time

He was a big man, but out of shape.

TV producer/director Eleanor Scoones, who specialised in historical documentaries (Lucy Worsley's Royal Palace Secrets, A House Through Time, plus some episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?) has died from cancer aged 42.

Roger Thibault, one half of the first gay couple to civil-union in North America, has died aged 77, Parkinson's disease.

Lionel Morton is 82 today. Originally vocalist & guitarist with The Four Pennies, who had a number one in 1964 with Juliet, (see KoS), Morton went on to have an extensive career in Children's' television, presenting both Play School and Play Away. It's alleged (by Johnny Ball no less) that he (and others) often presented Play School stoned. He was married to actress Julia Foster with whom he has a daughter.

14-8-23 73 Kim Wilde — Kids In America +4 62 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 51 Ultravox — Vienna 51 Lipps Inc — Funkytown 44 Stevie Wonder — Masterblaster (Jammin') 39 Diana Ross — Upside Down 26 Hot Chocolate — No Doubt About It 21 Ennio Morricone — Chi Mai 13 Paul McCartney — Coming Up -6

Eleven years (yesterday) now!

Jamaican singer Pluto Shervington (also known mononymously as Pluto) is 73 today. He had a top 10 hit in 1976, with Dat, a tale of a Rastafarian, attempting to buy (cheap) pork - against his religion - in order to save money to buy marijuana, 'Dat' alluding to the pork in question without mentioning it by name. Delivered in patois, it reached number 6, and prompted his record label to reissue his previously unsuccessful single Ram Goat Liver, which again failed to hit the top 40. He had a further hit in 1982 with the previously unreleased 1975 track Your Honour which reached number 19. This track will also most likely appeal to a certain demographic.

13-8-23 56 Kim Wilde — Kids In America 53 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 51 Ultravox — Vienna 44 Lipps Inc — Funkytown 41 Diana Ross — Upside Down 34 Hot Chocolate — No Doubt About It 34 Stevie Wonder — Masterblaster (Jammin') 29 Whispers — And The Beat Goes On 28 Ennio Morricone — Chi Mai 20 Paul McCartney — Coming Up -6 19 Randy Crawford — One Day I’ll Fly Away 17 Adam And The Ants — Ant Music 10 Altered Images — Happy Birthday +4

I'm childishly amused by the name of The Times political journalist Roger Boyes.

12-8-23 53 Kim Wilde — Kids In America 51 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 45 Ultravox — Vienna 40 Lipps Inc — Funkytown 35 Diana Ross — Upside Down 32 Randy Crawford — One Day I'll Fly Away 32 Stevie Wonder — Masterblaster (Jammin') 28 Whispers — And The Beat Goes On 28 Hot Chocolate — No Doubt About It 28 Paul McCartney — Coming Up 26 Ennio Morricone — Chi Mai 25 Adam And The Ants — Ant Music 15 Liquid Gold — Dance Yourself Dizzy 13 Ottawan — D.I.S.C.O. 13 Altered Images — Happy Birthday +4 08 Stevie Wonder — Happy Birthday -6 Points awarded in the full knowledge of which song is which, and wondering why all that disco shit is still riding high.

Interesting thread (well I say 'interesting'...) on Lil Tay 'death' and how it was (not) reported by the BBC.

No, he seemingly disappeared after Crossroads.

11-8-23 41 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 37 Ultravox — Vienna 35 Kim Wilde — Kids In America +2 33 Diana Ross — Upside Down 31 Lipps Inc — Funkytown 31 Altered Images — Happy Birthday +2 28 Stevie Wonder — Masterblaster (Jammin') 28 Randy Crawford — One Day I'll Fly Away 28 Hot Chocolate — No Doubt About It 24 Whispers — And The Beat Goes On 24 Ottawan — D.I.S.C.O. 22 Adam And The Ants — Ant Music 21 Paul McCartney — Coming Up 20 Leo Sayer — More Than I Can Say 20 Ennio Morricone — Chi Mai 20 Shakin' Stevens — You Drive Me Crazy 18 Stevie Wonder — Happy Birthday 18 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra — Hooked On Classics 14 Kate Robbins And Beyond — More Than In Love 14 Liquid Gold — Dance Yourself Dizzy 14 Adam And The Ants — Kings Of The Wild Frontier -6 05 The Police — Invisible Sun -6

David Lawton, who played Mr. Booth in Crossroads from 1967 to 1979, is100 today.

Aged 86, Walsall, not Walsall West, and for which club did he become the youngest player to score a league goal? (WBA)

I don't know if that would have made my top 10 of number 2's of the decade; it certainly wouldn't have made my top 10 of Queen tunes!

premature submission. ignore.

We didn't have to weight long for that!

Robert Swan, who had a few film roles, including The Untouchables & Natural Born Killers as well as TV appearances in The Equalizer and All My Children.dead at 78.

Jamie Reid, anarcho-artist famous for his Sex Pistols work, reported dead on Xwitter

I'm an old git and I know it/him! Slide to the left...

Eleven years they've been married and people have only just realised he's got a slightly humorous name now they've split? F'me!

8-8-23 36 Queen — Killer Queen 31 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 28 Queen — Somebody To Love 19 Elton John— Rocket Man -6 14 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4

I have a favourite, but don't dislike any of them. I do consider one weaker than te other four, but wouldn't be too disappointed if it won.

Bryan Randall, partner of Sandra Bullock, dead at 57, ALS.