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A bit sad that the twitter headline reduces her to being a girlfriend.

Was just saying this to the lads down the pub last night.

It’s been announced he is to retire from the House of Lords on the 31st March.

Yevhen Deidei (wiki), Ukrainian former deputy and paramilitary leader, killed at 34. First person with an existing Wiki page to be killed in this conflict.

Someone who is in a nursing home (not Denville) apparently - my theme team pick Richard Franklin, when not in hospital. Speaking of which, Franklin still recovering from "complex major surgery" according to Katy Manning.

Wow - that should be big news. He was one of the show’s most recognisable faces at one point. As a kid, I watched it for him! I hope, if it is true, the family confirm it to the press. R. Dean Taylor’s recent death going hardly noticed was sad.

Ah, he'll be spending more time with his fascism....

The Mail only 6 months or so behind Deathlist Forums, there.

Okay, so here is the annual reveal of the UK Eurovision entry, sung by Sam Ryder, a Viking from Essex. All well and good doing a song called Spaceman but I can’t help but think Babylon Zoo did it better.

Says he suffered nerve damage in 2009.

Finally, would have still gotten a QO without the Yahoo loophole: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/03/09/r-dean-taylor-musician-whose-song-ghost-house-loved-northern/

You'd be shocked to learn how many families try and announce the death of somebody notable via Wikipedia and don't do anything else. It's always very awkward pinging them with a message saying "sorry for your loss, but you can't break it here".

Chuck Norris is 82 today

Meh. I mean, let’s be 100% honest here, that’s what she’s MOST known for.

Gyo Obata (wiki) a american architect has died at 99

You're welcome to the land of the living. I've missed you. Hope you're better, @Wormfarmer. There are no mistakes. You did a fine work with the pocket calculator. For your next update... Sister Catherine Wybourne is a duo for @gcreptile and @GuyFromFuture: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2022/02/27/sister-catherine-weybourne-digitalnun-became-force-internet/ Take care, @Wormfarmer.

John Paul, who represented Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, has died. He was 28. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/glasgow-scotland-british-cycling-b2032513.html (Mostly behind a paywall.)

Aye, a DDP Drop 40 place isn't usually a sign of good underlying health

Also in Last of the Summer Wine for years. Sorry to hear she's not well. A vastly underrated comic actress. Routledge and Barker are undeniably brilliant, but you need someone to bounce off or to be your foil and she did that quite magnificently.

So close..... Only one engine failed... Better luck next time.

Kane Tanaka is now only 30 days younger than Sarah Knauss..

Spent a night in a hostel near Corrour station, off of Trainspotting and being high up. On Saturday at 7pm my manager was yelling at me in the toilet for having a shite, after I'd been fixing faulty self-checkouts like a headless chicken for 5 hours. On Sunday at 7pm, I was drinking Malbec around a log burner with a group of strangers. 5 Englishmen, a South African, a Belgian, an agèd hippie and a fellow Glaswegian who is an expert on Gaelic place names (not hyperbole; fascinating conversation we had). No roads, no light pollution and complete silence at all times. Also probably safe from nukes. YMMV with train fares but it was £22.49 for the night! If you get the chance then go.

OK, the sort of post that will only interest @Bibliogryphon@YoungWillz and maybe @Ulitzer95 Classic Doctor Who writers (1963-89) Bold means alive for those who dislike longer posts... Anthony Coburn (1927-77) - wrote An Unearthly Child, the first episodes of Dr Who (though they were massively rewritten by David Whitaker). Submitted many other scripts, none of them any good. Was the original producer of The Onedin Line before being fired, and was producing Poldark at the time of his death, aged 49, a heart attack aided by heavy alcoholism. Terry Nation (1930-97) - One of the most famous TV writers of the 20th Century, worked on Hancock's Half Hour before moving to Dr Who and creating the Daleks. Wasn't a fan of SF until the money started rolling in for his creations and never stopped. Terrance Dicks called him "the only man to ever get rich off Doctor Who!" Also created TV classics Survivors and Blake's 7, and moved to LA to work on US TV shows like MacGyver. Was still working up to his death from emphysema. David Whitaker (1928-80) - One of the leading behind the scenes figures in 50s BBC, a leading name in the Committee which created Doctor Who, and the show's first script-editor/showrunner. Wrote stories The Crusade and Power of the Daleks which are still highly regarded. Wrote the first Target novel. Stopped working on the show after 1970, one of the many burnout victims of Derrick Sherwins, but was still a common TV and book writer until his early death in Australia from cancer. John Lucarotti (1926-94) - Historical writer who wrote scripts to supplement his income in the 60s. Marco Polo (entirely missing) and The Aztecs (Richard III as the fall of the Aztec empire) his work for Dr Who. Served in the Navy in WW2. Spent the 70s exploring Corsica, and a brief return to Dr Who in the 70s was short lived. Travelled researching his history books until his death after a long battle with spinal cancer. Peter R Newman (1926-75) - Troubled WW2 veteran, who wrote The Sensorites, a story loosely based on his war experience which splits fans. Also wrote Hammer WW2 film Yesterday's Enemy. Career in writing ended abruptly due to PTSD related writers block, later became a museum security guard, and died young after falling down a flight of stairs at work. Dennis Spooner (1932-86) - Highly regard screenwriter of the 60s and 70s, worked on The Avengers, Thriller, and created Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Script-editor on Dr Who from 1964 to 65, and is credited with introduced the comedy historical to the show. Wrote The Romans, and half of The Dalek Master Plan (a grim space opera where everyone dies), and also edited early Second Doctor stories. Was in permanent demand as a TV editor and writer, and a regular behind the scenes name on Bergerac, before his sudden death from a heart attack whilst typing. Louis Marks (1928-2010) - Renaissance Italian historian and academic who sometimes did TV work - wrote Planet of Giants, Day of the Daleks, Planet of Evil and Masque of Mandragora over a period of 15 years. The best of which is probably Renaissance Italian SF romp Masque. Also worked on Doomwatch and frequently adapted classic serials for the BBC, and became increasingly in demand as a TV producer. Guardian obit here. Bill Strutton (1918-2003) - Wrote The Web Planet. An Australian WW2 prisoner of war who later wrote a number of military books about his experience, his writing career was ended by a severe heart attack aged 60, though he lived for another quarter of a century. Glyn Jones (1931-2014) - South African actor who went to the UK to find work due to apartheid. Wrote The Space Museum, and later acted in The Sontaran Experiment. Worked at the Sunday Times before a 40 year career on stage as an actor, writer and director, with occasional TV work. Retired to Greece, but kept an active blog until his death. Also played Sidney Cooke on screen, alas Cooke has outlived him considerably. Guardian obit here. William Emms (1930-93) - Wrote Galaxy 4 in 1965, also worked on Callan and Ace of Wands. A school teacher, not much is known about him, appeared to have health issues which precluded more writing, but archive TV footage of him was recently found and put on the DVD release of Galaxy 4, which I haven't seen! Donald Cotton (1928-99) - Pinter collaborator who moved to the BBC. Wrote The Myth Makers and The Gunfighters in 1965, two historical comedies which had clear influences on Blackadder. Also co-created Adam Adamant Lives. Paul Erickson (1920-91) - Wrote The Ark. Infrequent TV writer. "Co-wrote" (not actually) briefly with his short term wife Lesley Scott, whom Ulitzer once tried to track down. Brian Hayles (1931-78) - Wrote 6 stories in the 60s and 70s, created The Ice Warriors and wrote all of their original appearances. Went from The Archers to Doctor Who to 70s British horror films, so something for everyone there. Wrote unsettling Nothing but the Night. Died of a sudden heart attack. Donald Tosh (1935-2019) - Script editor in 1965, rewrote The Massacre from scratch. Was one of the early producers of Coronation St, and later became a chief custodian for English Heritage. He was also a co-contributor of mine about 15 years ago, nice chap. Telegraph obit. Interview transcript. Ian Stuart Black (1915-97) - Novelist and screenwriter who also worked behind the scenes on The Prisoner. Created Danger Man, remained a life long friend of Patrick McGoohan. RAF in WW2. A whisky drinker who was highly popular for dinner speeches. Herald obit. Gerry Davies (1930-91) - Radio writer, explorer of the North Pole, actor and writer. Wrote for British TV to pay for treatment for dying wife in 60s, became Dr Who script-editor from 1965 to 1967, introduced the concept of regeneration. Co-creator of The Cybermen. Regarded as having turned the show into a fantasy romp for kids, was big on cliffhangers. Co-created Doomwatch, wrote script for film The Final Countdown, and was in talks to do a big budget Dr Who film in the US when he was diagnosed with late stage IV cancer. Kit Pedler (1927-81) - Genius level scientist in eye surgery, Pedler provided ideas and scripts for Doctor Who in the 1960s. He created The Cybermen, and also postulated the idea of the internet. Was a frequent TV scientist in the 1970s, warning of climate change and air pollution. Co-created Doomwatch, worked with James Lovelock, and wrote books on Gaia and parapsychology. Frequently ill with heart trouble, he was widely mourned after his early death. Geoffrey Orme (1904-78) - Wrote The Underwater Menace in 1967, died before interviews were more common. Was one of the early TV writers in the 1930s, and worked on Ivanhoe. David Ellis (1918-78) - Dixon of Dock Green scribe who was better known for his work on radio. Malcolm Hulke (1924-79) - A communist who was once regarded the best script editor in the BBC, wrote the book on how to write for TV. Wrote some of the more memorable Dr Who stories (The War Games, which introduced The Time Lords, The Sea Devils, Invasion of the Dinosaurs) and died of cancer. Mervyn Haisman (1928-2010) and Henry Lincoln (1930-2022) - Co-wrote 3 stories in 1968-9, created The Brigadier and the Yetis. Haisman was a regular TV writer. Lincoln went onto write The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail. Victor Pemberton (1931-2017) - Screenwriter, producer, extra, writer, filled in many gaps on TV. Also wrote for BBC Radio. Wrote Fury from the Deep, a popular at the time 1968 Patrick Troughton tale which is entirely missing from the archives. Also worked on Timeslip, The Adventures of Black Beauty and Fraggle Rock. Was still active up to his death. Herald obit Peter Ling (1926-2006) - Wrote The Mind Robber in 1969, co-created Crossroads with his wife Hazel Adair. Died of complications from Alzheimer's. Guardian obituary. Derrick Sherwin (1936-2018) - Script editor and producer of Dr Who in 1968-9, an alcoholic who nearly ended the show. During this he wrote The Invasion, an 8 part Cyberman story who is stunningly good despite (or because) it was written whilst drunk. Also produced Paul Temple, but was considered increasingly unreliable by the BBC. Guardian obit Robert Holmes (1926-86) - Considered Dr Who's best writer, he wrote 15 stories for the show between 1969 and 1986, and was the showrunner for the first three years of Tom Baker's Doctor, which is still regarded by the public as one of the golden eras of the show. Was one of the youngest commissioned officers during WW2 because he lied about his age to enlist. A Met police officer who turned to journalism and then TV. Regarded by his peers as one of the best TV writer of his generation, he was plagued by personal demons, and turned down Play for Today and other acclaimed spots and drank heavily. Despite this, his 80s ITV serail The Nightmare Man is a really good bit of horror TV. Died of liver failure, mid-script on his last Dr Who, and is still referenced today as an early influence for modern great writers. Terrance Dicks (1935-2019) - Uncle Terry, as he was affectionately known, Terry was showrunner during the entire Pertwee era, and also wrote several stories, including The War Games with Malcolm Hulke and 20th anniversary story The Five Doctors. Wrote 100 books for the TARGET series, as well as numerous other kids books such as the Baker St Irregulars. A regular editor of the classic serials for the BBC, a TV producer and a mentor to countless thousands of young writers, Terry Dicks was a regular and popular convention star and interviewee (who always gave praise to other writers instead) and one of the best script editors British TV ever had, and he remains genuinely missed. Guardian obit Times obit Don Houghton (1930-91) - Wrote Inferno and The Mind of Evil, two popular Pertwee stories. A regular Hammer Horror screenwriter, he also created Take The High Road. Bob Baker (1939-2021) and Dave Martin (1935-2007) - The Bristol Boys, a solid screenwriting duo who wrote several stories in the Pertwee and Tom Baker eras. Martin was introduced to Baker by his friend Keith Floyd, who had a 40 year love with Martin's wife. Floyd and Martin were both diagnosed with cancer at the same time, Dave Martin died of lung cancer in 2007. Bob Baker, as a solo writer, wrote Nightmare of Eden, a Dr Who story about drug addiction and exploitation which only got past the censors because the production values are infamously awful (not Baker's fault). He also became far more famous for writing the Wallace and Gromit tales! Martin obit Baker obit Robert Sloman (1926-2006) - Screenwriter who later worked at the Times for several decades, his name went on his friend Barry Lett's scripts for Dr Who (due to producer/writer rules at the time), including The Daemons, The Green Death and Planet of the Spiders. Robert Banks Stewart (1930-2016) - Wrote 2 acclaimed Tom Baker era stories (Terror of the Zygons, Seeds of Doom) but is far better known as the creator of Shoestring and Bergerac, and later the producer of Lovejoy and The Darling Buds of May. Guardian obit Chris Boucher (born 1943) - Alive. Wrote early scripts for Dr Who (Face of Evil, Robots of Death, Image of the Fendahl) and introduced the world to Louise Jameson's Leela, for which we can all be thankful. Also wrote for Bergerac and became producer on Blake's 7. Star Cops, an 80s space drama, was a famous TV flop. Graham Williams (1945-90) - Producer of Dr Who from 1977 to 1980, had to deal with slashed budgets, strike action and Tom Bakers alcoholism. Created Target but was banned from producing it. Later wrote vast chunks of Super Gran and produced Tales of the Unexpected. A troubled depressive, he sadly shot himself in 1990. Douglas Adams (1952-2001) - Easily the most famous writer to ever work on Dr Who, the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy creator is well known. Died ludicrously young, of a heart attack, while exercising. Guardian obit David Fisher (1929-2018) - One of those steady hand writers the BBC relied on in the 1970s. Wrote four middle of the road Dr Who tales in the late Tom Baker era. Died in a nursing home in 2018 after a long period of dementia, and never got an obit, which Bibliogryphon is still angry about. Anthony Read (1935-2015) - Script editor of Dr Who from 1977 to 1979, and editor on Hammer House of Horror. Wrote for The Omega Factor, which saw Mary Whitehouse on his case, and a number of books for kids. Guardian obit Andrew McCulloch (b 1945) and John Flanagan (b. 1940s) - Regular Scottish screenwriting duo, who wrote for Heartbeat. McCulloch also was a regular TV actor, and appears in Father Ted's Christmas Special! Both still alive. Andrew Smith (born 1962) - Wrote Full Circle when he was 18, so that it holds up at all is astounding. Later became a high ranking police officer, but since retirement has returned to writing for kids. Stephen Gallagher (born 1954) - Wrote the dense Warrior's Gate, and returned to write the equally impenetrable Terminus. Became an acclaimed SF author and screenwriter in the 90s, including then hits such as Chimera and Oktober. Johnny Byrne (1935-2008) - Popular playwright who also wrote 3 troubled stories for Dr Who, created the companion Nyssa. Better known as script writer and editor on All Creatures Great and Small. Independent obit Christopher H Bidmead (born 1941). Science (actual science) writer and magazine editor who became Dr Who showrunner in 1981, intending to introduce real science into the show. Created the character of Adric, for which Willz remains forever grateful. As a showrunner, dour. As a screenwriter, witty and full of flair! Went back to PC magazines, was an early advocate of Linux, and you can still chat with him on Twitter if you like. Though he's not afraid to call a spade a fucking shovel... Terence Dudley (1919-88) - Producer of Doomwatch, wrote 3 charming but light Peter Davison era tales. Wrote for All Creatures Great and Small, before long battle with cancer. Christopher Bailey (born circa 1942) - Academic who wrote 2 Peter Davison stories, Kinda and Snakedance, which focus heavily on Buddhist parables. Eric Sward (born 1944) - Showrunner of Dr Who from 1981 to 1986, during which time it increasingly became far too violent for kids and was nearly successfully axed. A writer who focused on high body counts and drama, he wrote 4 stories of varying quality. Burned every bridge possible in leaving the BBC in 1986, has rarely worked in TV since. Peter Grimwade (1942-90) - Worked behind the scenes as a production manager on several BBC shows, including Dr Who, before taking the directors course. Was director and writer on a combined 7 Dr Who stories, and showed promise as a TV director for the future, before being diagnosed with Stage IV leukaemia, which he battled throughout the 80s before his early death. A lost talent. Barbara Clegg (born 1926) - First female writer of Dr Who, for Enlightenment in 1983. An actress who later wrote for Crossroads and other TV, Clegg is alive but in very poor health. Eric Pringle (1935-2017) - Regular radio writer who clashed heads with Eric Saward and didn't enjoy his short run on Dr Who. Writers Guild obit Anthony Steven (1916-90) - Regular 50s and 60s TV writer, adapted The Forsyte Saga. Wrote The Twin Dilemma in 1984, a prime case of getting a good writer in long after his prime. Philip Martin (1938-2020) - Creator of Gangsters, wrote 2 stories for the Colin Baker era, which retain some good moments despite being edited to hell by a hack (Saward). Guardian obit Pip (1928-2020) and Jane (1922?-2014) Baker - Regular firefighter screenwriters brought into save failing scripts, they wrote 3 stories for Dr Who, which are big and brash and daft, but fun when you are 8 years old. Also wrote Night of the Big Heat! Pip died of covid. Glen McCoy (born 1954) - Also wrote for Eastenders, but then became better known as a writer of business books. Stephen Wyatt (born 1948) - Extensive stage playwright since the 70s, wrote 2 stories for Dr Who: Paradise Towers (a JG Ballard inspired tale which was unworkable on a BBC budget) and The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (a more minimalist evil clown thriller), the latter of which is considerably better regarded. Malcolm Kohll (born 1953) - Wrote Delta and the Bannermen, a Douglas Adams inspired tale in 1987. Became a movie producer, including for eccentric flop Samuel L Jackson/Meatloaf film 51st State. Ian Briggs (born 1958) - Wrote Dragonfire and The Curse of Fenric in 1987 and 1989 respectively, and later worked on Casualty. Showed early promise as a writer but has preferred to work as a stage actor. Ben Aaronovitch (born 1964) - Showed early promise with Remembrance of the Daleks and Battlefield at the tail end of the classic series. Now a highly respected author with the Rivers of London series, and is the younger brother of loudmouth David. Graeme Curry (1957-2019) - A journalist who wrote the unsubtle Thatcher satire The Happiness Patrol. Died of brain cancer. Guardian obit. Kevin Clarke (born circa 1954) - Playwright who got a TV break on Dr Who with Silver Nemesis in 1988 and has gone on to write for dozens of TV shows including Wycliffe and The Last Detective. Marc Platt (born 1953) - A BBC administrator, he wrote Ghost Light in 1989, and then a few plays, but is still best known for writing a number of Dr Who books and audio plays. Rona Munro (born 1959) - Award winning playwright, wrote the last story of the classic Dr Who run, Survival, and then became one of the most in-demand playwrights in Britain. Returned to Dr Who in 2017.