Thoughts on the 2025 Deathlist

[Sean 6,561]

My initial thoughts about this list is meh not inspiring but not terrible.

 

Some good new names.Saint, Hedren Weinstein , Lovell, Deighton and John  Williams are all really good additions

 

Not sure about Asma al_Assad but could be an inspired pick.

 

Hall seems a natural no 50 pick.I do worry he could have died off radar though.

 

Some of the Drops are good calls such as Redgrave,Cheney Bugner,Walters and Stone but others are really bad calls imo particularly Flack but also Turner and Law.

 

Disappointed that Yarrow isn't on the list such an obvious early miss for the committee.Would also liked to have seen Don King ,Mujica ,Willis ,Miklosko and Kinsella on the list.

 

Great to see Attenborough, Hurd, Rex Williams,Wilson and Ono back on the list.

 

Wondered if King Charles would make an appearance but understand why he didn't 

 

Can see the list making double digits but not expecting a great year.

 

 

[Vinegar Tits 612]

On 30/12/2024 at 13:57, Genfærd said:

Hope they re-add Yoko Ono. Think next year she will go.

 

I still think Yoko will outlive Macca and Ringo out of sheer bloody mindedness but I said that about about David Crosby so... *shrug*

[Vinegar Tits 612]

4 hours ago, Stogiagio said:

Lol dick van dyke

 

I dunno. I think we all want to see him get his century. After that he's fair game. 

 

As for King Prince Charles, I reckon Camilla is a better bet, especially as she's had to pull out of engagements, etc. Though I like both, and reckon Camilla would be a right laugh on a piss up so zi wish neither no harm. 

 

Tom Bsker MBE (is that all? Better than nowt I suppose) looks really frail and thin but as he's one of my immortals then I wish him a good few more years with us. Glad to see no other of my personal immortals on The List.

 

 

[La Tombe 378]

2 hours ago, La Tombe said:

Dennis Law has dementia since many years now like Bobby Charlton had. I think it’s a bad drop.

 

Bardot, ok 

I checked for Dennis Law, he has dementia since 2021.....Sure it's really really a bad drop and a future miss for the deathlist these year.

 

Julie Walters and Dick Cheney are safe drops. Tom Brokaw, Vanessa Redgrave instead should have been kept on the DL. Vanessa Redgrave is frail. Tom Brokaw....his condition is so bad.

[Clorox Bleachman 2,526]

1 hour ago, Grimgrass said:

Just realised there aren't any state leaders on this years list. Could be the first list ever without one.

Wow, you're right. First year ever.

[livingbygrace 521]

I think King Harold of Norway could have been a decent pick.. Not a guarantee though, but he has had some recent health concerns it seems

[Youth in Asia 1,094]

I have a feeling Mahathir Mohamad might finally shuffle off this year. Hopefully Yoko too.

[Lord Insomnio 15]

Bernie Ecclestone and Rupert Murdoch good picks.

[Joey Russ 7,303]

If I’m being completely honest, I’m getting similar vibes with this list to 2023 which also seemed underwhelming at first glance. But we all know how that list ended up being

[Bentrovato 1,131]

Which one of the committee has PTSD due to an unresolved incident as a child while watching Mary Poppins? Dick Van Dyke  has another ten years. 

[The Daredevil 1,222]

How likely will they add to the 2025 DL tally?

 

Dick Van Dyke: 50%, at last his inclusion on the DL is justifiable. He has been feeling poorly recently, and is visibly more frail than ever. For the first time, I feel he could become a hit in the year ahead. But if Kissinger, Carter and Glynis Johns could all see 100, why can't Dick Van Dyke?

Eva Marie Saint: 40%, oldest pick but nothing to suggest that she is in any way in poor shape or form. On the contrary, reports from her 100th birthday say she is doing fine. See you in 2026 Eva.

 

Pete Murray: 85%, getting more frail as he nears 100, I cannot see him crawling into 2026. Even his 100th birthday is a stretch, I'd vote Van Dyke as a more likely contender to get to his 100th birthday.

 

Dennis Skinner: 75%, has been deteriorating apparently rapidly with his ongoing dementia battle and rarely (if ever) still makes public appearances. 2026 is a challenging task for this one, but not impossible.

 

Ian Smith: 90%, terminal cancer pick, one of the most likely to go this year of the 50 IMO. Only thing that takes away the final 10% is that he says his tumours have recently shrunk and his doctors give him a little more than a year (at maximum).

 

Esther Rantzen: 90%, pretty much a guarantee she will not see 2026, despite new drugs recently working in her favour. She may even go out with euthanasia, if legally authorised for her.

 

Nigel Starmer-Smith: 90%, my vote for 1st death of 2025, I see him going at 80 within the next month. His time is due. He has been battling frontotemporal dementia for nearly five years, and looked dead in 2021.

 

Alan Greenspan: 30%, age-related pick, has been worryingly quiet as of late, but no news is often good news in this business. Should make 100 over Pete Murray and Dick Van Dyke IMO.

 

Linda Nolan: 40%, despite her illness continuing to spiral into a dangerous outcome, she always seems to brush herself off and keep going, plus she's one of the youngest picks yet again. Bring on 2026, I can hear her saying.

 

Mel Brooks: 20%, ancient but as healthy as hell, would be surprised if he did not see 100 next year.

 

Cleo Laine: 50%, I'm torn over this one, she looked much better last birthday than the one before and is clearly well looked after. I can see her lasting until 2026, pulling out aged 98 years old.

 

Stanley Baxter: 90%, how did he get out of 2024 alive? Crazy, especially for a man who has been so depressed with himself his whole life and will turn 100 next year (only he won't make it). Still time for him to go aged 98 like Leslie; I see him as one of the first hits of the year.

 

Noam Chomsky: 90%, we thought he had days this time last year, and that was before we knew the full story. He must be on his way out.

 

Sandy Gall: 30%, boring ageist pick, could go anytime but no good reason why he shouldn't see 2026, has been active well into his 90s. I can understand him starting to slow down now.

 

Jean-Marie Le Pen: 85%, clock is ticking; something health wise has gone wrong for this man every year since 2022. This year, I feel he will finally be struck by something he won't be able to come back from.

 

Clint Eastwood: 25%, better picks out there, but his partner's recent death with some rumoured health issues, and of course his advanced age, make this choice respectable enough. Should see 2026 though.

 

Sonny Rollins: 60%, sounded well enough in 2023, but how his condition has turned since is unclear. As one of the last jazz stars of his time, having suffered from pulmonary fibrosis for years, he must be getting near the end.

 

Tippi Hedren: 75%, no promises, but dementia took Gena Rowlands quicker than expected last year, Tippi is now in the firing line.

 

John Williams: 70%, has made a habit of cancelling recent concerts due to health concerns. He may make 2026, but I certainly wouldn't bet on it.

 

Yoko Ono: 85%, the DL played with fire dropping her last year, but got exceptionally lucky holding out for a long-shot return. Now, we're talking months, maybe weeks here.

 

Len Deighton: 60%, nothing definite, just a hunch this is his year and 96 is the age he'll go at.

 

Geoffrey Boycott: 40%, looked brilliant for his age + condition in latest photo, despite his recent run-in with cancer and pneumonia. Can see him making 2026.

 

Julie Goodyear: 85%, there were times I regretted not choosing her for last year's shadowlist. Pretty much a 2025 cert.

 

Imelda Marcos: 45%, too hard to call but she often recovers from all illnesses unscathed and looks in decent shape to this day, so 2026 is possible for her to get to.

 

Patricia Routledge: 40%, in good health for her age, but there is something about her soon being 96 years old that makes me think I should have kept her on my 2025 shadow list after all.

 

Prunella Scales: 65%, her husband's death will cause her excessive strain this year. 2026 for her is not to be ruled out, especially knowing the many times she has evaded DL predictions, but more likely she'll go in the coming months.

 

David Attenborough: 20%, ok, a 98-year-old A lister with a fitted pacemaker 10-11 years ago, but what else?

 

Gene Hackman: 50%, may well stretch into early 2026, but he looked worryingly frail last year, and at his age and with his heart history, he could go at any time.

 

Joanne Woodward: 85%, widowed since 2008, Alzheimers' since 2007, about to turn 95, 2026 seems highly unlikely, as did 2025, and 2024.

 

Robert Wagner: 15%, COPD can be deadly, but Mr. Hart is so far winning the battle and seems in fine fettle of late.

 

Desmond Morris: 15%, ancient pick seemingly in fine form. Next.

 

Hans Blix: 25%, not enough known about his recent health status, but I can see him holding out to 98 like Jacques Delors did (both men of similar appearance/height and build).

 

Bernie Ecclestone: 20%, could go on for a few years yet. Nothing dangerous in his health file, just very old.

 

Jim Lovell: 25%, should see 2026 although I got some Christmas photo 2023 Alain Delon vibes, when I saw Jim's latest photo (in which he is now wheelchair bound). At least Jim looked all there mentally.

 

Douglas Hurd: 60%, it will be this year or next, but his rumoured Alzheimer's could ultimately make it this year.

 

Angie Dickinson: 5%, worst pick of the year, don't understand this one's return one bit. I would have been happier to see Alan Alda back. She could very well outlive Eva Marie Saint, Angie seems like a certain future centenarian.

 

Clive Davis: 30%, any health info on this one? None I've seen, so I have good faith he'll make it to 2026 alive and kicking.

 

Harvey Weinstein: 60%, leukemia is a sure death sentence, but he has cheated death so many times already I begin to wonder whether he even did in the first place. 2026 a challenge, but not off the table. 

 

Hal Linden: 10%, similar to Angie, little or no chance he'll check out before 2026.

 

Buzz Aldrin: 80%, soon to be 95-year-old, on oxygen and wheelchair bound in recent photos. How could this one make it to 2026?

 

Petula Clark: 20%, clean bill of health as of late should propel her to the 2026 starting line without a fuss.

 

Robert Duvall: 55%, a random 2025 death waiting to happen I say.

 

Rupert Murdoch: 30%, no he still has some more marriages to get through.

 

Rex Williams: 80%, as everyone keeps saying "a wonderful boomerang pick". I would be surprised if he makes 92 or at least dies at 92 (hardly any celebrities do go at 92, though Yoko Ono probably will).

 

Giorgio Armani: 15%, lazy addition, one of the worst in recent times. Mahathir Mohamad or Don King would have been better contenders for this position.

 

Brian Wilson: 40%, not a bad pick but has promise to see 2026 IMO.

 

Kim Novak: 20%, nothing really to justify this pick other than old age.

 

Frankie Valli: 40%, hanging out to go in 2026 IMO, not nearly as ill as some people are making out.

 

Asma al-Assad: 65%, her case of leukemia is not an easy one to beat.

 

Stuart Hall: 75%, so little known about his current condition it's hard to say, but he must be on his way out.

 

 

 

Going by this (those more than 50%) we're looking at 23 hits, those being: Murray, Skinner, Smith, Rantzen, Starmer-Smith, Baxter, Chomsky, Le Pen, Rollins, Hedren, J. Williams, Ono, Deighton, Goodyear, Scales, Woodward, Hurd, Weinstein, Aldrin, Duvall, Williams, al-Assad, Hall.

 

[Bibliogryphon 9,687]

I think the list looks quite impressive

 

Clive Davies was the only name that didn't leap out at me.

 

I will think on how many will actually deliver later

[The Daredevil 1,222]

A missed opportunity for Leo Beenhakker's return.

[David Young 0]

I will make two predictions for this list:

 

At least ten of the people will die this year.

Of those ten, at least three will be people making their first appearance this year.

 

[Book 3,668]

A few thoughts on the DL.

It has potential, of course, but we thought the same about the DL 2024... And yes, it has to deliver this year too, another flop would be unbearable. So at least a double-digit value in the middle range should be achieved to satisfy the DL fans. Can this be achieved? I am optimistic and say Yes, double-digit figures should be achievable.

 

I welcome the inclusion of Eva Marie Saint and Tippi Hedren, but I would have really liked to have seen Joan Plowright here.

 

Dick Van Dyke as No. 1 was apparently inevitable. One can only hope that he retires this year because he will probably block the top spot until he dies. That will get pretty boring in the long run (actually already). Of course he has to stay on the list, but does it always have to be No. 1?

 

I think the return of Yoko Ono, David Attenborough and Douglas Hurd is good and right, but I cannot fully understand the return of Angie Dickinson and Hal Linden.

 

At first I can't really understand the following newcomers, except that they are big names and old: Petula Clark, Kim Novak, John Williams, Giorgio Armani.

In contrast, I miss Peter Yarrow and Sophie Kinsella as newcomers and interesting new picks and also King Charles.

 

It was certainly a difficult decision to part with 19 candidates. But when I see that e.g. Robert Wagner, Clint Eastwood and Patricia Routledge stayed, I would have preferred to keep Vanessa Redgrave, Roberta Flack and James Whale.

But that's all a matter of personal taste.

 

One can only hope that this list does much, much better than the last one, so good luck DL 2025!

[Sean 6,561]

4 hours ago, Bentrovato said:

Which one of the committee has PTSD due to an unresolved incident as a child while watching Mary Poppins? Dick Van Dyke  has another ten years. 

That cockney accent was atrocious to be fair.

[The Old Crem 3,699]

It’s almost a Dick Van Dyke day today on British TV? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is on now and later it’s Mary Poppins. Appropriate to mark his return to being N.1

[The Old Crem 3,699]

5 hours ago, Sean said:

My initial thoughts about this list is meh not inspiring but not terrible.

 

Some good new names.Saint, Hedren Weinstein , Lovell, Deighton and John  Williams are all really good additions

 

Not sure about Asma al_Assad but could be an inspired pick.

 

Hall seems a natural no 50 pick.I do worry he could have died off radar though.

 

Some of the Drops are good calls such as Redgrave,Cheney Bugner,Walters and Stone but others are really bad calls imo particularly Flack but also Turner and Law.

 

Disappointed that Yarrow isn't on the list such an obvious early miss for the committee.Would also liked to have seen Don King ,Mujica ,Willis ,Miklosko and Kinsella on the list.

 

Great to see Attenborough, Hurd, Rex Williams,Wilson and Ono back on the list.

 

Wondered if King Charles would make an appearance but understand why he didn't 

 

Can see the list making double digits but not expecting a great year.

 

 

Redgrave sounded even worse on the Christmas Call the Midwife’s so I’m not sure if she is a good drop. 

[Sean 6,561]

23 minutes ago, The Old Crem said:

Redgrave sounded even worse on the Christmas Call the Midwife’s so I’m not sure if she is a good drop. 

She sounds bad every year on the Xmas special.She is still working and out and about not reliant on oxygen in public.Doesnt strike me as someone I'll enough to stay on the list when 19 drops were required.

[Lewd_Squirrel 332]

Not that bad of a list, this year.

[msc 18,663]

8 hours ago, Summer in Transylvania said:

Ronnie Biggs mentions it in his autobiography, if I recall correctly. His involvement spreads even to one of his carers(?) creating an account on his behalf.

 

Edit: Not a carer, but his biographer. The account is called CriticalDivide in case anyone was wondering.

Yeah Ronnie's DL description was Ambassador (a joke on him hiding in Brazil for decades) and when he saw it he took it literally as him being DL Ambassador, so he'd shout-out to the regulars in interviews and wear DL merchandise in public. It was all good fun in the way violent train robberies aren't.

 

Sam Simon used to read the forum too and then go "still alive, wankers" on Twitter...until he wasn't alive. 

 

There was one big name UK politician who, on finding their name on the DDP in the mid-00s, then entered their own DDP team but the information on who is lost now. 

[Fox B 33]

IMO, the drops from least risky to most risky:

 

1. Julie Walters - Really don't see her dying within the next few years.
2. Joe Bugner - Doesn't look to be doing too bad
3. Raul Castro - Still active and doesn't have any severe health issues from what I can gather
4. Daniel Barenboim - Seems to be doing OK
5. Tom Baker - Old but looks to be doing fine.
6. Sly Stone - Not that old yet, only seems to have COPD. My grandmother is a similar age and has survived for years with it, could see him having another few years left
7. Dick Cheney - Is at the upper life expectancy for heart transplant patients but overall I don't think he'll die this year.
8. Josef Fritzl - Could be exaggerating his health issues for all we know
9. Brigitte Bardot - Numerous health problems but think she could still have another couple years left
10. Louis Farrakhan - 50/50 on him.
11. Tom Brokaw - Cancer survivor and apparently has around the clock home care now,.
12. Willie Nelson - Survived bad COVID and has now surpassed his sister's lifespan. He looks decent enough but who knows.
13. Norman Tebbit - Previous heart incidents, lost his wife four years ago and has barely been seen in public since
14. Pope Francis - Only has one working lung, looks increasingly rough, and has had lots of small health issues throughout the past few years. Seems like too big a miss given Pope Benedict was also dropped.
15. Ted Turner - Lewy body dementia for at least 6 years
16. James Whale - Terminal cancer for years and has had more Last Christmases than a clothing shop in December.
17. Denis Law - Definitely think he'll be the next big football related death.
18. Vanessa Redgrave - 87, had a nearly fatal heart attack a decade ago, suffers from emphysema, lungs apparently only working at 30% capacity.
19. Roberta Flack - Only one I strongly disagree with.

Overall, I'm fine with the drops. I think the committee did a good job given the hand they were dealt. As I said originally, they were screwed either way having to drop 19 people.

[Deathrace 1,193]

Is it my imagination or are two of the top 50 doppelgangers for each other? 

[Master Obit 878]

The negatives: 

 

I don't really see what the point of the "suggestions for 2025" thread was if there was never any question of them deviating from their "pick anyone famous who is 90+" strategy. 41/50 picks are 90+. Similar to the rule that no more than half the list can have featured the previous year, I think it'd be much more exciting if there was a rule that no more than half the picks can be 90+

 

Just as Rob Burrow and Jonnie Irwin were missed last year despite being virtually guaranteed hits, Steve McMichael and Peter Yarrow are overlooked this year. Roberta Flack being dropped is extremely risky. There are still too many bed-blockers for my liking - Greenspan, Murray and Gall are all going to be kept on the list until they die by the look of it despite the fact they're only really on it for being extremely old and there's no reason to assume they won't all plod on to 104. They're very much a "committee is in their 60s, and these people were slightly relevant decades ago but no one young would know them" feel to them. 

 

 

The positives:

 

Dick Cheney has finally been dropped, and I'm glad to see some of the other boring picks like Daniel Barenboim gone (even if they've been replaced by other boring picks). Yoko Ono is a great returnee. I reckon there might be twice as many hits as last year, which sounds great until you remember there were only six last year.

[The Immortal 656]

For the new picks I think that Hedren, Saint, John Williams, Goodyear and even Valli are solid choices. Good to see Brian Wilson return as well.

 

Giorgio Armani is a surprising inclusion, he seems pretty healthy for his age and I would have much rather gone for say Luciano Benetton or Valentino if I really wanted a fashion businessman on the list. Same thing with Kim Novak where they could have easily chosen another actress of similar age in worse health. Bernie Ecclestone I also feel could have waited a year or two. Lovell is also a surprise considering we already have an astronaut on the DL. 

 

Flack, Brokaw, Tebbit and maybe Whale are risky drops. The others seem fine to me.

 

Personally I think Jack Nicholson, Richard Wilson and Peter Yarrow could have made great additions for the DL. Alan Alda returning also wouldn't have been a bad idea. Either way hope to see a better result for the DL this time around considering the amount of 90+ picks on there.