Grim Reaper

Damnit - First woman to swim English Channel Gertrude Ederle died today aged 97 - just a month after being suggested by Little Sister for 2004. Nice work Little Sis - on that form it seems like we need to take serious account of your other suggestions.

I thought Id posted some comments on Ustinov before but I must have dreamed it. Several years ago Ustinov did a on location documentary on the making of the Pirelli calendar. Frankly there was a lot of smart money at the time on Usti keeling over right there and then with the excitement of it all. I agree he looks like a candidate for a higher position next year.

Outside bet?! Thats over the hill and far away outside betting! That ticker scare was probably just a bit of spin Now if you had said Lionel Blair... we'd soon find out that hes only 71 and apparently healthly so doesnt seem like a good prospect either.

Im sure I heard Pammie chatting about her illness a while ago and it seemed like she seemed to reckon shed got a few years left In fact after a bit of searching (not many pages about pamela anderson on the net!) shes recently said shes got a 10 years maybe 15 left. File under "long term prospect"

Not much info around about Emlyn since his operation in Sept and subsequent radiotherapy Maybe he'll opt for the Barry Sheen approach of a homeopathic cure for cancer

No confidence in this one Pixie - or in your spelling - isnt it Phil Spector? - or am i missing a joke there? Anyway he might be going down but he isnt going down as far as six feet

Well Howdy Parten-ers A nicely argued case by Birdie there but I have to agree with Mr Stats again that theres wishful thinking there. Birdie will however be pleased to see Phil happily nominated on the 1000 people more annoying that Mick Hucknall site - some good discussion there too http://www.dogbomb.co.uk/board/showthread.php?threadid=4636

I really like the MJ suggestion and I agree with Mr Stats - its nice to try to go for one possible long shot - although Im not sure it counts if he "melts" Definitely one to be carefully condsidered.

I have to agree Catherine - Theres gonna be no obits for her. A bit more info here however... http://www.nbtv.wyenet.co.uk/live.htm and here... http://www.tvdawn.com/Disc98_2.HTM

There seems to be some doubts over Mugabe's possible illness. His press officers seem to be strongly denying it however they apparently said his vice president was "well and on his way to recovery" shortly before his death last month. Good to hear that the Daily Mail has devoted space in its sports section to the story - perhaps Mugabe is going to be dropped from the squad for the next Zimbabwe test match

Betty Bolton - one of the first people to appear on TV so I have just found out. Her most recent movie on IMDB is listed as 1934 - impressive! She does still appear to be alive but will we be seeing those obituaries when she goes?

Good information on Britains friendliest sky-watching rascist Arnold Not much information on around on him at the moment but Moore hasnt appeared on the list since 1995 so its about time he returned.

An interesting suggestion indeed. There are reports that he suffered "a hypertensive crisis" in Jan 2003. The Guardian later that month descirbes him in "frail health": http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/st...,881884,00.html More promising is an extract from one of his quotations: "I am of course confident that I will fulfil my tasks as a writer in all circumstances—from my grave even more successfully and more irrefutably than in my lifetime." Very promising Death in Pixie Boots

Despite my ignorance a bit of preliminary research seems to indicate that Stanley Kunitz is famous enough to get an obituary in the UK press so is definitely worthy of consideration for 2004. Frankly any 99 years olds passing the famousness test are likely to sleect themselves! Nice suggestion Little Sister - Thanks

Well Catherine - I believe that the sort of people you mention are in fact eligible. They are clearly famous in their own right for, say, surviving the Titanic sinking and therefore are not famous just for the fact they are likely to die. I suppose being the oldest surviving Titantic survivor is a bit of a grey area but I for one would be happy to accept that as being in the spirit of DeathList. Millvina Dean is thus worthy of consideration. Also Gloria Stuart sounds promising. I will get the researchers to work.

Interesting thinking but Robbie Coltrane really has to be a long shot - hes only 53 and no reports of actual ill health that I am aware of. The following link: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scottishhealth...y/sh802-27.html suggests Coltrane's health profile isnt that out of the ordinary. Any other thoughts?

Catherine One of the rules of DeathList eligibility is that the nominee must be famous for reasons other than the fact they are likely to die. Kamato Hongo is clearly only know for the fact that she is likely to die soon. The question of including the worlds oldest person has been raised before but it was decided that it wasnt in the spirit of DeathList - great info though - thanx! Anita Page and Maureen O'Hara are clearly worthly of consideration though. Bin Laden was included in 2002 on the basis that confirmation of his death would be the relevant date of death. I think Saddam is a similar situation - however when we were chatting down the pub the other day he said he thought he was unlikely to be tracked down in the near future. Regards Grim Reaper

Yes - you get a point for introducing Crispy but a point off for disrespect to Grim Reaper Of course its a profile - but just change the title and it seems to me you have a pretty adequate obituary!

Good update Crispy - It does however not appear too serious at this stage. I note that the BBC has however taken the liberty of giving an early airing to his obituary: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3209892.stm Is this standard practice or do they know more than we do??

Arnold - Is, by any chance, one of your many pseudonyms Obnob?

Of course I took the liberty of adding Mr Stats' avatar for him - indeed it is pixelated but you cant have everything. I will have to discuss the % Cap with Mr Stats - maybe he'll want to add them to DL merchandise store. DeathList mugs should, of course, be used with care. DeathList coasters have recently been trialled and came out quite well. They may well still though cause offence to those with recently departed spouses!

Well its all very well saying you have a site listing 1000 people more annoying than Mick Hucknall but I have to disagree with most of their entries. I was at least however relieved to see that they didnt overlook Graham Norton and "H from Steps" - Phew!

Blakey is defintely worth consideration - nice suggestion Arnold

This guy's age really seems to vary http://www.meta-religion.com/World_Religio...mahesh_yogi.htm This site suggests he is 92 this year - but then again he has that Transcendental thing going for him - perhaps the Pope could learn a thing or two! Still - worthy of consideration for 2004

Well Mr Stats Im glad you're confident - I trust you will be able to gain the support of the rest of the committee when the time comes.