They've taken TikTok by storm lately but what exactly are 'beige flags'? Allow Tameside Radio's Alex to fill you in with his latest column.

Have you heard about 'beige flags'? I was introduced to them on a recent episode of Newscast, a rather excellent BBC podcast hosted by Adam Fleming and Chris Mason, and Glamour UK describes them as "the latest dating phenomenon".

So what exactly is a 'beige flag?!' They have apparently taken TikTok by storm in recent weeks, and I shall attempt an explanation very shortly.

We can all agree that the term 'red flags' is quite well established, I think. Mimi Webb has even penned a pop song about them which we play on Tameside Radio, but in real life, they can be extremely serious warning signs.

They often involve controlling or coercive behaviour in a relationship, including narciccism, extreme jealousy, and gaslighting. Just in case this helps someone reading this, there is a really helpful page at https://www.tameside.gov.uk/domesticabuse, which details how to get help if you feel any of this applies to you.

A world away from this are 'beige flags', which are defined by the Urban Dictionary as "Something that's neither good nor bad but makes you pause for a minute when you notice it, and then you just continue on...something odd". It's inspired a TikTok trend, where people take to social media and identify their partner's 'beige flag'. Another definition offered is "a sign that someone is boring or lacks originality. Beige flags are often generic or very cliche things that many people put in their dating profiles".

We all have quirks. It's what makes us human. And isn't there something to be said for dull and dependable?! Asking for a friend. I can't hear a pop song when out in a pub without either trying to guess what it is from the intro, or worse still, naming which numbered Now album it appears on. I guess that's what working full in radio for over two decades does to you. I also love sharing details of how long I've slept for, and how many steps I've taken, thanks to the wonders of my FitBit. Literally no-one cares about this data, much like when others go for a run and think to themselves 'if I didn't log this on Strava, did I even go for a run'?!

Metro even mentioned 'fashion beige flags' in an article recently, which apparently include holey underwear, ankle socks, and owning several of the same T-shirt (known as 'T-shirt repeating' in the beige fashion world). Having only one suit for formal occasions is also in the 'fashion beige flag' category, the article reliably informs me.

A couple of other beige behaviours mentioned on TikTok include not putting your phone on silent overnight, always asking the waiter what to order at a restaurant, and being terrible at pronouncing things.

Is this all fair enough, or overly judgy? I'll let you decide! I'm absolutely sure if I ask my wife, she might come up with another couple of 'beige flags' for me, but I'm not going to say anything, to see if she actually reads my columns or not. I've never been on a dating site, but I'll leave you with three 'beige behaviours' to avoid if you're looking for love, according to Caitlin Macphail on TikTok...

1) If all their photos are selfies - might indicate someone has no hobbies, or is just a bit dull

2) If their hobbies are extremely general - apparently, things like drinking coffee, going out to eat, taking naps and petting dogs don't count as hobbies

3) If they include their opinion on the oxford comma - Macphail argues this is equivalent to giving your take on whether pineapple belongs on pizza. It's not interesting what you think about this matter, and gives away the fact you're overly particular about little things.

It's a veritable minefield. For my money, if you are with the right person, you can be yourself, quirks and all. I'm not doing any harm by telling you enthusiastically that Britney Spears Baby One More Time was the first track on Now 44. I might just bore you a little bit in the process. Thanks as always for reading my beige offering. And for the record, I am pro Oxford comma, and pineapple absolutely belongs on pizza.

You can listen to Alex every weekday from 6am to 11am on Tameside Radio 103.6FM.