The Watcher

Thanks - I looked for Dr Who threads, Coronation Street, etc etc. I missed the news a few days ago - Election & D Day have dominated & now the search for Dr Moseley.

William Russell (one of many to marry Rita Fairclough in Coronation Street) has died aged 99 - 6 months short of his century. He was a dashing Sir Lancelot in the 50's & an original companion of Dr Who in 1963. When he had a cameo in Dr Who in 2022, it was the longest period between appearances for an actor playing the same role. It was 57 years between his last appearance in 1965 & his next one.

Online stats about WW2 veterans appear somewhat strange. Whereas there are a few links that state that the UK has less than 100 D -Day veterans still alive, there are more than one sites that state that the US still has about 119500 (!) WW2 veterans still alive. The oldest WW2 veteran still alive is a Romanian, Ilie Ciocan who is 111. (b 28/05/1913)

The BBC Radio series of The Lord of the Rings (1981) was a 26 part production which included some very well known actors of whom the following have died: Gerald Murphy Narrator (1948-2013) Sir Ian Holm Frodo (1931-2020) Sir Michael Hordern Gandalf (1911-1995) Sir Robert Stephens Aragorn (1931-1995) John le Mesurier Bilbo (1912-1983) Peter Woodthorpe Gollum (1931-2004) Jack May Theoden (1922-1997) Simon Cadell Celeborn (1950-1996) Peter Howell Saruman (1919-2015) Leonard Fenton Daddy Twofoot (1926-2022) Sean Arnold Proudfoot (1941-2020) James Grout Barliman Butterbur (1927-2012)

Ah but the film was on today in which she appeared - on Legend formerly known as Horror Channel. Not sure why it was mentioned a month ago although I know she has appeared in a French thread but many will not know she did not appear exclusively in French films. Also her birthday is next week.

Yvonne Furneaux is 98 next week. She was the female lead in The Mummy (1959) which starred Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee. Some of the cast died way back in the 1970's.

They're all going now - OJ's relationship with his children from the marriage to his murdered wife would be interesting to know more about. Did they really believe their father was innocent? Reports state his children and grandchildren were present at his death - did those gloves finally fit?

What about all the times he attacked her & police were called to their home? The race card was played without doubt & the evidence was ignored. A trial that lasted 9 months and a decision in 4 hours - just laughable. He was known for violence towards women and had a penchant for women decades younger who he could control. Even the Kardashians fell out with him according to The Sun. The American legal system is bizarre - someone was executed this week for 2 murders decades ago after being on Death Row ever since yet a guy who killed about 35 just has life imprisonment due to some sort of plea bargaining.

She's increasingly desperate to be in the news & to appear relevant. She's bad-mouthing a murder victim & if OJS was not the murderer why was nobody else ever on trial?

Debra Paget (born 1933) is 91 later this year. She played the love interest (Lucia) of Victor Mature (died 1999) who played the title role in Demetrius & the Gladiators which was filmed 70 years ago in 1954 so not surprisingly she is the only major cast member still alive. The film and its predecessor The Robe are showing on various channels today as it is Good Friday.

She might need financial advice from William Roache.

British embassies have been denying reports in Russian media that King Charles has passed away.

Good to hear that all his children are still alive. However the oldest ever person to have a living parent appears to be Willie Rogers who was 97 years & 109 days (he died 6 days before he was 100) when his mother Bettie Wilson (1890-2006) died.

Bruno Dey - former Nazi guard found guilty of mass murder but given only a suspended sentence of 2 years - will be 96 and a half in 2 days' time.

Proctor was a truely great all-rounder although best known for his bowling. He was so immense while playing for 16 years for Gloucestershire (no Test cricket after 1970 due to being South African) that his county were nicknamed "Proctorshire".

In that case the number drops to 8 as the other 19 are from countries such as India, South Africa, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and even one from Scotland!

Interesting to read - 27 first class male cricketers reached 100.

Former footballers certainly do not seem to live as long as former cricketers. There have been around 20 centenarian former first class cricketers - difficult to recall any centenarian footballers.

Probably only needs a 'few quid' - to live the life of luxury that most could only dream of so I won't be contributing to the IRF {Idle Rich Fund.}

Jill Freud (widow of Clement - the disgraced former MP & dog food advertiser) is 97 in 2 months' time.

Karma.

Don Murray has died aged 94. An extremely prolific actor for many decades but many will remember him as Sid Fairgate in Knots Landing and the shock when he was killed off as he was the best known actor in the show.

Michael Knowles and Caroline Dowdeswell are apparently the most 'significant' Dad's Army actors still alive.

Pretty good but a very rushed ending. Not surprising that only one adult star remains from the 1959 film as only Robert Powell and Timothy West appear to be alive from the 1978 version.

Also Michael Knowles (born 1937) who appeared in some episodes and also adapted many episodes for radio transmission.