msc

Good luck to you Bert. DI can win it in 2019 after I win 2018 next year instead...

If Bouteflika is seriously ill as suggested on here a few months back, then 2006 has an exciting race of sorts to see who will be last person standing. Five left. My money's on Rev Billy G.

Apparently, 17 here too, though I didn't bother checking which of them actually got QOs...

Well... funny.... thing.... about... that. I....am....reminded....of....the.....fact....that....the...answer....is.....No. Not enough pauses there, sorry.

And nobody did win anything for a pair with him!

Hmm, of your list I wouldn't write Christmas cards for Lewis, Booth, Downie or Bracknell right now. Suspect (at least) one of the old timers will go, too. That takes us to 14, and as you point out, lots of folk in dire straits, none of which would surprise if their death was announced tomorrow.

Would be inappropriate hit for the Poker tournie of YW, though, as you get nothing for a pair.

For the record, only seen this now. RIP Bruce, though.

DIDN'T HE DIE WELL? 16/50 18th August 2017 Entertainer Bruce Forsyth, one of the most familiar faces in British TV history, has died after a long illness to give The Crowdsourced Deathlist another success. Bruce Forsyth, who was born in 1928 before the release of sliced bread to the public, made his first TV appearance in 1939! After a period of life spent in the circus, pantomime and the RAF (one wonders which was the most arduous!), it was his early performances as compere of Sunday Night at the London Palladium from 1958 which gave him his first big break. From that point until his health failed in 2015, Bruce Forsyth was never off British TV. Some of his most popular programmes included the game shows The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, and Bruce Forsyth's Big Night. His audience interaction catchphrases became part of popular culture from "Didn't they do well?" (always said with a grin after a contestant on one of his game shows came up with a frankly appallingly stupid wrong answer), to the inimitable "Nice to see you, to see you... " "Nice!" Into his 70s and 80s, he hosted the Strictly Come Dancing revival on BBC1, and was Knighted by the Queen in 2011. He might have been the man who went to the school what burned down before they built the old school, but Bruce Forsyth was a calm and reassuring TV face. Someone who'd always been there, just like he'd always been there for your mum and your gran's weekend TV viewing, part of the furniture if you will. Brucie was a popular pick for the Deathlist voters, who clearly played their cards right, as he appeared in 8th place on this years list. Forsyth's death is the 16th hit of a remarkable year, which still has a number of tottering potential hits and the dark Winter nights still to come.

Wait, what? Bloody hell! Just logged in, still feeling hideous. Right, give me 5 mins or so.

Could the BBC have found a more "looks like shit" photo to use?

Mail on Sunday writer tweets it.

Hey, with predictions like this, no wonder I was defending 148th place in the DDP early on.

It's like Zorders never left, sometimes. All we need is someone to start moaning about their mummy issues.

The food usually looks hideous, too. That's how I knew that Terry Wogan show, the last one he did going round the UK eating food at local cafes, was good. I'd watch it, and get really hungry.

Used recent ill health to continue on my quest to read the memoirs of folk who appear often in deadpooling circles. Denis Norden - Clips from a Life: Was alright, full of lightly amusing anecdotes (Tynan realising he was in trouble for swearing on live TV when he got a congratulatory telegraph from George Melly, for example) but much of life is glossed over. One might suggest that's the perfect description of Norden himself, casually directing the viewer away from the grim and the in-depth analysis in favour of a few silly moments. So we get the war in brushstrokes and lots on silly things people did on radio/etc. Diana Athill - A Florence Diary: To be honest, each new Athill book that comes out, I expect to be the last. She as much as admits it herself in the introductions. We're now five books on since the wonderful Somewhere Towards the End (written when she were a mere 90), and six books of memoirs on since she wrote her actual memoirs themselves! I do suspect this one might actually be the last Athill, till proven wrong, however. For one, it has scarcely any new material. 17 pages in slighter larger font than normal are the sole interlude by the 99 year old Athill, the rest of the slim book being a reprint of her diaries from a trip to Italy in the 1940s. The book itself barely reaches 64 pages with that conceit, a third at best of one of her normal books. It is striking in its sparsity. Oh well. As a result, it is one of the lesser Diana Athill books, but its descriptions of post-war Italian (for lack of a better term) "English yuppy" holidays as they were is of some interest. And for something entirely different: Neil Nixon - Beatles Myths and Legends: As recommended on this very forum! Great book, which goes into depth on the history and origins of many of the (insane) myths which follow each of the Beatles. For example, that Lennon got shot by the CIA. Then essentially debunks or shows why they were highly unlikely. For those who can't stomach more Lennon (although in fact, the writer does the rare feat of making John come across sympathetic imo), there's a wonderful rant in defense of Ringo Starr, and some good research on Harrison. I'm not a big Beatles fan (I appreciate their spot in music history, however) but I found this musical history tour damn near hypnotic and amusing in turns. Highly recommended!

Do people then think that Jimmy Carter might smash the record in 2018?

I feel much the same as when news came out about Gerry Rafferty being on life support: saddened but not surprised in the slightest. Like Rafferty, Flair is a mercurial but flawed genius in his own art. On the basis of wrestlers tendency to linger in this state, if this is the end for Flair, I'd say circa August 31st/start of September. Which would bring him close to the 9th anniversary of Killer Kowalski. Damn, I knew I should have put "bet Spade says DLJ" into print because I had a feeling you'd name him.

Ah yes, the chap who caused me spelling nightmares for 4 months.

Oh I'm going for the weaker team. Bernard Hepton and co returning.

*ominous music plays* Nah, it's always cool to have DDT in best form in these things.

To the minute! I love it.

Wow, a whole month, it's a miracle. My grandfather did that sitting in his armchair drinking whisky!

Quite hard and solid iirc. Not something you want to whack into you at great speeds.

Calderwood's 62? Flipping 'eck.