Evil Grimace

Lifetime achievement award on the cover of ‘Gramophone Awards 2024’ with a four page article covering his career. I found a copy of the magazine. No useful information. States his diagnosis in July 2021 and how he’s here three years later ‘in defiance of medical expectations’. It mentions his January 2024 San Francisco dates and at the time the article was written, his expected September New York opening season concerts. He did make this engagement (New York Classical Review) and gave this picture. The bloated abdomen suggests ascites, fluid build up, which can be caused by cancer or heart failure (unlikely as he’s well spoken with no shortness of breath in the quoted link, but can’t see his torso). He’s had this bigger frame since at least his San Francisco dates in January. Only other worthy information was his 'bout of confusion' during the May 2024 performance with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. He was in Houston in November and he has 2025 dates planned – Los Angeles in February and Miami in March.

A picture from a Facebook group post dated 24 November 2024, stating the picture below is from 'November 2024'.

I think it was @Commtech Sio Bibble comments that first made me wonder if something was up after Glover's absence at the March 2024 Comic Con. Given he was sighted a month ago (and the search function worked!), maybe it was nothing (thanks @Octopus of Odstock). The search function didn't turn this up and in my thoughts that something was amiss, I did find this from July 2020: Star Wars actor sells props after lockdown 'sort out

Did the previous post inspire you and you wish to do your own form spotting? The Winter London Comic Con is 16-17 November 2024 at London Olympia is your chance. https://londoncomicconwinter.com/guests/film-tv-guests/ An incomplete listing with lots of cross genres/shows/movies: Nu Who - Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Alexander Devrient Classic Who - Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, Julian Glover (more on this later) Red Dwarf - Chris Barrie Star Wars - Glover, many character and background actors, about 1/4 of the listed appearances Harry Potter - David Bradley, Glove Coronation Street - Tim Healy Good Omens - Michael Sheen Ted Lasso - Devrient, Celina Nessa V The Series - Frank Ashmore (solid '80s throwback) Richard Dreyfuss (77) in attendance throughout the event.

While checking my notes in preparation for 2025, I realized I hadn't posted this write up with photos from the Spring (March 2024) London Comic Con. -- It has been a while since I had the chance to do some field work. A collector who deals in comics I’ve worked with was attending the event, so I took the opportunity to see him in person. I attended this event on the Sunday (March 3rd) and can give these updates. Billie Piper – was present on Saturday, didn't see her as she was doing photo ops and signing Julian Glover – did not attend on Saturday, photo session cancelled Sheila Reid - did not attend on Saturday, photo session cancelled; she played Etta in ‘Vengeance on Varos’ Slyvester McCoy – on site on Sunday, didn’t see him Colin Baker – was at the meet & greet table, animated and engaging with the long line of fans; he’s a big man with thinning white hair and his voice carried in the hall Julian Bleach – did not realize the older man was him, as he is now 60! Long line of avid fans waited to see him Frasier Hines – for someone who turned 80 in September, he looked good. Was outgoing and lively with the enthusiastic fans that made the longest line in the hall to meet any of the actors and even after a while, there were always people lined to speak with him; a bit tricky to grab a snap of as his minders were on the look out for anyone taking pictures, hence the odd angle. And saving the best of last! Bonnie Langford – came up to her table with fists pumping in the air to a line of fans maybe a fifth of that for Hines, and her entrance was interrupted by a conga line of visitors in their costumes! And she’s clad in p/leather. Don’t worry I’ve got a pic for you @YoungWillz, as her minders didn’t care.

A quick check of the numbers backs this up. At the time of the quote, the number of hits was 275. The current record is from 2023 with 312 hits. 2024 is already on the podium in third for number of hits at 279 on day 312 (nice coincidence) of 366. Recall that two DDP years used are leap years (2024 and 2020). 2024 will certainly pass second ranked 2022 with 280 hits. Table of yearly hits organized by decending total; only years with 200+ hits given. The daily hit rate in 2024 is above the rate of 2023. 2023 was high above the average daily hit rate of the previous three years (~0.76 hits/day). With 54 days remaining and the estimated daily hit rate of 2024, it gives a new total of 327. If a lower hit rate from 2020-2022 is used, it is still a record at 320. Seems certain to be a record setting year.

20th January 2025, her 64th birthday. She needs to make next year's DDP and provide a birthday bonus.

A summary of the recent questions over his health and plans for the 2025 election. I have amended the article headline accordingly. The 91-year-old African president who keeps defying obituary-writers (and drol!).

In the top 20, @gcreptile you are the only one with both of them. Many Carter picks, but again nullified by frequency and the -1 point for age 100. Jokers are the biggest issue still. And taking the comments above into account, these are threats to the crowded top 5 - a narrow spread to 111 to 114 pts! And this is a quick glance, so any omissions are my own fault. Legend: rank/pts name - picks =7/104 I Will not die… - Burrell (26 pts) joker = 10/101 Going Underground – Burrell and Godley, Maxwell joker (20 pts) =18/97 2025? No thank you – Carter, Burrell (26 pts) joker =18/97 Love Boat – Carter and Chomsky 3 of the top five have Burrell (13 pts); two past champs (Banana, OoO) don’t. With 4 previous winners in top 20, and 3 in top 5, the next 91 days as @Thatcher said is 'all to play for'!

In early April I first noticed that John Njue has been assigned a birthday of 1 January 1946. The assigned birthday does slightly alter the possible dates for a 2025 consistory. --- It is one year since Francis’ last consistory. At that time, he created 21 new cardinals, 18 young enough to be electors. The total number of cardinal electors was then 137, a record. As there have been no deaths of cardinals under the age of 80 to date, the drop to 120 is still on course for 24 December 2024 when Cardinal Oswald Gracias turns 80. With the note about regarding John Njue, the number of electors will fall to 119 on 22 January 2025. The next elector to be 80 occurs on 1 March. Easter Sunday is 20 April, making Ash Wednesday on 5 March. Over Lent, a further two electors turn 80, bringing the count to 116. And no consistories happen during the Lenten period. Francis has held a consistory annually, barring 2021 and now 2024. The first two consistories Francis held were in February 2014 and February 2015, so before Lent is possible. Based on precedent, at minimum, Francis has given ~1 month notice that a consistory will be held. For these larger ‘super’ ones (2022, 2023), there has been 3 months’ notice. After Easter 2025 the most likely month is June, again a month where consistories have been held (2017, 2018). This would also have the number down to 114 by 15 June. Although 5 of the 9 consistories have been held in the second half of the year, the other 4 mentioned make it likely another will be held in February 2025, as five will have turned 80 by mid-June. Francis has held them as soon as the 119 number is hit (2023, 2020) or at 118 (2019). 2025 sees a total of 13 cardinals turn 80, and there are three (one being Njue) in January 2026 (see table hidden). Also note that there is a large gap from 18 July 2026 to 16 January 2027 where no current cardinal turns 80. Based on the potential size of the consistory we could get notice in late 2024, a potential gauge on how his health is. Recall that JPII held his ‘super’ ones in the failing health years of 2001 and 2003.

Another form spotting opportunity on 3 November 2024: London Film Fair Doctor Who: Garrick Hagon, David Sibley, Simon Williams Star Wars: Garrick Hagon, Mike Randall Blake's 7: Sidney Keane, Carol Royle, Sabina Franklin, David Sibley Plus movie franchises 'Indiana Jones' and 'James Bond'. Most of the names listed above and on the site would fit in the Corrie and Character Actors threads too.

The original Instagram post is dated 19 June 2022. It has comments from the poster pinned on the same date (117 weeks ago). While there are very recent posts (11 hours, a day ago), they are clearly posting on old news. The post below from @Captain Hemlock made in August for comparison to show the decline.

And yet is still giving many formspotting opportunities! Did not realize he's 81 as of two weeks ago. Commentary on the Tory leadership race and the political nature of 'Doctor Who' from a recent BFI screening of 'The Happiness Patrol'. Will be a guest at Collectormania Milton Keynes 6-7 September. @YoungWillz you'll be pleased to know that Bonnie Langford is there too.

Robert Sidaway (wiki) got a full obit from the Geletraph. Died on 16 August 2024. In 'Doctor Who' serials 'The Savages' and 'The Invasion' as Captain Jimmy Turner. Well aware this could have been in the 'British Character Actors' thread or as a follow up in the 'Hospitalized' thread too.

And he's immortalized as the evil wizard Wernda in the first game. Fond and frustrating memories of playing this series. I had pages and pages of square ruled paper for mapping out the dungeons. A true dungeon crawler where you had to roll your character. Spells that gave you no clue what effect they'd do. Enemies with attacks that had no effect or caused no damage, but would call for help until you buckled under sheer numbers (Creeping Coins). Chests with traps that even the best Thief or Ninja would be killed due to triggering a trap on attempted inspection or misidentification. Teleporting into solid rock due to misreading coordinates. Endless grinding for levels against Murphy's Ghost. Random treasures and trophies needed to pass checkpoints. The horror of realization your party was too weak to make it back to town and died one by one on the attempted return journey - and you could visit their grave on the next trek down to the unknown. Finally made it to Wernda? The chances an instant death spell or attack would work and take out at least one of the six of your party was assured. Classic games on the PC.