Vinegar Tits

Chuck Barris dead. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chuck-barris-dead-gong-show-929310 Shame. I loved The Gong Show. The 1986 Channel 4 repeats were fantastic.

Have just posted 're McGuinness in the politics thread as I didn't know there was a dedicated thread.

Martin McGuinness dead. Just announced on Radio 4.

That backs up the rumours I'd heard. So, Stage IV cancer. Ouch. The metastasis could be minor, and it sounds like it's been spotted fairly quickly, but once cancer starts spreading... At least it hasn't spread to his pancreas. Yet. When he dies, and it sounds pretty grim all round to be honest, France is going to go into meltdown, isn't It? *makes mental note not to go on a day trip in that week* Will probably be the biggest death since De Gaulle (yes, even bigger than Mitterrand and Claude Francois).

TMZ reporting Bill Paxton's died. Complications from surgery apparently.

Can't say I'd heard of her, and I'm usually pretty up on Aussie types, but that's a hell of a line-up she toured with.

No-one mentioned the sad and tragic death of Thotch legend Brian Pern yet? Segway mistake apparently. RIP.

I remember me and my sister reading that in an Amsterdam department store. We were both in floods of tears - it's a heart breaking book. Really sad news. I love Miffy.

And the vast majority are not famous, merely they've given their story to a local paper and the Daily Mail et al have used it as cheap filler. Certain people can become famous/household names due to their charity work whilst being ill (eg Jane Tomlinson, Stephen Sutton) but the vast majority of your cancer mums, etc, are not famous in any way whatsoever, and in my opinion shouldn't be allowed in the DDP. I understand the point about old people, but at least they get a mention on Wikipedia because of their age 'achievement' and they're in the record books for a time. If a cancer blogger makes a name for themselves, or already is marginally known (journalists and academics mainly come under this category) then they're fair game. Cancer mums and the like are not famous in any way. It sounds cruel but they're rarely anyone special, they're just ill. I don't think I've ever picked a 'famous for being ill' person - obviously I've picked people after hearing they're not well but they've already had to have a modicum of fame for something other than being ill.

I'd like him to end his days being forced to listen to the organ solo of Mr Moonlight on a continuous loop.

ITV 80s pop programme Razzamatazz presenter Alastair Pirrie has died aged 62

Sad news, especially as I watched Amour just the other day. Didn't know she had cancer.

Confirmed on Radio 5 in the 3am bulletin. Pancreatic cancer. Great actor and while I know pancreatic cancer is basically a death sentence, I thought he'd got temporarily better - indeed, he said in late 2015 he was in remission.

And yet another person I've worked with bites the dust. Tam Dalyell was very much liked by the PA copytakers as he was always very friendly, nice, no airs and graces and didn't try to lord it over you (unlike certain other former MPs/Lords - mentioning no names but Ill just say 'Chelsea shirt' and 'recently revealed sex allegations, bloodhound, Just A Minute, famous last name). RIP

I would say that was Gorden Kaye or Anthony Armstrong Jones. Graham Taylor I would say, at least in a UK slant. I was thinking in a worldwide sense, akin to Bowie. Betty White's going to outlive them all, isn't she?

Extremely saddened by the news even though she was on my main team list. A comedy icon of mine and brilliant in everything she appeared in. One of the few people who have reduced me to tears in a film - Heartsounds I think the film was. RIP. The first proper Big Name death of 2017 I'd argue too.

Super rockin' bassist of Belly and all-round amazing person Gail Greenwood has penned a missive about being diagnosed with endometrial cancer. For anyone who caught the Belly shows last summer this will have come as a surprise to say the least. Mind you, I know it's the treatment that usually makes you feel ill and not the actual cancer itself. Almost certainly - and I really hope because she's a really cool and lovely person, and I feel a bit shitty even mentioning her - not a contender as she's super fit and healthy, but cancer does run in her family so...

I know Dead Ends. I'll drop him a line to tell him the list is up and he's being considered a contender. He'll be thrilled

As someone's already said, it's been a bad few weeks for Elton. If I was Kiki Dee or Bernie Taupin I'd be looking over my shoulder. Sad news though as Taylor always seemed like a decent bloke. Really good pundit on Radio 5 too. But he was the very epitome of great league manager/terrible national team manager.

Not a great few weeks for Elton. If I was Kiki Dee or Bernie Taupin I'd be looking over my shoulder.

Boyfriend says George killed himself before BF's Twitter account closed amid claims of being hacked. As it was Fadi Fawaz who also started the rumours that George died of a heroin overdose as well, whatever the truth, what a tawdry little man he is.

A safe and solid list.

George was always prone to podginess so looking a bit bloated when out of the public eye is no big deal.

So the boyfriend first says: "I want people to remember him the way he was - he was a beautiful person" and then claims George Michael was a heroin addict. A bit shitty of him, even if true. EDIT: actually, according to the Telegraph, the heroin claims come from "a source" and not necessarily the boyfriend. I still suspect the death will turn out to be pharmaceutically connected in some way, probably accidental OD of painkillers (opiate based or otherwise) or something similar.

Gazza - he's going to go young(ish) but could hang around years yet. I'd wait for the liver transplant and inevitable slide back onto the booze before considering him seriously. MTM - because National Enquirer has said she's dying for the last six or so years. Clearly ailing but how much so we won't really know until she goes, I'm keeping MTM on my list, mainly in the hope of granting her eternal life...