time

Biff, the trampolining dog from the 2016 John Lewis Christmas advert has died. He was 12.

Its fifteen years since the death of original Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert, aged 71, five days before her 72nd birthday, of cancer. In addition to Doctor Who, she also produced many other programmes, including The Naked Civil Servant (see above), and the less than successful Eldorado.

There's this interview with him in yesterday's Observer, where it isn't mentioned but most of the answers and reminiscences are from Terry's wife.

Former Somerset & Gloucestershire all-rounder Jeremy Lloyds, who went on to become an international umpire, has died aged 68.

Karim Gazzetta, Swiss international, dead by suicide, aged 27.

sorry 'bout that!

65 David Bowie – Space Oddity 56 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 55 10CC - I’m Not In Love 54 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make me smile (Come up and see me) 53 ABBA - Waterloo 49 Barry White - You`re the first, the last, my everything 35 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 32 Ken Boothe - Everything I own +4 28 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 26 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 26 Suzi Quatro - Devil Gate Drive 22 George McCrae – Rock your baby 20 Typically Tropical – Barbados 18 Johnny Nash - Tears on my pillow 11 Pilot – January 9 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 6 Rod Stewart – Sailing -3 4 Mud - Oh Boy -3

Bryan Ferry in 'mystery health scare'.

Late to the party, but here are my favourite singles by the aforementioned Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye Led Zep - Rock & Roll Bowie - Rebel Rebel or John I'm Only Dancing Stones - She's a Rainbow or As Tears Go By (I love Far Away Eyes, but I think that was only a B side). Barry White - none, they're all equally detestable.

58 David Bowie – Space Oddity 53 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 51 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Make me smile (Come up and see me) 49 10CC - I’m Not In Love 49 ABBA - Waterloo 44 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 39 Barry White - You`re the first, the last, my everything 32 Ken Boothe - Everything I own +4 30 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 26 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 24 Suzi Quatro - Devil Gate Drive 22 George McCrae – Rock your baby 21 Johnny Nash - Tears on my pillow 19 Typically Tropical – Barbados 19 Rod Stewart – Sailing 14 Mud - Oh Boy 13 Pilot – January 13 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 9 The Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love 9 Bay City Rollers – Give a little love 6 The Tymes - Miss Grace -3 5 Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun -3

The 70s Number ones discussions prompted me to look up a local radio DJ from that era, who was responsible for introducing me to the more 'adult' music (Led Zep, Purple, Ozzy and the like) back when I was a freshly minted teen. A name familiar to Midlands radio audiences, Robin Valk, died earlier this year, aged 73.

I wish you'd used spoiler tags, some of us still haven't seen Bambi.

I'd argue that we're still living with the consequences of Thatcherism and will continue to do so for the foreseeable. But maybe that's a discussion for another thread. I haven't (and don't think I will ) watch This England (too soon). Years and Years passed me by but I might get around to it if its streaming anywhere. When RTD resurrected Doctor Who, I was initially sceptical, but it grew on me, but Chibnall's stories were, in the main, disappointing in that they weren't, for me, 'Doctory' enough - and the less said about John Bishop the better.

Bohemian Rhapsody, like several others on the list has been waaaaaay overplayed in my opinion, but it fares better than others because its so different (again, just my opinion). Anyway.. 50 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 49 10CC - I’m Not In Love 47 David Bowie – Space Oddity 47 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make me smile (Come up and see me) 46 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 45 ABBA - Waterloo 45 Barry White - You`re the first, the last, my everything 39 Ken Boothe - Everything I own +4 27 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 24 George McCrae – Rock your baby 24 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 24 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 23 Johnny Nash - Tears on my pillow 20 Mud – Oh boy 20 Typically Tropical – Barbados 19 Rod Stewart – Sailing 16 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 16 Pilot – January 14 Bay City Rollers – Give a little love 12 The Tymes - Miss Grace -2 14 The Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love  10 John Denver - Annie's Song -2 10 Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun -2 08 Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting The top 6 looks likely to be 6 of the current top 7, which is disappointing.

43 Barry White - You`re the first, the last, my everything 43 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 42 10CC – I'm not in love 42 David Bowie – Space Oddity 42 ABBA - Waterloo 41 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 41 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make me smile (Come up and see me) 31 Ken Boothe - Everything I own +4 26 The Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love 24 George McCrae – Rock your baby 24 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 24 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 24 Johnny Nash – Tears on my pillow 21 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 20 Bay City Rollers – Give a little love 20 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 20 Mud – Oh boy 20 Rod Stewart – Sailing 20 Typically Tropical – Barbados  19 John Denver – Annie´s Song 16 The Tymes – Miss Grace 16 Pilot – January 14 Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun 12 Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting 08 Charles Aznavour - She 08 Sweet Sensation – Sad sweet dreamer 08 The Stylistics -I can`t give you anything (but my love) -6 7 David Essex – Gonna make you a star 5 Art Garfunkel - I only have eyes for you 

Its 32 years since the death of Beatrice Shilling OBE PhD MSc CEng, aged 81. Born in 1909, an early interest in engineering lead her to race motorcycles during the 1930s, becoming one of only three women to receive the BMCRC Gold Star for achieving a plus-100mph lap around Brooklands circuit. She achieved a BSc electrical engineering and a masters in mechanical engineering at Victoria University Manchester, and found work as a research assistant at the University of Birmingham. In 1936 she was recruited by the Royal Aircraft Establishment, initially as a technical writer, but transferring to work on aircraft engines. In 1939 she was promoted to technical officer in charge of carburettor research & development. The following year, it was discovered that fighter planes equipped the Rolls-Royce Merlin were experiencing engine stalls due to carburettors flooding during steep dives; to combat this she developed the RAE restrictor, which would limit fuel flow and could be fitted without taking the aircraft out of service; this was affectionately known as Miss Shilling's Orifice. Post-war, Shilling was awarded an OBE in recognition of her work. She remained at the RAE until her retirement at age 60, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey. She graduated from racing motorbikes to racing cars with her husband, racing a Lagonda and a Healey Sprite. Engineering buildings at both Royal Holloway and Coventry Universities are named in her honour, as is a Wetherspoon's pub in Farnbourough. A blue plaque was unveiled outside her home in Farnborough in 2019.

Rumour has it that Graham Parker is 72 today

40 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 38 ABBA - Waterloo 38 10CC – I'm not in love 38 David Bowie – Space Oddity 36 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 36 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make me smile (Come up and see me) 36 Barry White – You're the first, the last, my everything 33 Ken Boothe – Everything I own +4 26 John Denver – Annie´s Song 24 George McCrae – Rock your baby 24 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 24 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 23 The Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love 22 Johnny Nash – Tears on my pillow 21 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 20 Bay City Rollers – Give a little love 20 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 20 Mud – Oh boy 20 Rod Stewart – Sailing 20 Typically Tropical – Barbados  17 The Tymes – Miss Grace 16 Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting 16 Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun 14 Pilot – January 14 The Stylistics – I can't give you anything (but my love) -6 14 David Essex – Gonna make you a star 14 Sweet Sensation – Sad sweet dreamer 14 Alvin Stardust – Jealous mind 12 Art Garfunkel - I only have eyes for you 12 Charles Aznavour - She 10 Mud - Lonely this Christmas

Yves Rimet, grandson of Jules, of the original FIFA world cup, reportedly dead aged 90.

Scottish artist Jack Vettriano is 71 today

36 Barry White – You're the first, the last, my everything 32 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 30 10CC – I'm not in love 30 John Denver – Annie´s Song 30 ABBA - Waterloo 29 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make me smile (Come up and see me) 29 David Bowie – Space Oddity +1 29 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody +3 29 Ken Boothe – Everything I own +4 23 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 22 Johnny Nash – Tears on my pillow 22 The Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love 22 Typically Tropical – Barbados 22 Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun 22 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 21 George McCrae – Rock your baby 21 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 20 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 20 Alvin Stardust – Jealous mind 20 The Osmonds – Love me for a reason 20 The Tymes – Miss Grace 20 Pilot – January 20 Mud – Oh boy 20 The Stylistics – I can't give you anything (but my love) 20 Rod Stewart – Sailing 19 Bay City Rollers – Give a little love 18 Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting 17 Art Garfunkel - I only have eyes for you 16 Mud - Lonely this Christmas 14 David Essex – Gonna make you a star 14 Sweet Sensation – Sad sweet dreamer 14 Charles Aznavour - She 13 David Essex - Hold me close 8 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle – Whispering grass -1 6 Paper Lace – Billy don't be a hero -6 I find it incredible that "Billy Don't Be A Hero" was written by the same people who wrote "Avenues & Alleyways"!

Woe, woe, and thrice woe, four years ago today when actress Jeanne Mockford died, aged 92. Appearing in numerous comedy and drama staples of the UK TV offering throughough a 50+ year career, he best-known role was as Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii! She spent the latter years of her life at the entertainment industry retirement home Denville Hall.

Heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub is 87 today.

34 Barry White – You're the first, the last, my everything 26 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 26 John Denver – Annie´s Song 26 10CC – I'm not in love 26 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Make me smile (Come up and see me) 24 ABBA – Waterloo 24 Tammy Wynette – Stand by your man 24 David Bowie – Space Oddity 24 Ken Boothe – Everything I own +4 22 Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive 21 Charles Aznavour – She 21 Bay City Rollers – Bye bye baby 20 The New Seekers – You won't find another fool like me 20 Alvin Stardust – Jealous mind 20 Paper Lace – Billy don't be a hero 20 Terry Jacks – Seasons in the sun 20 The Rubettes – Sugar Baby Love 20 George McCrae – Rock your baby 20 The Three Degrees – When will I see you again 20 The Osmonds – Love me for a reason 20 Sweet Sensation – Sad sweet dreamer 20 David Essex – Gonna make you a star 20 The Tymes – Miss Grace 20 Pilot – January 20 Mud – Oh boy 20 Johnny Nash – Tears on my pillow 20 Typically Tropical – Barbados 20 The Stylistics – I can't give you anything (but my love) 20 Rod Stewart – Sailing 19 Windsor Davies & Don Estelle – Whispering grass 19 Carl Douglas – Kung Fu fighting 18 Art Garfunkel – I only have eyes for you 17 Telly Savallas – If 15 Bay City Rollers – Give a little love 14 David Essex - Hold me close  14 Mud – Lonely this Christmas 14 Billy Connolly – D.I.V.O.R.C.E 8 Status Quo – Down down 8 Ray Stevens – The Streak -6 There are about 30 songs in this list I'd immediately score -6, if that were allowed. Two absolutely appalling years for number ones. I was a teenager then, and probably loved the Billy Connolly one though.

I'm surprised disappointed people appear to prefer Windsor Davies & Don Estelle over Quo (and also Lonely This Christmas over the far superior Tiger Feet).