IKYWN

I hear Gazza, or G8 as I think he like to be known these days, has been admitted to hospital tonight with a collapsed lung and something else life-threatening. Is this the first celebrity to be knocked out in 2005, or will he make extra time?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_y...ire/5365676.stm Top Gear presenter hurt in crash Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car while filming for the programme. The presenter, 36, was taken by air ambulance to a Leeds hospital which has a special neurological unit. A North Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman said he was unconscious when they got to the scene but was regaining consciousness at the hospital. A BBC spokesman confirmed the presenter had been injured during a shoot. Now if he hangs on a couple of months he could be a good bet for 2007

Ex - East 17 singer Brain Harvey is in a bad way Singer Brian Harvey is in a critical condition in an east London hospital after he fell under the wheels of his own car, police have said. That excuse is going to cause some merriment at the Pearly Gates if he pops off pver this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4597607.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4643815.stm Another of the Four Tops has curled his toes up. The two remaining members must be known as the Two Tops now surely.

This one seems to have slipped through the net from Wednesday Wombles animator Ivor Wood dies Acclaimed British animator Ivor Wood has died at the age of 72. Wood, a stop-motion expert, was instrumental in developing some of the most popular children's shows on TV, including Postman Pat and The Wombles. Born to a French mother, he learnt his craft working on The Magic Roundabout with series creator Serge Danot. He is probably best remembered for his work on the animated series Paddington with author Michael Bond. He is survived by his wife, Josiane, and son.

Why this one slipped through the net amazes me. He used to live up the road and my sister was mates with one of his daughters at school. Ed Bishop Ed Bishop, who died on Wednesday aged 72, was one of some 300 North American actors whose careers are spent in London. In the course of almost 50 years he appeared on television and radio, as well as in films. If he never achieved star status, his pleasing stage presence and distinctive tones, slightly tuned for British ears, meant that he was often the first man to whom directors turned whenever an American was needed. At the same time he was in demand for TV commercials; and it was no disadvantage that his voice bore a resemblance to that of President John Kennedy. Ironically, although no great enthusiast of science fiction, Bishop was much sought after for sf films. He played Commander Ed Straker in the 26 episodes of Gerry Anderson's series UFO, for which he was made to dye his dark hair blond. He provided the voice of Captain Blue in the puppet series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and also appeared in the films Battle Beneath the Earth, Doppelganger, Saturn 3 and Stanley Kubrick's 2001 - though in the latter most of his performance as a Pan Am shuttle pilot was cut. The son of a Manhattan banker, he was born George Victor Bishop in Brooklyn, New York, on June 11 1932. He went to Peekskill High School, before studying briefly at teachers' training college then joining the United States Army, which sent him to St John's, Newfoundland; there he became disc jockey with Station VOUS and gained his first acting experience with the St John's Players. After being discharged, young George enrolled at Boston University to study Business Administration, then switched, despite strong protests by his parents, to a drama course at Boston University. This led to a Fulbright grant to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where he adopted the first name Ed, to distinguish himself from an established actor. He expected to return to America in a few months, but after meeting film actors in Soho, he decided to stay: "I was here in London for the duration." Bishop's first professional appearance was in Granada Television's Edge of Truth. He played a sailor in Look Homeward, Angel at the Pembroke Theatre, Croydon, before joining the West End production of Bye, Bye Birdie. Stanley Kubrick then cast him as an ambulance driver in Lolita. After marrying his second wife Hilary Preen, whom he had met in Trafalgar Square, Bishop made his debut on Broadway, as an Englishman in David Merrick's production of The Rehearsal with Coral Browne. He then returned to London, where he attracted considerable attention as John Kennedy in Joan Littlewood's stage production of MacBird. On film, he played Colonel Vogt in The War Lover with Steve McQueen (1962); appeared with Robert Mitchum and Trevor Howard in Man in the Middle (1964); and had parts in the Bond features Diamonds are Forever and You Only Live Twice. In addition, there was regular television work in such series as The Saint and The Baron. In the early 1970s he went to Hollywood, where he appeared in the animated series Star Trek and starred in Pets (1974). But he now felt "something of a Brit". In addition to film roles in Britain, he appeared in the TV series Dick Turpin, Colditz and Whoops Apocalypse and gave a notable radio portrayal of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, outshining many big screen stars. A non-smoking, non-drinking supporter of CND and the Green Party, Ed Bishop is survived by his third wife Jane Skinner, whom he met while dressed up as General Pinochet in a demonstration against the arms trade, and by three daughters; a son died in a car crash.

Just breaking, Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer has died. I know they had a bad season but...

Is he the reason the site was exceeding bandwidth earlier? I has no idea he was so popular. Still, my 4th hit of the year

Lewis Collins, having survived a number of bad fashion choices over the years, had finally succumbed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25135934

Was it Sabotage, or has his right to party been withdrawn?

Jovial Irish comedian Frank Carson has told his last joke http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046201

I don't think he was dead at the time, but he probably is now. There used to be a retired copper living opposite me. He was the guy who found Lucan's car in Newhaven. A few years ago he was interviewed on a documentary. He dies a couple of years back, so I suppose he was a very minor celebrity himself

Maggie Thatcher impersonator Janet Brown has departed this earth http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13574208

I get the feeling Seve will departing before too long http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/13311206.stm

Snooker commentator Ted Lowe has cleared the table http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/snooker/13253010.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13193968

BBC is now repoprting it http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13137674

Nat Lofthouse, Bolton Wanderers captain in the 1953 FA Cup Final, the "Matthews Final", has taken the final whistle http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12201099

This is a pretty major one, that appears to have slipped under the radar. Did anyone have her on their list?

Macclesfield Town footballer Richard Butcher has scored his last goal http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...own/9355603.stm

Patty Andrews, the last surviving member of the Andrews sisters. She'll be 94 in 2012

It seems ot be a pretty fruitful time for a certain Mr G Reaper today Jazz composer Billy Taylor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12091655 Some skinny model http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12091475 Some bloke who wrote about art. Pretty minor I do admit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12088898 And finally, the guy from Boney M. This is rather a big one, has it been reported elsewhere? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12094005

That'll teach her to wombling in the snow

Veteren BBC new correspondent Brian Hanrahan has shuffled off. Hope no-one paid the ridiculous stamp prices and sent him a Christmas card http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12037973

TMZ just reported his dead Surely you can't be serious? The BBC have him at 84 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11860014