Grim Reaper

I know what u mean DWB Im sure I heard recently about some damage to the Great Wall of China

Well it a good point you make Mr Stats - I’m glad to see however that you continue to churn out the stats - as worrying as they may be! Do u think there may have been media suppression of deaths just to spite us?? In fact my plan is to build such anticipation that when we have a success it will be all the more welcomely received - that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Good point Jim

Welcome LuLa There was some discussion about Besty for the 2004 list but we thought hed get back on track. Looks like we might have been wrong. Redonating his liver is a nice thought but Im not sure Id volunteer to take it on after this amount of time.

Well Zarch i think you have to put faith in the list Of course The Pope is not in the number one slot for fun However if you need a unique pick Fay Wray wont be selected by many people - 97 years old and been manhandled by a big monkey- she cant have long to go. Finally dont overlook Ronnie Biggs - he's surely got to appear on that departures board soon - in and out a hospital a few times already this year.

After further review it does seem that he got fairly high profle obituaries in Guardian, Times etc and is well covered on BBC website so perhpas should have been considered as famous enough to appear on the list. However, the only question being discussed was whether he was a missed death prediction...and not whether he was a top comedian or not. So "Disgusteds" I think you got the wrong end of the stick. I was going to add "Im sure he never heard of me and look how funny I am" but luckily I decided against it

Thanx for that little sister A bit more reserach on this story shows that it was John Lennon who alledged that Spector pulled a gun on Stevie - and frankly he should know about guns being pointed at him - although I suppose he only learnt about that later in life! Spector has been described as a heavy drinker, recluse and gun enthusiast so clearly pulling a gun on somebody would have been completely out of character

I particularly like the use of the large font to emphasize the point!

Maybe Stevie's just a trusting guy - If somebody says theyve got a gun on him he believes them. This could explain how Paul McCartney talked Stevie into that duet a few years ago...

Well Martyminx I can assure you that Liz Taylor is definitely still alive although has been pretty low proifle recently. I dont even think she is ill. She is only 72 next month so might have a few more husbands in her yet! I would leave her off your list this year.

Nice try Stats - but Im afraid Cowboy Ronnie remains the king of the harsh postings!

Not to question your information DWB - but how did Stevie Wonder know that Phil Spector pulled a gun on him???

Scottish comedian and actor...apparently I, for one, would have had have him failing the famousness test so I dont count that a missed opportunity.

Well he certainly appears rather "al" but I wasnt aware that he was "ill" too. I guess he may be famous enough just for being the Emir of Kuwait - I guess we have most of the year to deliberate on that one.

Thanx for that Mr anonymous Guest. It was good information from Arnold as ever and truly in the spirit of DeathList. However Guest you'll be pleased to note that Mr O'Sullivan didnt make it to this year's list so we're actually hoping for him to survive the year. You on the other hand is a different matter...

A guy at work met him in a pub in Northern Ireland about 18 months ago and he was in a really bad way - but after that he tried to qualify for the World Snooker champs although ultimately withdrew so Im not sure of his condition now. I think hes probably less of a hurricane these days and more of a draft. If we get him next year how about "Gone with the Wind" (though its been used before - 2003 Warren Zevon) ?? What paper are you reading by the way Stayin??

Well as we all know Im counting on Patrick to see the year out - still I will miss his Xylophone!

Interesting story indeed. I guess he's probably not much fun to have around the house while she's trying to cook the dinner and he's whining on about the ever-expanding universe or whatever he does

Thanx Death Watch - I didnt realise Johnny Walker was in such a bad way. He brings back pleasant memories of Ray Moore - one of the few successes on the 1989 list.

OK Mr Stats - keep your hair on I dont think I made the case very well - clearly there's a debate to be had over a beer sometime. I remain convinced there's a way to make DeathList a little more interactive throughout the long death year - maybe it could be in the form of a single monthly nomination from each forum member for a celeb on the list who's going to expire in the next month. I'll give it some more thought...

Well Matt maybe youre right - but as we didnt choose Huntely for this year's list maybe its a good thing. It might be a year or so before the prison guards turn a blind eye to a group of convicts wandering Huntley's way with a couple of broom handles!

OK then - let me just recount those votes...looks like the proposed rule change is overwhelmingly defeated. I guess the idea was just a little too progressive. The rules stand as they are now then.

This fact was reported on this forum a few days ago. As nice as it would have been to pick him we dont think he would have met the famousness criteria in the UK. Cheers

Youre right - Simon Weisenthal appears to have a glitch re 1999 - Ill get our technical team onto it right away!

I agree with your sentiment Stayin but im not too sure of the form extra interactivity for the site should take - I have however had one idea and will post another message and set up a Poll.