msc

Yeah, fairy nuff. Sorry, it's just one of the quirks, or whatever, of having a board that has people of different age groups on it. Even though I know tons of older "famous people" I'm gonna get irritated sometimes cos the guy's not exactly Muhammad Ali is he. "That shit's just gonna happen", as they used to say a lot at the BBC in the 70s and 80s. And 50s and 60s and 90s and 2000s. And 2010s. You're not going to know everyone that gets mentioned in the forums. half the time I see a name and don't recognise who it is until I google them and then I know who they are. Agreed. In fact, I've even became fans of folk I first heard of mentioned on this forum. (A fair number by DDT, in fact, wherever he got to.)

Timothy West is a big name to me, being of the RSC (he's also 80, overweight, and has a highly stressful life, complete with ill wife) but then a lot of the young names that show up in the music threads I've never heard of. So swings, roundabouts, etc.

So who are the front runners? In the unlikely event that Sam Simon makes the start line I'd say he's a nailed on joker, other than that some front runners are old but - surely - dependable (Billy Graham), whilst some younger ones haven't got proven obit-worthy status, or are hard to call (like Wilko Johnson - who seemed a shoo in this year). So, proper dead pooling, then. Joost will be a popular one as well as Simon. I think Caroline Aherne and Ali Carter might be popular "punt" jokers too. There will be swings to Jimmy Hill, Rob Ford and Jules Bianchi (foolishly) too, I bet.

Ebola is often considered one of the cuter looking deadly microbe cuddly toys. Or so I hear.

Had a stroke, apparently. [Also appears to be recovering, but it brings him back into the focus.]

Whoopi, Jonah and Bill must be shitting themselves Who's Next? Sorry, couldn't resist.

I think 2-4 more deaths will randomly happen, but that those expected to go will hang on till 2015 now.

Well, there was reports on Twitter (so unofficial) that Russ Tamblyn had open heart surgery a few days ago.

If he is anything like his namesake he'll be in the clinic a long time - one big tease!! He's been doing his "I am very dying, honest" posts for about 4 years now. I wouldn't be surprised if he were still around in another four years, still claiming imminent demise.

Anytime this thread is updated, I immediately think "Tobin's dead" and every time: disappointment.

The Brother in law you mentioned before? I am sorry to hear he hasn't had a unfortunate appointment with a rabid dog wielding a machete yet, to say the very least.

I've got ten nailed on for choice next year, assuming they all make the start line. Gonna take the crumpled sheet with the scribbled names to compare form studying with other mega minds at the DLCon I'm leaving it late this year, given how my 2014 team would be record breaking...if the DDP started in October 2013. (I mean, what were the odds of nearly half the bloody team dying early?)

Website isn't confirming the illness. I'm guessing some cancer or other. Does anyone on here know more? I'd heard he'd had a serious stroke originally. Rumours abound he has terminal cancer though.

BBC breaking news twitter says the Duchess of Devonshire (aka Deborah Mitford, the last of the Mitford sisters) has died.

The longer we go with no news of Clarissa Eden or Mary Wilson the more I begin to think their deaths may have gone tragically unnoticed. There both very old and on the fringes of fame in modern terms, Clarissa Eden being Britain's first lady before the majority of people alive today we're born. Have gone unnoticed? Nope. Eden published her memoirs last year. Lady Wilson was still politically active at the start of the year, still known to folk in the Labour party, and apparently still a terrifying firebrand. Both will get reasonable coverage when they go.

Plug pulled in a week, rallies, heads off start of October. 3rd October at a guess.

One for Mary's "British spunk series", I guess, but Bill Speakman, I note from chatter elsewhere, is in poor health. As a VC recipient, guaranteed an obit.

A sad loss, but then, falling asleep in front of your TV watching your favourite comedy show at 92 is probably one of the nicer ways to go.

Indeed, was fairly strident and animated last weeked in criticising Nico Rosberg. Doubtless there's someone out there who could quote an infant given the last rights at birth who lived 100 years, or summat. I actually knew of a chap that happened to. As far as I know, he's still in the land of the living now (about 30 years on). Neither he nor Lauda were on the Deathlist at the time though. It's a testament to the vagaries of life though, for Zsa Zsa to have near universal selection as the expected next Deathlist hit way back in August 2010, and for her to since out live 43 (and counting) deathlist picks. I'm still hoping she outlives her useless husband, myself.

When did she get the last rites again? I think Fignon was still alive at the time! EDIT - Yep. The 5th death of 2010 poll, after Fignon carked it, and Zsa Zsa was given the last rites. Incredibly, the only person mentioned in that thread she hasn't outlived yet is Michael Douglas.

William Russell (Soren) is still alive for one.

Didn't actually think Lynam looked that bad - aged, yes, but not particularly ill. Hell, compared to Gazza he looked positively youthful.

I didn't realize Antony Booth was still alive. He is, and has Alzheimers.

Not an immediate 2015 concern, but someone to start keeping in mind: Timothy West, damn fine actor, is 80 as of October. A man not unknown for being on the hefty build in his life (he did make a spitting image for Edward VII, mind), had previous blood pressure issues, and now caring for his wife Prunella Scales who has Alzheimer's. Could all build up.

While I think you are overreacting still, Ali, are you counting the 140 odd million people born per year to your calculation? As they'd replace a bunch of the earlier worldwide victims. So with 41 million deaths by the end of 2015 there'd still be 280 million more people - a bit of a statistical tortoise to the hare.