VSBfromH

I have to confess to thinking that Norman Collier's broken mic routine was side-splittingly funny at the time, but I was in my teens then. It was at least original (though someone's probably going to tell me he nicked it from some old Tommy Cockles-style music hall act), and so a breath of fresh air when set against the mother-in-law jokes, etc.. He let himself down with the chicken routine though. And maybe when one realised that those 2 things were all his act consisted of, it was time to seek out more sophisticated entertainment. Bernie Clifton anyone?

Charlie Williams Well known comedian from the 70s has died aged 78. He had Parkinson's and dementia, poor chap - did anybody have him in their DL radar? "the first black comedian to make the big time on British TV" "voted Doncaster Rovers' all-time cult hero by viewers of the BBC's Football Focus programme"

I've only heard of four - Rolf Harris, Laurence Llewyllen Bowen, Frank Lloyd Wright and Bryn Williams. Three of them as their Welsh link is slight, and Bryn Williams cos of F1, but he's a photographer. and I'm Welsh. I agree. Art isn't our thing. Stick to singing, rugby, sheep, getting drunk, coal mining & narrow-mindness. Rolf Harris Welsh? Well, I see his parents were from Merthyr Tydfil (something I confess I did not know), but I think there are a few subtle clues in his act to his actual place of upbringing! He now has dual British / Australian nationality, and of course has been awarded an OBE, MBE and CBE.

Quite true pulphack. The demise of Jade Goody's dad last year got quite a lot of press coverage, viz the drug abusing father of one such "celebrity" who has certainly outstayed her 15 minutes. I may even have been guilty of posting it on here - slapped wristies (well, maybe things were a bit quiet!).

... maybe we should consider Harrison Ford for 2007 then!

Joseph Stefano Wrote the screenplay for "Psycho". He was responsible for some major changes in the original (Robert Bloch) story line, without which the film would have been very different.

Heinrich Hollreiser Noted Austrian conductor died on July 24th aged 93

Jesus Christ! - not

Only this from her IMDB bio: "In 2006 (at age 84), Jane put together a musical show entitled "The Swinging Forties" that plays twice a month at the Radisson Hotel. The show features herself and about a dozen local Santa Maria residents, including a choir director, lay preacher and retired police officer. She formed the show out of boredom and because there was nothing much going on in town for the older folks to do." and: "Has macular degeneration and wears hearing aids in both ears." Not exactly life-threatening conditions!

Rossall / Russell, whatever... Sheila Russell is mentioned in this link. Also from way back (25 years ago). "Chevy, Dark Horse and Orphan are all playing at a benefit gig at the Birmingham Barrel Organ on June 13 for Sheila Russell, the former singer with Pickety Witch who is allergic to the 20th century and undergoing treatment in Texas. (Sounds, 13/06/81)" Also gets a mention here, though obviously this is not to be taken seriously! "The former lead singer with 70’s folk band Pickety Witch, Sheila Russell, famous for being allergic to modern day life and spending most of her life in a bubble was unavailable for comment. “She’s had a severe reaction to the telephone receiver,” said an intensive care nurse."

Cain killed Abel before Adam snuffed it. There's a few links online to that death. Here is one of them: Abel DEAD! That would make Abel the person who has been dead longer than anyone else. However, I contest that once Adam died, he would be classed as the "oldest dead person", i.e. the one who, if they were still alive, would be the oldest living person. Anyway, Abel's IMDB entry does not as yet have a date of death.

One link regarding Ms Capovilla's death described her as (having been) the "world's oldest living person", as if to distinguish her from the world's oldest dead person. Depending on your beliefs, that would be that Adam chappie, I presume. Does anyone have a link reporting his death?

Vladimir Tretchikoff The geezer who painted this: has died. It is believed to be the best-selling commercial print of all time. Yuk!

Jesse Pintado Ex-Napalm Death Guitarist (not in the original line-up)

Might change their area's name to 'Dong-lo County' after that deflating announcement... Which leads me onto this: Rest Home Hires Male Stripper for 102-Year-Old

Yes. After Hi-de-Hi his career went downhill rapidly. Just when it didn't seem possible. Mind you, I suppose that applies to virtually the whole cast. Where are they now? These last few posts got me looking at his IMDB entry - a strange mix of Perry / Croft vehicles and Shakespeare ("Henry V", "As You Like It" with Helen Mirren, and "Richard II" with Jacobi & Gielgud!) The juxtaposition of "As You Like It" and "Are You Being Served?" in the list tickles me for some perverse reason!

Just to elaborate: "worked with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Stephen Stills but is best known as The Knack's original drummer on "My Sharona" " I notice that the post mentions (in relation to lead singer Doug Fieger) that "On Aug. 3, Fieger underwent successful brain surgery... and he's now recovering at home". Not a good month for those Knack boys! I always recall Mark Lamarr's comment on "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" about the music press at the time saying something like "The Knack - are they the new Beatles?". "Is there a band around today called 'The Bootleg Knack'?"

Magic our Maurice! What does this Naughton guy know about what makes good or bad TV anyway? I'd much rather take my cue from someone who knows what they're talking about

Oh my God! What have I done! I'll have to put a stop to this thread once and for all before it gets out of control!!! There's only one thing for it. Here goes: TERRY AND JUNE

According to Wiki the story about her committing suicide is false. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Rayne Should we start a "Not Exactly Dead....." thread? Ronnie. I am glad to hear that she is still with us! You can always rely on Wikipedia! Would anyone like to have a wager on the name of her next film? Shouldn't be difficult, there's a short list of words to choose from based on her previous work, just choose 2 or 3, scramble them up and you've got a good chance!

Tiffany Rayne Can't say I've ever heard of this young lady, an actress who has apparently committed suicide at the tender age of 21. However, I am sure dedicatees of serious cinema amongst you may be familiar with her oeuvre. Maybe she was upset that she didn't get the part she'd auditioned for in the up and coming film of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey"

Wow, I 've opened a veritable can of worms here! Apparently the list has been compiled by RT writer and "TV expert" John Naughton rather than voted for.

The Radio Times has this week printed a list of the 50 worst British television shows. Reg and Co. don't even feature, though Love thy Neighbour stands proud at No.7! I suspect Robin Askwith in "Bottle Boys" has been extinguished from most people's memories, hence its non-appearance. And what about that cheeky chappie Mr. J Davidson? Anyway, here it is (queue the Fluff Freeman music): 1 Naked Jungle (2000) 2 Minipops (1983) 3 Triangle (1981-1983) 4 Quickfire Balls (2006) 5 Annie's Bar (1996) 6 Wright Here, Wright Now (2002) 7 Love Thy Neighbour (1972-1976) 8 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1984-1991) 9 Through The Keyhole (1983-) 10 A Year In Provence (1993) 11 Heil Honey I'm Home! (1990) 12 The Black and White Minstrel Show (1958-1978) 13 The Borgias (1981) 14 The Good Old Days (1953-1983) 15 Breakfast Time (1983-1989) 16 Thompson (1988) 17 OTT (1982) 18 George and Mildred (1976-1979) 19 Dream Team (1997-2006) 20 Ross Kemp: Alive In Alaska (1999) 21 Kirsty's Home Videos (2000-2004) 22 Clive Anderson All Talk (1996-1999) 23 Celeb (2002) 24 Diana: Her True Story (1993) 25 Eurovision Song Contest (1956-) 26 Celebrity Wrestling (2005) 27 Babes In The Wood (1998) 28 The Edinburgh Military Tattoo (1952-) 29 The Girlie Show (1996) 30 That's Life! (1973-1994) 31 Family Fortunes (1980-2002) 32 Littlejohn: Live and Unleashed (1998) 33 Lock, Stock... (2000) 34 French and Saunders (1987-2004) 35 Alastair Burnet's Royal Interviews (1980s) 36 Eldorado (1992-1993) 37 LA Pool Party (2001-2002) 38 Heartbeat (1992-now) 39 Going For Gold (1987-1996) 40 3-2-1 (1978-1987) 41 Origami (1968) 42 The Gaby Roslin Show (1996) 43 Clive James' Postcard from... (1990-1999) 44 Davina (2006) 45 Kilroy (1987-2004) 46 Wacaday (1985-1992) 47 Fort Boyard (1998-2002) 48 Popstars: The Rivals (2002) 49 Flog It! (2002-) 50 Crossroads

Nice (deliberate I'm sure) mistake here: "When asked how she manages to gain the attention of her victims such as famous film director and Sunday Times restaurant critic Michael Winner (aged 97)..." Good old Wiki!

I was driving round the internet in my virtual red London Bus, and found this: Hop on the Bus Quote: "On the Buses is British comedy at its best delivering laughter from beginning to end!" That'll go like hotcakes, I'm sure!