The Dead Cow

Oh, that was always going to be the case. He was recovering from an operation which, as he mentioned on his blog, would leave him in intensive care 'for about four days', that's why I picked him in the Deathrace, just in case the operation went awry.

Hey, with him and Tsvangirai seemingly fucked, maybe it'll turn out to be a good thing that Dudley and Willow didn't make the starting line, as if they had I would have probably only gained 10 points due to Willow not obiting, and now I'm likely to pick up 15 points.

Wesla Whitfield has died aged 70 and becomes a unique hit for me.

His Facebook page shows activity dating from September 2017, so I'd assume he's still alive.

Oh well, I still think I've got a reasonably strong team with Whitfield, Goodwin, Ayres and Crider among my differentials. Another of my unique picks, Olisa Metuh, is most likely lying/exaggerating, so I reckon I've fucked up there as well

If you thought that was bad, turns out my pick Robert Loughlin died in 2011! I picked him on the basis of this tweet and Instagram post, which suggested he had weeks to live. I'm a fucking idiot.

It's me. But I'm in now! Research has been mostly last minute this year, just haven't had much time on my hands. Hopefully I'll still manage at least a respectable performance, but I don't consider myself a competitor this year. Good luck Pedro

Don't know if it'll spur a QO, but Jeff Prestridge from the Mail on Sunday just tweeted about Ian Toothill. Also, outside chance of an obit if Sheffield Wednesday either do stupendously well or draw Sheffield United in the FA Cup? I'm not giving up on the belief that he'll get a QO in the end, because he will, trust me.

Bob Dole

Was just looking through the bios for my theme team and I was surprised to find that I shared the pick of the American feminist philosopher Sandra Harding with Deathray's Corrie themed Cobbles to a Coffin. I think Deathray meant to pick Sarah Harding. Edit: Also, the bio has Sandra Harding listed as 20 years younger than she actually is, having been born in 1935 rather than '55 as stated.

Diana Athill Satoru Anzaki Matt Cappotelli Dean Francis Rev. Billy Graham Clive James Barys Kit Dilip Kumar Stefan Karl Stefansson Catherine Nevin Herman Wouk Franco Zeffirelli Leah Bracknell (joker) Morgan Tsvangirai Saul Kripke Stan Lee Marieke Vervoort (joker) Greg Gilbert John McCain (joker) Jose Jose Vanessa Goodwin Noel Conway Joss Ackland John Cocks Ginger Baker Paul Alcock William Frankland Devin Lima Stirling Moss Amy Price Simon Ricketts Fernando Ricksen (joker) Kate Adie Nobby Stiles (joker) Charlotte Rae Sidney Poitier Liam Miller Jerry Maren Glynis Johns (sub for Ingvar Kamprad) Earl Cameron Peter Alliss Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Hank Aaron Dr John Tessa Jowell Carl Reiner Nabi Tajima Bobby Shantz Peter Higgs Jill Gascoine

Aye, seemed like a nice guy. RIP Here's the BBC obit.

Dick Van Dyke Paul Gascoigne Linda Nolan Donald Trump Jimmy Carter Angela Lansbury Catherine Nevin Queen Elizabeth II Robert Mugabe Olivia Newton-John Val Kilmer Prince Philip Henry Kissinger Prunella Scales Alberto Fujimori Doris Day Betty White Bob Barker Little Richard Vera Lynn Olivia de Havilland Terry Jones Jimmy Greaves Aretha Franklin Devin Lima Sub: Chris Rea

4 uniques for my B-team, including Brian O'Connor which surprises me. Although it should be 5, as the David Fisher picked by me is not the recently deceased scriptwriter whom Bibliogryphon picked, but rather this FFBI dude. Regardless of that mistake, thanks for the update Spade, you've done a good job of it.

Assuming he does get the obit, this really could be my year... Just hope I don't peak too soon, or summit.

One down, ten to go... Make that nine...

Aye, something along the lines of... 'Which four letter name is shared by an Egyptian goddess, a network routing protocol, a dog from Downton Abbey and a terrorist organisation?'

If he subconsciously puts 'is is' into a school exam then I'd be rather concerned.

Ha, beat you to it! Edit: So you've noticed...

Police have confirmed that her life support has been switched off.

Gay rights activist and actor Matt Palazzolo has died at the age of 33 following heat stroke which he suffered whilst hiking in Australia.

Rumours of his death have been debunked by his family in a statement regarding his health. http://www.mybackyardstoryng.com/2018/01/family-of-ex-prime-minister-of-zimbabwe.html#.WleWRffGadQ.twitter

I hear what you're saying re Willesee, he was my last minute 'futharc' pick (see Fujimori 2017, Frank Lucas every year previous). Literally added him as I wrote my team out in my Email to Spade and dropped Tessa Jowell to the B-team. Also, he kind of reminds me of Dave Strader a few months before he died. As for Toothill, he'll obit, I'm sure of it.

Aye, and MPFC's Carkers Convention led after the first update of 2017, I seem to remember. I can't remember if I led the DDP at some point last year or not.

Bernard Tapie is recovering in intensive care following a major surgery as part of his cancer treatment.