Leaderboard

Well that's that. The Inverse Dead Pool has closed its curtains for another year and it was a classic season with @BabyBlue Artie Shaw/Sadhana-ing their way to the top in the last week of the year. Not bad at all for a team that was joint 38th in early February when Susan Bayh died! But what seemed like a costly mistake then (Bayh was worth 15 points) ultimately survived the "marathon not a sprint" aspect of most dead pools, with BabyBlue only further scoring two further hits - Yoo Sang-chul in June, and Betty White on New Year's Eve. They gradually climbed up the leaderboard thanks to avoiding landmines like Murray Walker, Sarah Harding, and Greg Gilbert, but it was the dramatic last-week death of Desmond Tutu that allowed them to take the lead, in a tiebreaker with machotrouts, which soon became a solitary lead as macho placed Betty White higher than BabyBlue. And said machotrouts is a name who you'll be getting very familiar with in the sphere of the Inverse Dead Pool. He won in 2018, considerably outpaced his mum with a podium place in 2021, and starting this year will be the Inverse Dead Pool's new host. Yep, after four years of keeping everyone's favorite live pool ticking, my new co-hosting of the DDP meant sacrifices had to be made, and thus it was time to pass the Inverse baton. As the man himself admits, macho continues the time-honored tradition of our pool being hosted by someone who is alive, so we're undoubtedly in good hands. Play us out, BabyBlue...

The Full List for 2022 Pele 1271 (NEW) Jimmy Carter 1251 (7th, 4th) Frank Field 1212 (NEW) Leslie Philips 1096 (7th, 6th) Gorbachev 1025 (7th, 8th) Pope Benedict XVI 973 (7th, 5th) George Alagiah 944 (4th, 36th) Bob Barker 915 (4th, 18th) Glynis Johns 896 (6th, 14th) Jean Louis Trintignant 832 (4th, 33rd) Sidney Poitier 816 (6th, 32nd) Jerry Lee Lewis 801 (NEW) Henry Kissinger 756 (3rd, 17th) James Whale 726 (2nd, 11th) Linda Nolan 707 (3rd, 15th) Angela Lansbury 671 (2nd, 43rd) Harry Belafonte 663 (2nd, 35th) Queen Elizabeth II 598 (3rd, 44th) Olivia Newton John 594 (4th, 19th) Joanne Woodward 575 (5th, 25th) Shannen Doherty 555 (2nd, 26th) Tony Bennett 548 (NEW) Bill Turnbull 519 (3rd, 45th) Tom Smith 497 (3rd, 13th) Monica Vitti 487 (4th, 40th) Milos Zeman 463 (NEW) Rosalynn Carter 460 (4th, 29th) Yoko Ono 449 (3rd, 20th) James Watson 438 (NEW) Tom Parker 433 (2nd, 7th) Barbara Walters 433 (2nd, 38th) Norman Tebbit 427 (NEW) Francoise Hardy 411 (NEW) June Brown 400 (NEW) James Lovelock 381 (NEW) Bobby Charlton 371 (NEW) Nichelle Nichols 371 (NEW) George Perez 367 (NEW) Dick van Dyke 358 (NEW) Norman Lear 348 (NEW) Jiang Zemin 327 (NEW) Douglas Hurd 324 (NEW) Tom Weiskopf 317 (NEW) Jake the Snake 307 (NEW) Jacques Delors 295 (NEW) Jean Marsh 292 (NEW) David Graham 291 (NEW) Vic Elford 273 (NEW) Susie Steiner 272 (NEW) Gary Burgess 262 (NEW)

Well, I hope his physical frailty stays stable for the next 365 days. A very risky and big drop

10th Jean Louis Trintignant 4th appearance, 33rd last year 832 points French Actor 9th Glynis Johns 6th appearance, 14th last year 896 points Suffragette 8th Bob Barker 4th appearance, 18th last year 915 points Quiz Guy 7th George Alagiah 4th appearance, 36th last year 944 points BBC Newsreader 6th Pope Benedict XVI 7th appearance, 5th last time 973 points God Botherer 5th GORBACHEV 7th appearance, 8th last year 1025 points Russian leader 4th Leslie Philips 7th appearance, 6th last year 1096 points Ding Dong 3rd Frank Field NEW 1212 points Labour Legend/Contrarian 2nd Jimmy Carter 7th appearance, 4th last year 1251 points Peanuts Farmer 1st Pele NEW 1271 points Mr Football

Are they a goner in 2022? Dick Van Dyke: No, now might have been a reasonable time for his debut but he is still an incredibly fit and active DL bedblocker. Number one? No reason why he shouldn’t make 100 and he said in 2021 that he’s very determined to make the big 100. Fellow Mary Poppins cast member Glynis Johns would have been a much wiser pick. Henry Kissinger: No, I know he’s overweight and ancient, but still participating in interviews last year leads me to believe his mind remains sharp and that he has a good chance of making 100. Angela Lansbury: No, I see 98 as her age at death and her health isn’t known to be failing, it just sounds like she is slowing down at 96 by stopping Fan mail, which is understandable. Bob Barker: Yes, I see him living to 98 like Bob Dole did. Barker’s health has been plaguing him for years, I feel this year will finally get the better of him. Maybe an upcoming lung cancer diagnosis? Alan Greenspan: No, one of the healthiest 95 year old men out there, a lazy carryover who is still highly active doing interviews, a better carryover would have been Joanne Woodward or Barbara Walters. Keep Greenspan off for another few years. Nigel Starmer-Smith: No, the committee may have jumped the gun a bit with this one. Suffering from dementia and in a care home but still under 80 and not known to be terminally ill. Very surprised he made the list, let alone position no. 6. Loretta Lynn: No, still incredibly chipper and healthy in a thanksgiving video late last year, wouldn’t bank on her dying until at earliest mid 2023. June Brown: No, ancient with failing eyesight but spritely and a hard bird to kill. The committee played it safe to get her on just in case, but if she makes 96 in 2023, it won’t surprise me and her at no. 8 is much too high. Jimmy Carter: No, he keeps defying all the odds and still doesn’t look too bad, can see him dying in 2023, at 98. What a trooper. Tony Bennett: No, I understand why he’s kept on, especially considering his Alzheimer’s situation but he was still performing and releasing albums around the age of 95, only a few months ago. Dick Cheney: No, only 80 and not in a terminal state of health, he may still have another 5 to 10 years! Pope Benedict would have been a wiser carryover. Queen Elizabeth II: No, I understand she is too big to miss and her health is finally starting to give but the 2022 DL really could have taken the risk of missing her. She’s not going anywhere in 2022 or 2023 or 2024 etc. Harry Belafonte: Yes, I still feel his death won’t be long after his buddy Sidney Poitier’s death. The chances Belafonte and Poitier will see 2023 are very slim. Them both dying at the milestone age of 95, just seems right. Mel Brooks: No, still too healthy and full of life to be considered yet. A wasted pick. Published his autobiography late last year and gave a lively interview with it. See him again in another 5 years. Mikhail Gorbachev: Yes, not a DL cert but has been in ill health for what feels like an eternity. Great to see his return. Bobby Charlton: No, he was just diagnosed with dementia about a year ago and it is usually a slow progressing disease. On average, people live around 10 ten years following a diagnosis and Charlton’s not very old, only 84. David Attenborough: No, he may be a 95 year old but he is one of the healthiest and most active 95 year olds out there. Emperor Akihito: No, still under 90, less stress after having resigned, I feel he’s still got a quite a few years left and he’s again positioned much too high, if he’s not an entirely unnecessary pick altogether still at this time. Leslie Phillips: Yes, he’s nearly 98, has suffered numerous health setbacks and has gone worryingly quiet in recent years. My first guess for the 2022 DL’s first hit. Rosalynn Carter: No, lazy carryover, the Committee should wait for Jimmy to tumble and select Rosalynn the following year. Sandy Gall: No, just old at 94, not known to be suffering from poor health. The 2022 DL should have exercised more creativity by taking up this spot with Frank Field, George Alagiah or Monica Vitti. Desmond Morris: No, seems quite able and healthy in relatively recent photos with David Attenborough and is not known to be in ill health. Quite a lazy pick, I would have approved of Mahathir Mohamad much more. Morris will probably make 95 at least. Ted Kaczynski: Yes, a great pick by the committee if a bit too easy. He has just transferred prisons because of health reasons. Probably one of the first successes of the year. Jean-Marie Le Pen: No, not in particularly poor health, was still sharp in an interview conducted late last year, should see 2023, maybe even 2024. Estelle Harris: No, surprised she passed the famousness test and still an understandable pick at this time but I see her like a little Betty White, Harris should see her 95th birthday without a fuss. James Whale: Yes, cancer had spread all over his body in 2020, how is this man still alive? Cleo Laine: No, see Sandy Gall above. Bill Turnbull: No, despite his prostate cancer, he seems very determined to be back at work soon, whatever it takes. Jerry Lee Lewis: Yes, he sure is no picture of health these days, has lived a wild, excessive lifestyle and suffered a stroke in 2019. Jacques Delors: Yes, 96 years old is a dangerous age for any man and Delors was only recently reported to have missed the 25th anniversary bash for his institute because of ill health. Denis Law: No, still looked very good at a public event with Bobby Charlton last year. Dementia isn’t necessarily a death sentence, Frank Field would have been a much better candidate. Prunella Scales: No, her alzheimer’s keeps progressing but she has been keeping active which must help, last month she was still going out in public and watched a public play. Her husband also says she is often in a good mood. One for 2023, I’m guessing... Sidney Poitier: Yes, soon to be 95, guessing he’ll be dead soon after, I can see Poitier dying at 95. Amazing he has lived this long, especially considering he’s been close to 6’3” most of his life, many very tall men don’t live nearly this long. In fact, Poitier is the tallest candidate on this year’s DL. Burt Bacharach: No, still relatively active and in fine health, one of the worst 2022 DL carryovers, maybe the worst. What was wrong with Joanne Woodward? Stanley Baxter: No, this pick is again just based on age, no known health issues and another lazy carryover. Not impossible he won’t see 2023, but I bet he will and his 97th birthday. Robert Durst: Yes, his health has seemingly taken a turn for the worst, in recent months. Noam Chomsky: No, still mentally sharp and active in doing interviews and making public comments on current world crises. Can see him staying around for a lot longer. Jiang Zemin or Giorgio Napolitano would have been better additions at this stage. Bill Treacher: No, not a bad pick but this guy is a tough one, could keep going for another 5 years. Plus, most actors from British sitcoms often live to high ages. Norman Tebbit: Yes, reportedly very frail and pale, can’t have much longer left. David Crosby: No, only 80 and not in a critical condition. Pelé: Yes, he was in and out of the hospital throughout 2021, has colon cancer and even admitted that he was dying last year. He keeps coming back saying he feels great but I see him dying very soon at the age of 81. Likely to be one of this DL’s first successes. Michael Gambon: No, not a picture of health but he still looked ok 5 years ago at the King of Thieves premiere and his only known health issue is memory loss, which is only natural for over 80s. Douglas Hurd: Yes, very quiet of late and approaching 92 quickly. Silvio Berlusconi: No, rumours abound he will be President again and with all his evading of ongoing health issues and hospital visits, I’m beginning to believe it. Marianne Faithfull: Yes, has been in a grave state of health for a long time, it’ll be surprising if she makes 2023. Milan Kundera: Yes, just a feeling he’ll pull out this year at 93. Linda Ronstadt: No, I’m aware of her Parkinson’s disease, but she has been holding on rather well all this time with it, so I don’t see reaching 2023 a big challenge for her. Jean-Luc Godard: No, I know I’ve stated this numerous times before but why on earth was this guy chosen over the ailing Jean-Louis Trintignant? Godard, although still a good pick, isn’t even known to be ill, just old. Joss Ackland: Yes, overweight, old and I just feel he’s going any day now. Another contender for first DL success of the year. Shane MacGowan: No, I’m starting to see the logic behind this continuous returnee considering his unhealthy lifestyle, he’ll die before we know it, but in 2022? Considering his relatively healthy appearances recently, I don’t think so.

I'd like to mention that this is the first list since 1998 not to include a centenarian, or someone who will be turning 100 later in the year, on the list. Kissinger and Barker are the oldest picks, at 99. Thanks, Betty.

25th Monica Vitti 4th appearance, 40th place last year 487 points Actress 24th Tom Smith 3rd appearance, 13th last year 497 points Rugby Player 23rd Bill Turnbull 3rd appearance, 45th last year 519 points BBC Presenter 22nd Tony Bennett NEW 548 points Crooner 21st Shannen Doherty 2nd appearance, 26th last year 555 points Beverly Hills 20th Joanne Woodward 5th appearance, 25th place 575 points Actress 19th Olivia Newton John 4th appearance, 19th last year 594 points Tell me more… 18th Queen Elizabeth II 3rd appearance, 44th last year 598 points Her Maj Libby 17th Harry Belafonte 2nd appearance, 35th place 663 points Singer/Activist 16th Angela Lansbury 2nd appearance, 43rd place last year 671 points Your TV Gran 15th Linda Nolan 3rd appearance, 15th last year 707 points Nolan Sister 14th James Whale 2nd appearance, 11th last year 726 points Talksport Host 13th Henry Kissinger 3rd appearance, 17th last year 756 points Prince of Darkness 12th Jerry Lee Lewis NEW 801 points Not Yewtree’d Star 11th Sidney Poitier 6th appearance, 32nd last year 816 points Mr Tibbs

50th Gary Burgess NEW 262 points Your DDP Joker 49th Susie Steiner NEW 272 points Guardian journo/novelist 48th Vic Elford NEW 273 points Motor-racing star 47th David Graham NEW 291 points Grandpa Pig 46th Jean Marsh NEW 292 points Msc Favourite 45th Jacques Delors NEW 295 points Not A Sun Reader 44th Jake “the Snake” Roberts NEW 307 points Yoga Fan 43rd Tom Weiskopf NEW 317 points Golfer 42nd Douglas Hurd NEW 324 points Tory Grandee 41st Jiang Zemin NEW 327 points Drol Favourite 40th Norman Lear NEW 348 points Big in American (allegedly) 39th Dick Van Dyke NEW 358 points Professional Cockney 38th George Perez NEW 367 points Comics Legend 37th Nichelle Nichols NEW 371 points Star Trek star 36th Bobby Charlton NEW 371 points World Cup winner 35th James Lovelock NEW 381 points Gaia Scientist 34th June Brown NEW 400 points Dot Cotton 33rd Francoise Hardy NEW 411 points Big in France 32nd Norman Tebbit NEW 427 points Sean’s Cuddly Uncle ™ 31st Barbara Walters 2nd appearance, 38th last year 433 points Barbara Wawa 30th Tom Parker 2nd appearance, 7th last year 433 points Wanted 29th James Watson NEW 438 points Scientist 28th Yoko Ono 3rd appearance, 20th last year 449 points Beatles Wife 27th Rosalynn Carter 49th appearance, 29th last year 460 points Peanut Farmer’s Wife 26th Milos Zeman NEW 463 points Our Czech Mate

I’ve not usually got a problem with putting Dick first, but on this list it’s absolute fucking madness.

Benedict XVI should have be kept on instead of Akihito or QEII IMO

James Whale and Bill Turnbull are great additions, but don't know if dropping Linda Nolan, Shannen Doherty and Benedict XVI were good ideas, also surprised that there's no Frank Field or Alagiah.

Think Linda Nolan & Shannon Doherty far more likely than Bobby Charlton & Dennis Law

Easily one of the best, if not the best, picks on the list.

Linda Nolan is really a brave drop imo. Not a good call

Dick van Dyke at number 1? That makes no sense. Pele and Jerry Lee Lewis were no brainers. Nichelle Nichols should have been a lock.

I would have preferred another Estelle on the list : Estelle Parsons. American film and Broadway actress. Oscar winner for her role in "Bonnie & Clyde". 7 times Tony-nominee. Played also in sitcoms like "Roseanne". 94 y/o. Lost her husband last year.

She was also Muriel in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. This isn't helping her claim to fame in your eyes, ist it?

Right with that sorted out I am calling it a night. Hope to complete the masterlist posts and fill out the celeb data in my Excel file over Saturday and Sunday.

Risky pick, but in pure terms of probability, better than, say, Dick Van Dyke.

Surprised to see Bill Turnbull on there, but no George Alagiah? Silly, if you ask me.

I'm a little shocked they dropped the Pope

DDP Tofoa Gary Burgess Frank Field Russell Bishop George Perez Robert Durst Jean-Louis Trintignant Pele Ady Barkan Rob Burrow Miguel van Damme George Alagiah Bill Turnbull Gavin Robertson Don West Tom Parker Tom Smith Shannen Doherty Linda Nolan Olivia Newton-John Igor Bogdanoff So what are your thoughts? Any brainfarts or genious picks? Top 10 finish possible?

Wait, you’re telling me Peter Falk has died?

Little surprised that Turnbull got on but Alagiah didn’t. I think the latter would’ve been a better pick…

1. Ali Khamenei 2. Bob Newhart 3. Barbara Walters 4. Pope Benedict XVI 5. Imelda Marcos 6. Yoko Ono 7. Linda Nolan 8. Joanne Woodward 9. Willie Nelson 10. Betty Boothroyd 11. Raul Castro 12. Bernard Cribbins 13. Vanessa Redgrave 14. Shannen Doherty The Drops. Some of them quite brave.