Vinegar Tits

RIP *sings 'Anita' badly* I'd sing it solemnly but you can't really...

Just found out that someone I used to sit next to at Yorkshire Television (well, Wellbeing actually), Karen Petch - who was also a continuity announcer, and news reader, died on Friday of breast cancer. I'm shocked and genuinely saddened by such sad news. She was lovely and very funny, especially when talking about her fallen arches. RIP.

Yeah, but DEBBIE HARRY. And as for selling out, GV Murjani jeans were hardly McDonalds or Budweiser! Note the 'SAMO' graffiti in the ad btw.

Someone posts a Gloria Vanderbilt Murjani jeans commercial but not this one? Really? Pfft...

The last person mentioned in 'Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee' to go. Sad news. I'd hoped she make 100.

Freddie Starr has eaten his last hamster

Richard North says Booker is "gravely ill" so, yes, sounds quite bad. Definitely one for 2020 if he lasts that long.

Sad news. She's yet another person I've worked with. Though she often drove us to despair by ringing in five minutes before we were due to close with 1500 words of copy, she was always nice, polite and interesting. (Making me feel really old, I was pretty much the only person out of the 'youngsters' who worked there who knew who she was and her background). Always felt she was probably more talented than what she achieved, but I guess addiction at the height of her fame put paid to that. RIP.

I know she had French and Russian heritage but she was British so shouldn't be in this thread.

Dead

Sad news about Phil Masinga. Saw him many times playing for Leeds. RIP.

Sad news, especially as he was so young. First hit for me, so... you know, points.

I've just about stopped myself punning on The Rumour so amused to see someone finally went there. Great Elton John/Bernie Taupin song!

Yeah, she looks great (mind you, when does she never not look great. She's Livvy FFS!). Ver glad the rumours aren't true, for the meantime at least. Phew!

Do it! You never know, she might say "oui" purely out of being impressed by your sheer cheek.

Incredibly sad news if true. Although her management are denying it, yer proper fair dinkum Aussie media outlets are leading on it and not just the trash mags so I suspect there's at least an element of truth in the news. Either way, as Ra Ra Rasputin says, she will leave a fantastic legacy with her Wellness Centre as well as her music and films. (And a fab Juliana Hatfield album too!) I love Livvy and I really hope the news isn't true, but it's not looking good.

Betty White, Valerie Harper, Clive James and Tina Turner.

2006 - Sheila Mercier / Pete Doherty / Kylie 2007 - Sheila Mercier / Nicky Henson / Grand Duke of Luxembourg 2008 - Sheila Mercier 2009 - Sheila Mercier / Kirk Douglas 2010 - Sheila Mercier / Kirk Douglas 2011 - Sheila Mercier / Kirk Douglas / Michael Douglas 2012 - Sheila Mercier / Prince Philip / Kim Novak 2013 - Sheila Mercier / Windsor Davies / Carol Channing 2014 - Sheila Mercier / Gazza / Olivia De Havilland / Wilko Johnson / Valerie Harper / Ian Watkins / Michael Schumacher / Rolf Harris / Michael York 2015 - Sheila Mercier / Gazza / Clive James / Michael York 2016 - Sheila Mercier / Jimmy Carter / Prunella Scales / Madonna's dad 2017 - Sheila Mercier / Jimmy Carter / Prunella Scales / Leah Bracknell / Greg Gilbert / Vera Lynn / Jill Gascoine / Sinead O'Connor 2018 - Sheila Mercier and quite a few others Basically, I feel I've done my bit to grant eternal life to birthday girl Sheila Mercier and Kirk Douglas. As for my other team, there's plenty still around but one has been on from the start and I suspect the old bastard is proving the point that The Good Die Young - Ken Bates

A very Happy Birthday to a soap legend. 100 is a grand age and I hope she has a wonderful day.

Not bad, seems pretty solid. A bit Yank-centric for my tastes but... Wouldn't have bothered with Honor Blackman or Dick Van Dyke as both seem in good health, and don't even know who Johnny Clegg is. You do know Ginger Baker is touring this year, don't you? Not that it means anything but obviously someone out there is confident in his health. And I keep seeing Vanessa Redgrave's name being mentioned - other than getting on a bit I've not heard anything about her health.

Not a melanoma so very little to worry about. As for the rest of his woes, he's so bloody brazen he won't do anything silly.

I thought your list was really good, and particularly impressive seeing as you're not British. Agreed about Line Renaud - at that age it only takes a fall or minor ailment, but she is still working (unlike Michel Piccoli for example) and doesn't seem very frail. Mind you, Bernadette Lafont, who was considerably younger, worked until the very end, carrying a whole film ('Paulette', worth seeing and with a premise not dissimilar to the Brenda Blethyn film 'Saving Grace'), seemed tough as old boots and then bang, dead. So who knows. I know Sardou did a farewell tour not so long ago but how many people have done farewell tours and then toured again within a few years?

I'm sure there was an interview with her not that long ago where she refuted any claims about her having dementia and being in a care home. Can't check at the moment but it was on You Tube. I still reckon Livvy will go before Reddy.

My Melbourne-based sister mentioned Bob Hawke too so... I'm thinking 2019 sadly may be Vera Lynn's year. She's been suspiciously quiet of late. Looking at ImissMontpellier's list, is Michel Sardou ill? Not heard anything other than he's currently in a wheelchair following an operation on his feet. And while Line Renaud should get a UK obit, I'd be surprised if the powers-that-be pick her, plus, admittedly a year ago now but she looked more alive than practically the entire congregation at Hallyday's funeral and was spritely enough in 'La Ch'tite Famille' too - definitely less frail-looking than June Whitfield was in the Ab Fab movie.

Great song. Mind you, 1977 was chock full of great songs. The UK (obv) or Israel still should have won though.