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Bit late to this conversation, but yes Portillo was seen as the next leader by most political commentators- on YouTube you can watch the election result and there's a really interesting discussion at the beginning between Portillo and Paxman where it's clear Labour will get a landslide and that Major wouldn't survive. Taxman really presses Portillo on if he expected to be the next leader - the answer he dodges but clearly Portillo is thinking about it. Of course - it all goes belly for Portillo and again after his result he's interviewed. Now he's relaxed, gloves are off and he says "well at least no more questions about becoming leader". We got Hague, a guy I like but was never PM material and it's important to bear in mind the next leader is very unlikely to be PM as the pendulum has swung for at least 2 elections IMHO. Mordant no chance of survival but I want to be up for the Rees- Mogg - that will be the moment hopefully!!!

Bram Stoker died on this day 112 years ago, aged 64. - "Bram" was a nickname for his real name, Abraham. His older brother Thornley was the first and only Baron of Hatch Street. - Stoker was initially a theater critic who reviewed plays, and he became known for the quality of his articles. Stoker ended up becoming the manager of the Lyceum Theatre and would often collaborate with the actor Henry Irving. - Stoker's literary career began with short stories that were published in periodicals- among their titles were "Crystal Cup" and "The Chain of Destiny". His first novel was 1875's The Primrose Path, though it was not until 1890 that he became a full-time writer. - Dracula was released in 1897, and Stoker did not name him after Vlad "Dracul" the Impaler- he saw the word in a book while on vacation in Romania, and believed it meant 'devil' (it actually means 'dragon'- his final novel was 1911's The Lair of the White Worm, actually about a dragon). - Stoker died from 'locomotive ataxia' that was likely a result of untreated syphilis. His death, however, was overshadowed by the sinking of the Titanic less than a week prior (the inquiry into the sinking began the day he died).

Hope all is going as well as can be with yours.

The year is 2040. AI Trump rules half the world, Clorox is running the msc memorial Deadpool, and James Whale is still saying he's only got one more Christmas this time.

Sat 20 Apr 79 Jeff Buckley — Hallelujah 37 Adele — Chasing Pavements 34 Taylor Swift — Love Story 33 Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody 31 James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado — Broken Strings 30 Rihanna — Russian Roulette 27 La Roux — In For The Kill 24 Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys — Empire State Of Mind -6 18 Britney Spears — Piece Of Me +4 11 Sam Sparro — Black & Gold

Johnny Tillotson is 86.

On this day 3 years ago, American vice president Walter Mondale, who served his term from 1977 to 1981 as well as the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee, passed away at the age of 93.

20/04/24 79 Jeff Buckley — Hallelujah 37 Adele — Chasing Pavements 33 Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody +4 31 James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado — Broken Strings 30 Taylor Swift — Love Story 30 Rihanna — Russian Roulette 30 Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys — Empire State Of Mind 27 La Roux — In For The Kill -6 20 Britney Spears — Piece Of Me 11 Sam Sparro — Black & Gold

Sigh...right and wrong once again. Anti-war protest votes were likely to go to the Lib Dems, true. But flipping to the Lib Dems is exactly what gave the Tories more seats. Their vote went up by 0.7% compared to 2001. Labour was down 5.5%. The Tories gained 33 seats. And what has George Galloway got to do with anything? If anything, the most prominent anti-war voice was Charles Kennedy, who led the Liberal Democrats to their best ever result in a general election, so was plenty popular enough. It's not about who was making the arguments, it's simply the fact that the public believed we had gone without justification, authorisation or a plan for victory, but simply to back up Bush and the neo-cons. Blair pledging "we're with you" straight after 9/11 put us on a collision course and meant Labour's focus changed. Blair became seen as Bush's 'poodle', the Daily Mirror ran a "Days without WMD being found" that just kept climbing and the bodies kept returning to Wootton Bassett. You're being contrary just for the sake of it now, aren't you?

Next year, he'll be saying this may be his last century.

I’m impressed she’s made it this long honestly. Her alcohol abuse was prodigious.

@Ulitzer95The Alfred Hoffman who died in 2021 seems to have been born in 1923 so I don't think it's the same one. I'm lay in bed presently so unable to use my laptop, but will confirm anything needed by you and @Gisooo tomorrow.

Here we are. All the notable deaths not covered on here before now featured in the latest Equity magazine. Equity Magazine Autumn/Winter 2023 – In Memoriam with Wiki pages: Bruce Beeby (wiki, 1921–2013) Aussie actor who appeared in British film and television – yes he died over a decade ago, and I don't know why Equity didn't spot it until now, but we never mentioned him on here at the time either! Best known for appearing in the radio serial "Journey into Space", last notable credit was in the 1970 film "Wuthering Heights". Bruce Bould (wiki, 1949–2023) English actor who appeared as David in "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin". Other credits include "Z-Cars", "The Good Life" and "The New Avengers". Jacqueline Dark (wiki, 1968–2023) mezzo-soprano with Opera Australia Shirley Gee (wiki, 1932–2016) English playwright, widower of actor Donald Gee (listed above). I guess her death has come to light because her husband's death was reported last year. Julia Goss (wiki, 1946–2023) soprano and occasional actress from Lanarkshire, Scotland Doktor Haze (wiki, 1956–2023) circus owner and performer, ringmaster at The Circus of Horrors, he was also an independent candidate in Brighton Kemptown, appeared on Britain's Got Talent and even held several Guinness World Records Other worthwhile mentions: Jane Briers (IMDb, 1939–2020) actress, sister of Richard Briers, known for playing Rose in "Close to Home" (no, me neither) Jon Ellison (IMDb, 1930–2023) baritone and actor. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company has a profile for him here. Ruth Goring (IMDb, 1927–2023) actress, appeared in "Yentl", widower of the more famous actor Lee Montague (born 1927), spotted in the GRO by @Master Obit and reported on here by @Gisooo but we couldn't confirm if this was actually her death listing until now Murray Hayne (IMDb, 1931–2023) actor, minor roles in "The Avengers" and "Dixon of Dock Green" Patricia Heneghan (IMDb, 1934–2023) actress, notably the librarian and short-term girlfriend for Ken Barlow in "Coronation Street" in 1961 Alfred Hoffman (IMDb, 1924–2023) actor, previously mentioned by @Gisooo on the forum. Him and his wife Leila Hoffman (born 1934, also an actress and still living) were featured in The Express in 2017 as Britain's "oldest working couple". Roz McCutcheon (IMDb, 1947–2023) heavy Irish bit part actress and genealogist Sheena Penson (IMDb, c. 1948–2023) Scottish actress, appeared in 2 episodes of "Taggart" and 3 episodes of "Still Game" as Sandra Christopher Reich (IMDb, 1945–20??) actor, played David Samuels in EastEnders for 54 episodes in the 1980s, and appeared as Number 5 in "Never Say Never Again" Jane Jordan Rogers (IMDb, 1931–20??) American-born actress, widow of the more famous actor Bernard Horsfall (1930–2013). Pictured above with actor Jeremy Child (1944–2022).

As someone currently undergoing chemotherapy, about 80% (if not more) of the patients I see at chemo (including myself) still have their hair. Not all chemo drugs cause hair loss, and even if they do, for some cancers (not leukaemia or lymphoma, I believe) you can opt to wear an ice cap during treatment if maintaining your locks is important to you. The chemo = bald image is outdated. Also, you can be normally mobile/feel fine even with widely metastatic cancer.

So Karen has rigor mortis and Kirsten Schwalbe Dead Soon.

Her name sounds like "rigor mortis" !

For the young 'uns who don't recall the TV show Shameless this bizarre kidnapping (which was faked) part of the inspiration was taken from the TV drama set in Manchester and in a bizarre twist much later, during the last series of Shameless there's a discussion between two characters, one of whom is local gangster Shane McGuire about the stupidity and likely lack of success if you fake a kidnapping.

First public appearance since hospitalization.

New photo of Ethel Kennedy with her family last week on her 96th birthday: https://people.com/ethel-kennedy-rare-appearance-photo-96th-birthday-celebrations-8630561 Her son RFK Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines did make the event. Enclosed a zoomed-in shot, Ethel's in white.

Reddit thread with photo, him going to the gym: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/s/ddZxYcHrFL Building and maintaining muscle is very important at high age. I'll attempt the same.

Interesting that we now know which newspaper he reads. Of the living Doctors I reckon Davison, McCoy, Eccleston and Capaldi would all be Guardian readers. Smith is more likely to be a Times man. C Baker is known to read the Daily Mail. The youngest ones probably don't read newspapers.

Posting this as it popped up on Facebook. If I'm right, that's this Saturday's Times under his arm, so would back up the "very recent pic" description. Still walking to the shop, not sure he's changed much since the last pics? He sure likes that red waistcoat!

NOT DEAD. I'm not Thatcher or tracy. Hackman made a new public appearance and based on the photos he looks to have physically declined in the past 12 months which wouldn't be that surprising. He's 94, after all.

He retired from his post at Northeastern this week. Only really of note because it could be time to start using Kitty on your lists:

It will be a laugh if Jimmy calves this week