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.

I am your host, @Evil Grimace. As per protocol, I will not enter a team. I'm looking forward to running the 2024 game and welcome entries of the creator, former game runners, and past champs and players. I am using @paddyfool's rules verbatim as I've used them before, they work well and I know the system. Please submit a list of names from this year's deathlist to predict who on the list is actually going to die this year. Points will be allocated as follows: +1 per death correctly predicted -1 per death incorrectly predicted +4 if the number of deaths you predict matches the actual number of deaths, i.e. the number of names in your list matches the actual number of deaths +2 if you only miss the correct total number of deaths by 1 -2 if you miss the total number of deaths by more than 5 +1 bonus for a "unique" correct prediction (predicted by no other punter here) +1 bonus if you pick the bookie's favourite (single most popular guess in this contest) and they are a hit. -1 penalty if you pick the bookie's favourite and they are a miss. A further +1 bonus for every 3rd correctly predicted death (+1 on 3rd, 6th, 9th etc) You may if you wish select one entry as a joker. We are changing the rules for the Joker this year: you get an additional +2 if correct, and an additional -2 if incorrect; no more multiplication. In the event of a tie on points, the dead-lock (see what I did there) will be broken by the following: 1) Whichever team had the most hits 2) If unbroken by 1, whichever team was closest in their guess of predicted deaths for the year 3) If unbroken by 1 and 2, whichever team was submitted first. Entries in by January 10th on/before 23:59, please, either by pm or by posting here. Any deaths before then will still score for any lists entered at least 24 hours before the death and will still count towards the total deaths for the year. Regarding entries, if you give them to me in the order they are given on the main page, eg 1. Dick van Dyke (Joker), 4. Alan Greenspan, etc. it greatly helps with selection entry. And please mark your joker clearly too! Good luck.

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.

If she keeps this course of action going, she will end up 'The Body'.

The Economist did provide a QO for the 2023 DDP for a Nobel laureate. It was @gcreptile at the time who suggested the Financial Times would also provide one, which it eventually did. However the Economist was first and was the QO used by the DDP. Was this the first (and only?) use of the Economist for a QO?

The creation of the Kathleen Turner thread by @The Daredevil reminded me of this created thread. Beatty has had legal fights over the ownership of Dick Tracy from his 1990 film. On 10 Feb 2023 to ensure his continued use of the character and to retain the rights, this special aired. Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms In 'I'm not watching that' summary – Warren Beatty looks fine and engages in a lot of conversation with himself. It is far too meta for my liking with Beatty talking to Dick Tracy (Beatty in character). Most noteworthy aspect – Leonard Maltin walks with a cane now. Only watch if you have 30 minutes you don’t want to spend on something worthwhile.

@time The maths nerd part of me really wants to see this. Could you please share this?

Of course! BBC supplies what was expected. The Notebook actress Gena Rowlands dies at 94

Upgraded to interim leader. Nobel Peace Prize winner to lead Bangladesh interim government

I completely understand. There is certainly a range where a pick that isn't a unique, but with a low number of picks has value to move you significantly more than you'd expect in the rankings, despite being a lower scoring hit. As a rough estimate it is from 3 - 30 picks, just at the low end of the D40. This year, a hit of Doherty (157 picks, 12 points) only moved me up the ranks by 3 places, but Newhart (31 picks, 8 points) was a change of rank +14!

@Octopus of Odstock - the factor I'd considered to have the most weight was the jokers yet to be cashed in.... it is wide open as there are still 157 days left. Jokers awarded – many Jonnie Irwin and Rob Burrow; one Derek Draper, one Becky Barr, one Shannen Doherty None of the top three have Theo Burrell. Jokers Outstanding Rank runner (current points) – joker (points) =8 Going Underground (101) – Craig Maxwell (20) 15 2025? No thank you! (97) – Theo Burrell (26) 18 I will not die… (95) - Theo Burrell (26) =23 Droller Coaster (88) – Jimmy Carter (16)* =23 The Love Boat (88) – Steve McMichael (22) =23 Tombstone Ticklers (88) - Jimmy Carter (16)* *caveat - falls to 14 if he makes 100 (insert joke) Regarding low point D40 potentials. A low score D40 (Carter, Chomsky) hit gives 8 points. And another hit aged 30-69 and that’s another 10 to 8 points, so 16 to 18 points. I’ll blame your handwriting for this one. I thought it odd that he wouldn’t be picked by the top 25 runners. Chomsky (4 picks) 4th place It’s a Grim World After All (105), =20th place Day in the Death (91), 22th Carkers Convention 2024 (89), =23rd The Love Boat (88)

Around the time in February when the death hoax happened, followed by an update on this health (two months in hospital, home with round the clock care), a new X/Twitter account (https://x.com/irving_books) was created in early February. For those of you who don't want to click the link, here's a summary of relevant posts from the past 6 months. 6 Feb - post stating the two months in hospital and care 7 Feb - video, clearly pre-health issues, but compared to later posts, shows weight loss has occurred 21 Feb - post discrediting death rumours 25 Feb - post with photo that's stated to be from April 2023; visible decline from 7 Feb video 2 March - video where he is seated, speaks and thanks people for well wishes and support; voice is weak 14 March - video where he's standing and signing a book; hand is steady while writing, if slow and deliberate 12 July - photo - seated and signing book; arm looks visibly thin in short sleeves (other pictures or videos have long sleeves), but hard to compare 13 July - post saying 'praying for President Trump' -- He's clearly declined, but the information above gives no clue on what happened or what care he needs. This new account will make it easy to keep updated on him however.