The Watcher

One actor/actress that seems to stay under the radar is Taina Elg who is now 93. She starred with Kenneth More in 1959 in The 39 Steps. More died way back in 1982 but his last (& third) wife, actress Angela Douglas is only 83 now. She was widowed again in 2022.

He didn't acknowledge her existence for years but began to reference her regularly in his final couple of years on Test Match Special. His relationships would make a far more interesting book than his tedious batting technique coaching manuals.

Very embarrassing for Norris McWhirter who was still involved then with the Guinness Book of Records which it was probably still known as then as he flew to Japan and was photographed with the "oldest" person in the world shortly before his death at the then believed age of 120.

Gerald Harper (title role in Adam Adamant & Hadleigh) is 93 next month John Barratt (BBC tennis commentator 1971-2006) is 93 in April - married to Angela Mortimer a former Wimbledon champion

Jeff Powelll looks pretty ancient every time he posts a tribute including today to Mike Dickson the tennis correspondent for the Daily Mail who died aged only 59.

Mentally she appears as sharp as a tack. However, she has been compared rather unkindly to that Bamforth seaside humour postcard in which a newly wed couple are getting ready for their first night together. The attractive blushing bride first removes her eyelashes, then her nail extensions, then her wig, then her teeth and then it gets rather rude or crude!

But is he banned from seeing Christine Trevanion, Izzie Balmer, Catherine Southon, Roo Irvine or Kate Alcock?

Two famous naturalists: Tony Soper (95 today) & Desmond Morris (96 in 2 weeks). Also the 2 wives of Jon Pertwee: Jean Marsh (90 in July) & Ingeborg Rhoesa (90 next year).

And David Lawton - 101 this year. (Crossroads, When the Boat Comes In, Z-Cars, Maigret, Compact, etc etc)

He looked fit enough 'daddy dancing' when making his usual appearance a year ago on the Christmas 2022 version of Football's Coming Home. Apart from the 1996 video there is another ruder (check names on shirts) version which he appears in decades ago which seems to be filmed in a car park.

Vicki Hodge (now 77) should have some interesting comments if she wished to voice them. Apparently she 'initiated' Andrew when 14 years older on the Island of Mustique - he had no staying power apparently although was very eager. Princess Margaret was present at the time - presumably on the island rather than virtually a threesome?

Probably an unpopular view but Rolf Harris seems to have suffered terribly losing honours, lifestyle, livelihood and 'good name' and eventually life whereas Saviile escaped altogether for dreadfully vile activities and others such as a certain Prince have only lost their 'good name' (which those in the know did not believe anyway) and a few of the letters after his name & Archer kept his peerage despite perjury and consorting with a prostitute (his wife presumably lied in court who gave him an alibi but the establishment seemed to gloss over this 'fragrant lady') and many other such as the former Post Office woman and Baroness 'Moan' seem to have clung onto their trinkets.

Very true. Around the time of her birthday an MP (Chris Bryant?) proposed that Glynis Johns should be 'damed'. Nothing happened unfortunately. Mone became a baroness in recent years & countless other poor choices have occurred. Incidentally Gyles Brandreth (who appears as desperate for a major honour as David Beckham) celebrated his 75th birthday onstage surrounded by about 9 Dames - I would repeat that many were not as worthy as Gynis Johns - including Lady Plowright probably best known as the 3rd wife of Lord Olivier!

Absolute disgrace (but not a surprise) that the corrupt honours systerm did not give this fine actress at least a Damehood. Joan Collins received one for The Stud, The Bitch & some creature feature involving giant ants whereas Glynis Johns was memorable in Mary Poppins & was also a singer - unlike JC.

Trending joke: Captain Tom's daughter, Baroness (for the moment) Mone & Meghan Markle have founded a new pop group: The Grifters.

Elizabeth Waldo (b 1918) violinist, composer & conductor Caren Marsh Doll (b1919) actress - stand in for Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz & rumoured to be the last actor from The Golden Age of Hollywood

Joan Morecambe June Spencer William Russell Lady Pamela Hicks Phillippe de Gaulle Eva Marie Saint Harrison Tyler Jerry Hardin William Shatner Gilbert Melville Grosvenor

Ruth Langsford & hubby Eamonn Holmes ("I am not white, frail, male & stale") seem to be either selling every small details of their lives for every possible penny or just in the gossip columns more than the celebrities they interview.

David Lawton (b 1923) who played Mr Booth the chef in Crossroads is continually overlooked on the lists of oldest living soapstars. Unlike many Crossroads actors (apart from Sue Nicholls who is still in Coronation Street & was the secretary in Reginald Perrin) he appeared in many other stage & TV productions.

Some politicians: Patrick Duffy (b 1920) (not the Dallas actor!) Douglas Hurd (b 1930) Roy Hattersley (b 1932) John Wakeham (b 1932) John Nott (b 1932) Michael Heseltine (b 1933) Tom King (b 1933) Kenneth Baker (b 1934) Norman Lamont (b 1942) Lynda Chalker (b 1942) Peter Lilley (b 1943)

Glynis Johns overlooked again? But of course she never sang for Charles unlike Bassey.

The Honours (!) List is such a farce that including a few worthy winners each time does not save it from being a national disgrace & laughing stock. The Royal Family can honour their own with extra honours/initials/awards (but took Diana's HRH away), Labour award Tom Watson, Wilson honoured some shady characters & Johnson wanted a peerage for his alleged wife-beater father after already knighting his brother. His usually sensible sister said her father was due a knighthood anyway & Beckham is still clamouring for a knighthood by 'liking' any royal tweets that heis team notice. What is needed is for someone to nominate Captain Tom's daughter, Farage, Clarkson, Morgan, Lineker, Vorderman & Madeley for the highest honours available & the system will implode.

David Lawton (b 1923) who played Mr Booth the chef in Crossroads. The oldest surviving actor from the soap which is in the news due to the drama Nolly all about the matriarch of Crossroads Motel. Apparently he had a sign-off line whenever he had a break from the soap which was something like, "I am going to the stockroom and I may be sometime".

98 today! His wife is only 46 years younger.

A Peyton Place thread (unless one is languishing in the depths of Deathlist) would be useful. So many big names at the time (most gone now) & young aspiring actors such as Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins, Leigh Taylor Young & Mia Farrow. Apparently Mia's husband at the time was Frank Sinatra & he made it clear to the production team & his wife that he did not want her committed to a long running series - she was quickly written out despite being an integral character!