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This is like losing one of the family. I'm on record as saying that Cribbins' death is the one that would come closest to breaking my heart, and so it has. I can't think of anyone who's had a broader range of work, for so long. Everyone has seen him or heard him in something. He could do it all, and did.

The medical procedure referred to in the report was liposuction and breast implant removal, according to this update, the cause of death apparently being a collapsed lung caused by said implant removal.

Dow but not out.

Twenty-four years since the death of Seán Ó hEinirí (John Henry), Irish folklorist, aged 83. He's generally accepted to have been the last Irish monolinguist.

Picked (by me) for the Scavenger Hunt, to throw more permutations at the winning line.

No-one mentioning this role, I notice...

Sixteen years since the death of Carl Brashear, aged 75. After enlisting four months before the Navy was de-segregated, he was the first African-American to graduate (in 1954) from the US Navy Diving & Salvage School, encountering racism while there. In 1966 he was assigned to search for, and salvage, a nuclear warhead which had been lost at sea (The Palomares Incident) off Spain. After two-and-a-half months the warhead was located, but during the retrieval, a towline broke, catapulting a pipe into Brashear's leg, almost severing the limb below the knee. This lead to the amputation of the lower part his left leg. Despite this, he returned to active duty - the first amputee to be recertified for active diving operations by the US Navy. In 1970 he achieved the position of Master Diver, the highest position for an enlisted man. He retired from the Navy in 1979 with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer and served as a government official at the Norfolk Naval Base until 1993. His story is told in the 2000 film Men of Honor, where he is played by Cuba Gooding Jr.

It will probably mean nothing to the vast majority and its journals, rather than journalists... Saturday Evening Sports results papers, 1882-2022, RIP (Pink 'un, green 'un etc).

Wrightbus founder Sir William Wright has reached the end of the road at 94.

Twenty-seven years since the death of singer/songwriter Jerry Lordan, from acute renal failure, aged 61. A self-taught guitarist and pianist, after completing his National Service, he had a number of jobs, while also writing songs; one song, I've Waited So Long, recorded by Anthony Newley, reached number 3 in the UK. He signed to Parlophone as a singer and achieved 3 UK top 40 singles in 1960, the most successful being Who Could Be Bluer, reaching number 16. His real success was as a writer; initially with the instrumental Apache. First recorded by Bert Weedon, its said that Lordan didn't like it but played it on Ukelele to the Shadows while on tour; they liked the sound of it an recorded it, reaching number 1 in the UK, and charting in many other European markets. Dozens of artists have since covered or sampled it, or versions of it. Further success followed with more Shadows tunes, including Wonderful Land, as well as others such as Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, Cliff Richard and Shane (Alvin Stardust) Fenton. He also had a brief foray into acting, appearing three times in neighbour George Harrison Marks' movies.

Its 24 years since screenwriter John Hopkins (aka John R Hopkins) died aged 67. His various credits include Mrs Dale's Diary, Margery Allingham's Campion (staring Bernard Horsfall) and Z Cars, where he was script editor for over 2 years and wrote over 50 episodes (including that one starring Judi Dench as a juvenile delinquent). The Dench story inspired what became his best regarded work, Talking to a Stranger, again starring Dench. With films his break came with the Michael Crawford feature, Two Left Feet and he received co-writer credits for Thunderball and The Virgin Soldiers. His stage work includes This Story of Yours, which received poor reviews but was picked up by Sean Connery who produced and starred in the film version, The Offence, directed by Sidney Lumet. He died at home in Woodland Hills, California, when he slipped, hit his head and fell, unconscious, into his swimming pool, and drowned.

Its 34 years since the death of actor Patrick Newell. Recognisable for his large size, he was often cast as an inept villain or comic foil. He claimed to have gained weight to ensure he continued to be cast in niche roles. He's probably best remembered as the wheelchair-using spymaster "Mother" in The Avengers, often seen to be briefing Steed from the unlikeliest of locations. He'd made two previous appearances so its possible his large size did indeed have the desired effect. Another major role was in the "gluttony" segment of the film The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (where he played the doctor rather than the glutton). He also appeared in programmes as diverse as The Benny Hill Show (playing a bunny girl) and Doctor Who (in The Android Invasion, playing Colonel Faraday, as Nicholas Courtenay was unavailable to play the Brigadier). Despite losing weight he died of a heart attack aged 56.

Twitter offering a solution to the leadership race.

Dual (1965, 70) Irish Flat Champion jockey George McGrath dies aged 79. Also won four Irish Classics.

Alan Grant, comic book writer, 2000AD, DC Comics, et al has died according to his wife on social media, aged 73, after a long illness.

Five years ago Deborah Watling died, aged 69. Best known for her role as Victoria, companion to Patrick Troughton's second Doctor, she also had regular roles in The Newcomers (1969) and Danger UXB (1979) and numerous other credits in both film and TV.

You scratch my back, etc.

Rebecca Balding, US actress known for her recurring role as Carol David in 1970s sitcom Soap, has died aged 73. Numerous other roles in both comedy and drama. ETA cause of death reported to be ovarian cancer.

British born writer Nicolas Freeling died 19 years ago aged 76. Freeling (born Davidson) travelled extensively, and was working as a chef in an Amsterdam restaurant when he was detained for taking home some food/suspicion of being involved in underground gangs and spent three weeks on remand. During this time, inspired by the worldly detective who'd interviewed him, he began writing a story of a similar worldly detective; on his release, he and his wife were deported and once settled in London, he finished his debut novel, featuring the Dutch detective Piet Van Der Valk. After killing off the titular hero, he wrote offshoot "The Widow", featuring Arlette Van der Valk, and a replacement detective series set in Strasbourg, featuring Henri Castang. Non-fictions works included cook books, and a couple of semi-autobiographical books The Kitchen Book & The Village Book.

Bruce Parker, presenter of regional news programme South Today for 35 years, but known to the rest of the world as the inaugural presenter of Antiques Roadshow, is 81 today.

Its 25 years since the death of writer & musician Frank Farrell, at the age of 50, most likely as a result of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Best known for being Bass player in Supertramp, Farrell had previously played with Birmingham band Breakthru, and subsequently with Fields & Renaissance. In between he was head roadie for Johnny Johnson & the Bandwagon and the first musical director of The Rocky Horror Show (he left after a disagreement with Richard O'Brien). During his Renaissance years, he also played bass for, and wrote songs with, Leo Sayer including the international hit Moonlighting.

Cindy Heenan, widow of Bobby "The Brain" has died, 74. no cause announced.

Currently trending on twitter..

My watch is claiming 32°C. Alexa agrees. Doesn't feel that warm though.

Paula Hanna Carey-Williams, the mother of late The Wire actor Michael K. Williams, reported dead aged 94.