiners’ friends.
In a post on X, Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California and long-time friend of the Reiners, said the couple were “devoted parents”.
“They deeply loved all their children and they never gave up trying to care for them,” she said.
Sir Elton John, who made an appearance in this year’s Spinal Tap sequel, said, “I am in disbelief at today’s news of Rob and Michele.
“They were two of the most beautiful people I’d ever met and they deserved better.”
Fellow actor John Cusack, who appeared in Reiner’s 1985 film The Sure Thing, called him “a great man”, while Elijah Wood, who starred in 1994’s North, said he was “horrified” by the couple’s deaths.
There is a growing risk that Russia could attack the UK, and the nation’s “sons and daughters” need to be ready to fight, the head of Britain’s armed forces has said.
In an extraordinarily blunt intervention, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton warned that Russia’s military strength is increasing and is something to fear, with Russian troops now battle-hardened after spending the past nearly four years waging a full-scale war in Ukraine.
The UK’s armed forces will always be the first to respond.
He said the UK’s armed forces would always be the first line of defence alongside the rest of the NATO alliance, but society as a whole must also play a part in rebuilding resilience.
The chief of the defence staff said it was important to be honest with “families and households” across the UK about what it means to be prepared for “an array of real physical threats.”
Image: Sir Richard Knighton
Serving up a sombre reality check, Air Chief Marshal Knighton said he agreed with his French counterpart, General Fabien Mandon, who said last month that France must be ready for the possibility of losing its children in a potential war with Russia.
The British defence chief stated, “The situation is more dangerous than I have experienced in my career, and the cost of peace is increasing.”
“Our response needs to go beyond simply strengthening our armed forces. It needs a whole-of-nation response that builds our defence industrial capacity, grows the skills we need, harnesses the power of the institutions we will need in wartime and ensures and increases the resilience of society and the infrastructure that supports it.”
There was a time when no chest workout felt complete without three pressing angles—flat, incline, and decline. The “big three” of chest training dominated the gym floor, and lifters once viewed the decline bench press as the gold standard for chest development.
Then, for some reason, the decline bench press fell into a steady decline in popularity.
Fast forward to the present, and many fitness centres no longer offer a decline bench on the gym floor. And if they do, it often sits tucked in the corner—mostly unused—like an old relic from bodybuilding’s golden age.
You’ll see plenty of flat benches, a line for the incline press, and an insurgence of low-to-high cable machines utilised by gymgoers performing rep after rep of flyers—but the decline setup has become an outsider when it comes to modern-day workout routines.
the obsession with upper-chest development, the shrinking footprint of gym equipment, and the decline of the press disappeared.
DECLINE BENCH PRESS ANATOMY
You perform the decline bench press on a bench set at roughly 15 to 30 degrees, with the head lower than the hips, which alters both muscle activation and the bar’s path through space.
You need the all-in-one equipment to do it, but if you don’t have that, you need
A sturdy decline bench equipped with leg or ankle pads to anchor your lower body.
A barbell and adjustable rack positioned at the proper height so you can unrack and rerack the bar safely.
The declining press targets the lower chest fibres, an area that contributes to overall chest thickness and definition. The difference in the decline bench press comes from joint mechanics.
As the arms press at a downward angle, the shoulders are in a more neutral position—meaning less emphasis on the front delts and rotator cuff. These factors often make the decline press feel better for some lifters who struggle with shoulder issues.
Another advantage lies in the decline’s mechanical efficiency. The reduced range of motion compared to the flat and incline allows for heavier loading while maintaining control and stability.
That combination of strength potential and reduced joint strain is what once made the decline bench press a go-to chest movement for lifters.
Why did it lose its popularity?
WHY IT FELL OUT OF FAVOR
Once a pressing staple, the declining bench press has disappeared from most programs. You rarely see it performed in commercial gyms anymore, and when you do, it’s a shock to the system.
But the movement didn’t vanish because it stopped delivering results—it was overtaken by changing trends, evolving training philosophies, and the rise of “FUNCTIONAL” exercise programming.
Here’s what shifted.
Programming Redundancy
As coaches refined workouts for efficiency, the decline press was one of the first lifts cut from the rotation.
Flat and incline presses already deliver a well-rounded stimulus for the pecs, hitting both the upper and lower fibres with enough overlap that a third pressing angle seems redundant.
Most lifters prioritise building the most visible or performance-critical areas when time or recovery bandwidth is limited, and the lower chest is not among them.
The Upper-Chest Obsession
In the age of physique aesthetics and Instagram-perfect angles, focus shifted upward. The “power shelf” upper chest became the new aesthetic goal, while incline variations took centre stage.
Decline presses, which highlight the lower pecs, no longer fit the visual goals of lifters aiming for that square, full upper chest. Consequently,
Lifters began favouring movements that delivered more mirror-worthy results, leaving the decline press behind.
The Functional Shift and Its Replacements
Many experienced coaches feel the barbell bench press and its variations are relics of the past. “The decline press has been outed as a low-return exercise,“ explains Lee Boyce, a 16-year certified strength and conditioning specialist and author.
“Especially since today’s lifter is just as concerned with functionality and joint health as with strength and aesthetic gains.”
That’s tough to hear for old-school lifters, but Boyce’s only concern is for the shoulders. “You can definitely get a decent hit for the pressing muscles by barbell benching.”
he adds. “Still, it’s often at the expense of the shoulder joint, and in some cases, safety.”
The focus now is on function and transfer training that makes you better on screen, in life, or on the field. Since a few real-world movements mimic pressing from a downward angle, the decline press became an effortless cut.
Coaches began favouring flat and incline barbell presses, push-ups, dips, landmine presses, and cable work—all of which offer better transfer to athletic performance and shoulder stability.
Equipment and Shoulder Debate
Another strike against the decline bench: logistics and controversy. Decline benches are bulky, awkward to store, and require extra setup to anchor the legs and safely position the bar.
Many gyms replaced them with multipurpose benches or chest-press machines that offered easier adjustments and a cleaner footprint.
Some experts also question its value from a shoulder-health perspective. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone agrees that the decline angle is shoulder-friendly.
“You can get much more ROI with dips and push-ups,” says Dr Bo Babenko, a strength and rehab specialist. “
Unless you’re a physique competitor targeting specific aesthetic gaps, there’s no orthopaedic advantage to the decline press. My philosophy is to achieve full shoulder range of motion—and that can be done more effectively with other exercises.”
WHY SOME STILL SWEAR BY IT
Despite concerns for long-term shoulder safety, not everyone’s ready to bury the decline. Old-school bodybuilders, strength purists, and lifters who’ve dealt with shoulder pain often find that the decline press still has a place, and here’s why.
While modern training trends emphasise “functional” movement and simplicity, plenty of experienced lifters still see value in decline pressing. Strength coach Dan John puts it plainly:
“For many, it’s better than dips—and dips can be excellent, but it’s the setup,” he says. “It’s always been an equipment issue.
Sure, you can buy those expensive dip-decline machines, but the real decline press can be such a beneficial exercise. Some people argue that the decline press is more effective for targeting the pectoral muscles.
For many lifters, it’s all about being under the bar. “For some lifters, the decline press isn’t about chest growth,” explains Gareth Sapstead, MSc, CSCS, a physique training specialist.
“It’s about staying in the game when flat and incline pressing starts to irritate the shoulders.”
Here’s what the decline bench press still does well.
Lower-Pec Development Without the Shoulder Stress
The decline bench press often gets dismissed as unnecessary, but skipping it means missing out on one of the most shoulder-friendly pressing variations in the game.
Strength coach Jay Ashman puts forward why it’s safer for the shoulders. “ In a 1995 EMG study, the researchers discovered that the decline bench press produced the least EMG activity in the anterior deltoid and the most in the latissimus dorsi.
The hypothesis is that this effect is due to the low level of shoulder flexion and the greater shoulder adduction required during the lift.”
Not only is it safer for the anterior delts, but it’s also still a legit movement for bodybuilders and powerlifters looking for an edge, according to Ashman.
“As a bodybuilding exercise, it can help build the lower chest, giving you a more rounded pec appearance on stage. For a powerlifter,
It’s another tool in the arsenal for adding strength without the extra stress on the shoulders that a flat or incline bench has.”
Many lifters view the decline press as “cheating” due to its reduced range of motion and the ability to go heavy. But not all lifters see it this way.
“The shorter range of motion isn’t cheating — it’s a mechanical advantage. And smart coaches use mechanical advantages to overload specific segments without abusing the joints,” says Sapstead.
That means more total tension through the chest and triceps—the key drivers of strength and muscle.
Lockout Strength That Transfers
Because the decline press overloads the triceps and mid-range chest fibres, it can improve lockout strength for other presses. Some find that cycling decline work helps them push past sticking points in their flat or incline bench, a point Sapstead concurs with.
“The decline press is also a triceps and mid-range pressing overload tool—and that’s where you build a lot of your strength.”
For Changing Things Up
The body adapts fast, and pressing from a different angle can reignite progress. The decline press provides a new neuromuscular challenge, particularly useful during plateaus or when other press variations stop producing results.
THE FINAL WORD
The decline bench press didn’t disappear because it stopped working—it faded because fitness culture moved on. In the race for efficiency and aesthetics, lifters abandoned arguably one of the most chest-friendly pressing angles in the gym.
But the decline barbell press still earns its spot in your routine if your shoulders are up for it. It targets the lower pecs and builds lockout power to boost your performance across all press variations. The decline press isn’t redundant — it’s situational. Redundancy only exists if you program without intention.
So instead of writing it off, use it when your lower chest needs attention or when your bench press needs a new stimulus. You might find that going low is what your chest day has been missing.
Police are releasing a man detained in connection with the fatal shooting on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Two people were killed and nine others, all or nearly all of whom are also believed to be students, were injured in the attack on Saturday.
Earlier, three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told Sky’s US partner NBC News the detained man, who is being released, was 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson, who had served several years in the US Army.
The release means that the suspected gunman remains at large.
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Speaking at a news conference, Providence mayor Brett Smiley said, “We know that this episode is likely to cause fresh anxiety for our community and we want to reiterate what we said earlier…”
Ever since the initial call, now a day and a half ago, we have not received any credible or specific threats to the Providence community.
Mr Smiley said there would be a continuation of an enhanced police presence throughout the city and on the university campus.
“We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.
This building is part of the Brown University campus.
Image: The engineering building is part of the Brown University campus, located on the right side of the C-shaped block. Pic: Reuters
The shooting happened inside a classroom on the first floor of the Barus & Holley engineering building, a seven-storey structure home to much of the university’s engineering and physics study and research.
Brown University provost Frank Doyle confirmed final exams were taking place in the engineering building when the gunman opened fire.
Image: Pics: AP
A police official told the AP news agency the gunman fired more than 40 9mm rounds. A gun has not been recovered, but officers did seize two loaded 30-round magazines.
A video released by officials shows a suspect walking down a street away from the campus and turning a corner, dressed in dark, loose-fitting clothing.
Image: Pics: AP
Seven people injured in the shooting were in a stable condition, the Providence mayor, Mr Smiley, said. One remained in critical but stable condition, while another had been discharged, he added.
Brown is a private university with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students.
The three finalists for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing have been confirmed, after one couple was eliminated from the competition in Sunday night’s results show.
The bottom two this week were EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal and her partner Julian Caillon—for a record sixth time in this series— and reality TV star Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin.
After a dance-off, the judges voted to send Sopal home.
Davies, who survived the dance-off for the second week running, will join social media star George Clarke and former England footballer Karen Carney in next week’s final.
Speaking on Sunday night’s results show after her elimination, Sopal said, “All the dance-offs, all the challenges, but more than anything, just being in this building and dancing on this floor with such a wonderful human being.
“It was my ‘Yes Year’, and I said yes to Strictly. My family, we’ve had some hard times, but they’ve been here.”
She also paid tribute to her dance partner Caillon, saying, “You’ve been brilliant in every sense of the word.
“When I wobbled, and when I felt really brilliant about the dance and got the steps right, you’ve just held me in your hands and you’ve gone, ‘Bal, we’ve got this.’
“I’ve never felt alone on this floor, and I just want you to remember me. Don’t replace me too soon!”
Caillon said Sopal “embodies” what Strictly Come Dancing is about.
“Her spirit is unbreakable, and you have shown me that I’m actually dreaming too small, and Bal can inspire us that whatever any of us want in life, all you have to have is the desire to go after it.”
The celebrities performed two dances each on Saturday.
Carney and her partner Carlos Gu topped the leaderboard for their performance after receiving a near-perfect score of 78 out of a possible 80.
The results show also featured a surprise for departing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Following a highlights package of their best moments working on the show, the pair were each awarded their own unique golden Glitterball Trophy.
There was also a festive performance from Kylie Minogue of her new single XMAS accompanied by 16 strictly professional dancers, plus a special performance of the 90s classic Sit Down from the band James.
The remaining three couples will perform during next weekend’s final.
It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 19:00 GMT on Saturday, 20 December, with the winner crowned that evening.
Police officers stand guard following the attack on a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. — Reuters
SYDNEY: An attack by a father and son on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach killed 15 people, plunging Australia into a day of mourning Monday.
Here’s what we know:
Gunfire at Bondi
Emergency services responded to reports of shots fired at 6:47pm (0747 GMT) Sunday at Bondi Beach, one of the biggest tourist draws in Australia’s largest city.
Police reported that around 1,000 people attended the annual Hanukkah event, during which the shooting occurred.
Items lie on the sand following the attack on a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. — Reuters
Casualties
Police say the attackers fired into the crowds, killing 15 people aged from 10 to 87.
The youngest victim, a 10-year-old girl, died later in a children’s hospital, whereas 42 people were hospitalised overnight, including five in critical conditions.
Among them are two police officers wounded in a shootout with the gunmen.
Mourners gather by floral tributes at the Bondi Pavilion in memory of the victims of a shooting at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, on December 15, 2025. — AFP
The other was his 24-year-old son, who is in a critical condition in hospital, under police guard.
Australian media named them as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram.
In a statement, police said the pair used “long arms to fire into crowds of people.”.
People embrace as they visit a makeshift memorial following the attack on a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. — Reuters
Police believe the father, who had a license to carry six guns, used all of them in the shooting.
Police do not believe others were involved.
Terrorism
The attack was declared a terrorist incident at 9:36pm (1036 GMT) by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.
As a result, the federal police launched a joint counter-terrorism operation.
Global condemnations
The attack sparked condemnation worldwide, led by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described it as an act of “pure evil”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Australia’s government of “pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism” by not acting strongly enough before the shooting.
Watch: Eyewitness captures the moment a man tackles and disarms Bondi’s shooter.
The parents of a “hero” bystander who wrestled a gun from one of the Bondi Beach attackers have said they are praying he recovers from his wounds.
Video verified by the BBC showed Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, running at the gunman and seizing his weapon before turning the gun round on him and forcing his retreat.
His cousin said Mr Ahmed had since undergone surgery for gunshot wounds to his arm and hand, while his mother told local media, “We pray that God saves him.”
The fruit shop owner and father of two has been hailed as a hero for intervening in the shooting, which killed 15 people and left dozens injured at an event to celebrate Hanukkah on Sunday.
The incident also affected the family of the Bondi hero.
Mr Ahmed’s cousin, Mustafa, told 7News Australia late on Sunday: “He is a hero; 100%, he is a hero. He has two shots, one in his arm and one in his hand.”
In an update early on Monday, Mustafa said, “I hope he will be fine. I saw him last night. He was alright but we’re waiting to see what the doctor says.”
His parents told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he had been shot four or five times.
His father said Mr. Ahmed “wasn’t thinking about the backgrounds of the people he’s saving—the people dying in the street.”
“He doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there’s no difference between one citizen and another.”
They said they had been separated from their son since 2006 when he came to Australia. They had travelled to Sydney from Syria a couple of months ago.
Chris Minns/Facebook
Chris Minns met Mr Ahmed after the attack and said it had been “an honour” to thank him.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns shared a picture of himself and Mr Ahmed late Monday and described him as a “real-life hero”.
He said it had been an honour to spend time with Mr. Ahmed and “to pass on the thanks from people across NSW.”
Ahmed’s selfless courage certainly saved lives.
Meanwhile, a US billionaire donated A$99,999 (US$65,000; £49,000) to Mr Ahmed, calling him a “brave hero”.
William Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, made the top donation to a GoFundMe for Mr Ahmed, which had raised more than $1m by late Monday.
Mr Ahmed managed to wrestle the gun from the attacker in the struggle
Online users widely shared the footage of Mr Ahmed’s intervention.
It shows one of the gunmen standing behind a palm tree near a small pedestrian bridge, aiming and shooting his gun towards a target out of sight.
He manages to wrestle the gun from the attacker, pushes him to the ground and points the gun towards him. The attacker begins to retreat to the bridge.
Mr Ahmed then lowers the weapon and raises one hand in the air, appearing to show police he was not one of the shooters.
Later, the same attacker appears on the bridge, picking up another weapon and firing again.
Another gunman also continues firing from the bridge. It is unclear who or what they are aiming at.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday, “We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others.
“These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives.”
Speaking at a White House Christmas reception, US President Donald Trump also praised Mr Ahmed, saying he had “great respect” for him.
“It’s been a very, very brave person, actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters and saved a lot of lives,” he said.
Police say that the two shooters involved were a father and son aged 50 and 24. They have been named by local media as Sajid Akram and son Naveed Akram.
Sajid Akram died at the scene, while his son remains in hospital in critical condition.
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