DevonDeathTrip

Sonya Peres, the wife of former Israeli PM Shimon Peres, has died. She'll be a unique pick on the DDP for the theme team First Lady's (sic?) First if she gets the right obit.

There are rumours flying that the Taleban's supreme leader, Mullah Omar, may have suffered a heart attack.

He probably won't get a UK obit, but the fine works of the very ill surgeon Dr Sharad Kimar Dicksheet deserve a mention here. Even though he is "battling throat cancer and can barely talk, is confined to a wheelchair because of an accident, has undergone a triple bypass surgery and has a heart that functions only up to 18% of its capacity" he is still working for free and making a real difference to the lives of disfigured children in India.

There are rumours that Duvalier may have returned to Haiti because he is gravely ill and wants to see him homeland again before he dies. More specifically, a Haitian twitterer (you don't get many of those to the pound) claims that Duvalier has pancreatic cancer.

Wikileaks have published a diplomatic cable which suggests that deposed President Ben Ali has been suffering from prostate cancer since 2003.

Alex Salmond was on Desert Island Discs on Sunday. I think he mentioned his father, but I can't remember what he said. You could have a listen on iplayer, if you don't mind wading through 45 mins of nationalist fighting talk and a pretty ropey selection of tunes. I don't think he mentioned his much older wife at all, I'm sure she's about 20 years his senior, perhaps she's approaching the dying of old age territory and you could have her for your list next year?

When I posted late on New Year's Eve that Neil Young (the footballer) was terminally ill, I wondered if it was too late for anyone to pick him for their DDP team... I'm very pleased I've got 5 unique picks, they are very ill with cancer, and I'd be surprised if they all hung around to sing Auld Lang Syne at the end of the year. Well done TMIB, top work. Also well done to Banshees Scream, who can finally get to see the view from the top after all these years .

Actress Susannah York dies of skin cancer .

Some dude on Yahoo Answers says that Charlie's back to 100% Satan Isn't Real Not looking good for Charlie...

Musician Nile Rodgers, better known for his production work, is suffering from "an aggressive form" of cancer.

Meh. Not much recent news on her I admit, but she was in a pretty serious way last year and I didn't find any evidence that it was all fixed yet. Her most recent blog entry heavily implies that cancer is still an issue for her (without going into any detail about her current prognosis). Actually, it's worth a read - An Angry Post - and should be compulsory reading for all would-be ranters who visit this site: it's an excellent study in how to rant with passion, intelligence and eloquence. Sara Douglass recently posted on her Facebook page that she was "going through a really bad patch" and hasn't been heard from since. She composed an excellent blog post on death last May. The Silence Of The Dying

Michael Douglas declares that he's almost certainly beaten throat cancer

Dead. Garn 2,. I've had a look at your DDP list and I think you might well be one of the favourites to win the competition this year. I'd put £10 on you at, say, 3-1.

Adam Yauch receives cancer all-clear. No Longer Ill Communication Not exactly brimming with expert medical opinion about his "cure". More like this "cure" is more in his, and his hocum "doctor's" minds. I'm adding points to his entry and expect more bad news about him in the future. Adam Yauch has confirmed that reports of his recovery were exaggerated and that he is still suffering from cancer. I would concur with your prognosis, RA.

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Diana Wynne Jones. My death sensing tentacles quivered violently when I read her name.

Alas no. Dear Lord, will things ever be the same again? I suppose June Spencer who has played Peggy Woolley since 1950 (albeit with a short career break) would be the obvious choice. She's now 91 but doesn't sound like she's going anywhere soon. Lesley Saweard, who must be in her 80s now, has played Christine Barford non stop since 1953 might also be worth a go. Spade, Alan Devereux's health status is a closely guarded secret, my prolonged enquiries on this matter have yeilded little of interest, apart from one totally baseless rumour that he might have bone cancer. I went to a comprehensive school as well btw.

A very fine pick. The Rt Rev Evans has announced to his flock he's going to die rather soon:

Probably. I'd start by investigating who on here is a Chistina Rossetti fan...

He's one of my favourite characters. Why oh why couldn't it have been Helen Archer?

Reclusive Bollywood legend, Suchitra Sen might be worth a punt. She doesn't make an public appearances and seems to be a bit like Bengal's answer to Greta Grabo. She now suffers from breathing difficulties.

Here's my team. I don't care where I finish this time, I'm more concerned that everyone was still alive when the starting gun went off. Having effectively started with a team of 17 last year, I never really stood a chance. My former joker Hakimullah Mehsud's Lazurus like reappearance was the icing on the cake, so he's sacked. 1) Dr Ann McPherson - Joker 2) Abdelbaset Al-megrahi 3) Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz 4) Norman Spinrad 5) Tom Lubbock 6) Sara Douglass 7) Colette Adams 8) Charlie Louvin 9) Danny Fiszman 10) John Higgins Snr 11) Mick Karn 12) Jim Stynes 13) Brian Haw 14) Christopher Hitchens 15) Jose Alencar 16) Diana Wynne Jones 17) Brian O'Connor 18) Aretha Franklin 19) Elvis Gordon 20) Nat Lofthouse Sub: Chris Woodhead

A late Christmas present from the Manchester Evening News, although perhaps the the sad tidings are a little late for some, me included. After The Gold Rush ?

Recently jailed American "political operative" Mose Jefferson... I'm not sure how famous he is, but he has a large Wikipedia page and advanced lung cancer, so I thought I'd better mention him.