2017

Dead Pool 16th July 2017

Another pointless week, in fact a rather slow news week too. Not that many deaths, and those who did kick the bucket were rather niche to say the least! Time to free the flying monkeys we feel.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

  • Chuck Blazer, 72, American soccer administrator, informant for the 2015 FIFA corruption case, colorectal cancer.
  • Fresh Kid Ice, 53, American rapper (2 Live Crew).
  • Marie Josephine Gaudette, 115, American-born Italian supercentenarian and nun, nation’s oldest person.
  • Maryam Mirzakhani, 40, Iranian mathematician and academic, Fields Medalist (2014), breast cancer.

In Other News 

Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri suffered “serious and permanent brain damage” after collapsing in a friendly match on Saturday. The 20-year-old had “cardiac arrhythmias” – heart rhythm problems – during the game against Werder Bremen. The club statement said the chances of recovery from the damage is nil. It added: “The diagnosis was made that a lot of his brain is not functioning. All this probably occurred due to a lack of oxygen supply.” On Monday, the club had said tests showed his “heart is functioning normally” and brain scans did not detect “any anomalies” – but new tests revealed the extent of the damage. The Amsterdam-born player was flown by helicopter to hospital in Austria – where the abandoned friendly match was being played.

Aretha Franklin has cancelled another scheduled performance due to ill health. The music icon was set to headline the second annual Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts on 19th August. However, undisclosed  health issues have caused Aretha to pull out of the show, with a representative for production company Innovation Arts & Entertainment confirming her cancellation. “The staff of MV Concert Series wishes Ms. Franklin a full recovery and holds out hope that we may someday host the Queen of Soul in concert on Island,” they said in a statement. Due to the late notice, concert organisers have not been able to find a replacement act and all purchased tickets for the Vineyard show have been refunded. Of late, the Respect hitmaker has also cancelled gigs in Chicago, Illinois and Toronto in Canada due to health concerns. In recent years, the 75-year-old has cut down on her performance schedule and in 2010, she had to cancel shows to undergo emergency abdominal surgery. She later revealed she had a tumour removed. Earlier this year, Aretha announced she will be retiring after her next album is released in September.

A couple tried to recreate an infamous scene from Dirty Dancing – and ended up in hospital. Andy and Sharon Price were left unconscious after their attempt failed and they collided, leading to a blue-light dash in an ambulance to A&E. The engaged pair had watched the 80s movie more than 30 times and wanted to do the famous lift on their big day. But practicing their moves in a pub garden wasn’t the best idea – Andy, 51, was knocked out cold and Sharon, 52, was bruised and severely winded. Jennifer Grey made leaping into the arms of Patrick Swayze so much easier, but for the Price’s it ended in drama. At first, their family members thought they were messing around, but realised it was serious and dialled 999. Sharon said doctors at Southmead Hospital in Bristol laughed when they discovered how they’d got their injuries. They’ve known each other for 18 months and plan to tie the knot later this year. But now, instead of dancefloor acrobatics, they’ll be settling for a “slow one” for their first dance instead.

On This Day

  • 1661 – The first banknotes in Europe are issued by the Swedish bank Stockholms Banco.
  • 1935 – The world’s first parking meter is installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
  • 1945 – Manhattan Project: The Atomic Age begins when the United States successfully detonates a plutonium-based test nuclear weapon near Alamogordo, New Mexico.
  • 1969 – Apollo program: Apollo 11, the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon, is launched from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Will Ferrell (50), Phoebe Cates (54), Corey Feldman (46), Travis Fimmel (38), Diane Kruger (41), Brigitte Nielsen (54), Forest Whitaker (56), Jan-Michael Vincent (73), Celia Imrie (65), Jesse Ventura (66), Jackie Earle Haley (56), Matthew Fox (51), Harry Dean Stanton (91), David Mitchell (43), Harrison Ford (75), Patrick Stewart (77), Michelle Rodriguez (39), Anna Friel (41), Cheryl Ladd (66), Tamsin Greig (51), Bill Cosby (80), Stephen Lang (65), Sofía Vergara (45), Peter Serafinowicz (45), Chiwetel Ejiofor (40), John Simm (47) and Jessica Simpson (37).


Dead Pool 9th July 2017

Apologies for the lateness of this weeks edition, life got in the way. I’ll try not to let that happen again. Without further ado…

Look Who You Could Have Had:

  • Stevie Ryan, 33, American actress and comedian (Stevie TV), suicide by hanging.
  • Joe Robinson, 90, British actor (A Kid for Two FarthingsThe Loneliness of the Long Distance RunnerThor and the Amazon Women)
  • Carol Lee Scott, 74, English actress (Grotbags).
  • Ji-Tu Cumbuka, 77, American actor (RootsBlaculaMandingo)
  • Joan Boocock Lee, 95, British-born American voice actress (Spider-ManFantastic Four) and model, complications from a stroke
  • Nelsan Ellis, 39, American actor (True BloodGet on UpElementary), complications from heart failure.

In Other News

Oscar-winning actress Olivia de Havilland is very much alive and well as she is suing the makers of a television show which she says portrayed her as a “petty gossip”. De Havilland, who turns 101 on Saturday, filed a lawsuit against FX Networks and producer Ryan Murphy over the miniseries Feud: Bette and Joan. The drama explored the bad blood between the Hollywood screen legends Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. The actress, who appeared in 50 films, was played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. In papers filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, de Havilland – who was made a dame in the Queen’s birthday honours in June – said the show’s characterisation of her damaged her “professional reputation for integrity, honesty, generosity, self-sacrifice and dignity”. The Gone With The Wind star is asking a jury to consider the emotional distress caused by the show, as well as potential financial losses and the profits made from using her identity. De Havilland – the only person depicted in the series who is still alive – also said she was not consulted.

Sheila Michaels, an American feminist who brought the honorific “Ms” into mainstream use, has died aged 78. Ms Michaels did not invent the term, but is credited with rescuing it from obscurity after she saw it used in an address, thinking it was a typo. “Ms” did not convey a woman’s marital status, unlike the traditional options “Mrs” or “Miss”. “I had never seen it before: It was kind of arcane knowledge,” she said. Speaking to the New York Times in an interview last year for her own obituary, she said the honorific resonated with her, both as a feminist and as the child of unmarried parents. Years later, she brought it up casually, during a lull in conversation on broadcast radio – where it was heard by others, and began to attract attention, from there there was no stopping it. Ms Michaels leaves a legacy both minute and momentous: two consonants and a small dot – three characters that forever changed English discourse.

And finally, a story that could be classed as a mountainous molehill, a woman who shared a video of herself urinating on an American flag has asked that people stop targeting her family, saying they do not support her actions. Emily Lance received online threats of murder and rape after posting the video during Independence Day celebrations. Her account is no longer on Facebook but she previously posted that her father and his workplace had also been “targeted”, reports say. However, desecrating the US flag is not illegal due to strong freedom of speech laws. In the video, Ms Lance is seen standing over a toilet on which a US flag is draped, and urinating on it with the aid of a she-wee. She captioned it with: “F*** your nationalism. F*** your country. F*** your stupid f****** flag”. Later she made a plea for her opponents not to “take your anger out on the wrong people”, saying no-one in her family “agrees with my shenanigans”. “What don’t you people understand? You’re celebrating freedom while damning me for doing the same. You can’t have it both ways,” she said. President Trump declined to comment, even though we all know he is partial to a bit of female wee.

On This Day

Deaths

  • 1932 – King Camp Gillette, U.S. businessman, founded the Gillette Company (b. 1855)
  • 2002 – Rod Steiger, American actor (b. 1925)
  • 2011 – Würzel, English guitarist (b. 1949)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Tom Hanks (61), Kelly McGillis (60), Fred Savage (41), Brian Dennehy (79), Courtney Love (53), O.J. Simpson (70), Kevin Bacon (59), Jaden Smith (19), Anjelica Huston (66), Jeffrey Tambor (73), Shelley Duvall (68), Jack Whitehall (29), Ringo Starr (77), Kate Nash (30), Eva Green (37), Sylvester Stallone (71), Geoffrey Rush (66), Kevin Hart (38), Burt Ward (72), Jennifer Saunders (59), 50 Cent (42), Edie Falco (54), RZA (48), Huey Lewis (67), Gina Lollobrigida (90), Neil Morrissey (55), Ronni Ancona (49), Tom Cruise (55), Kurtwood Smith (74), Yeardley Smith (53), Lindsay Lohan (31), Larry David (70), Jerry Hall (61) and Peter Kay (44).


Dead Pool 2nd July 2017

Halfway through the year!!!! Sadly no points to be awarded on this momentous point in the game, but as you all know, ’tis a fickle game we play and it can go any way very quickly. We were surprised that nobody had good old Barry Norman, he’s been listed quite a few times in the past, but nobody deemed him worthy this year.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

  • Michael Bond, 91, British children’s author (Paddington Bear).
  • Michael Nyqvist, 56, Swedish actor (Millennium, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, John Wick), lung cancer.
  • Ruth Pearson, 70, British dancer (Pan’s People), cancer.
  • Toytown, 24, British event horse.
  • Barry Norman, 83, British film critic and television presenter (Film…).

In Other News

Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he suffered a breakdown which almost forced him to pull out of the 2016 World Snooker Championship. O’Sullivan, who has battled a number of personal issues throughout his career, said he was in hospital for “four or five days” during last year’s tournament. The five-time World Champion had defeated David Gilbert 10-7 in the opening round at The Crucible but refused to attend his post-match press conference and reportedly smashed up his dressing room. Speaking on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme, O’Sullivan admitted: “I didn’t intentionally smash it up. Not many people know this, but I was suffering. I’d had a massive workload, probably too much – I’d worked myself to the bone. The pressure of that tournament was too much and straight after that match I was driven straight down to London and I was in a hospital for four or five days. I was physically exhausted and just on a low. They helped me out, I had a few days in there, had some medication to try and keep me going and it was touch and go whether I was going to play in the Second Round.” O’Sullivan was declared fit to return to action but exited the competition in the Second Round after a narrow 13-12 defeat to Barry Hawkins. Widely regarded as snooker’s most naturally gifted star, ‘The Rocket’s’ personal problems have been well-publicised over the past three decades. He has previously admitted to suffering from clinical depression and has had drug-related problems.

US tennis star Venus Williams has been involved in a car crash that led to the death of a 78-year-old man. A spokesman for Palm Beach Gardens police in Florida confirmed to the media they were investigating a fatal crash involving the Grand Slam champion. A man was taken to hospital after the accident on 9th June and died two weeks later from his injuries, he said. Police believe she was at fault but her lawyer says it was an accident. She has not been cited or charged. The man who died, Jerome Barson, was travelling with his wife who was driving their vehicle through an intersection when the collision happened. Ms Williams’ car suddenly darted into their path and was unable to clear the junction in time due to traffic jams, according to witness statements in a police report obtained by US media. Mrs Barson was also taken to hospital but survived. “[Ms Williams] is at fault for violating the right of way of [the other driver],” the report said, adding that there were no other factors like drugs, alcohol or mobile phone distractions. The 37-year-old, seven-time Grand Slam champion reportedly told police she did not see the couple’s car and she was driving slowly.  Ms Williams’ lawyer Malcolm Cunningham told CNN in a statement: “Ms Williams entered the intersection on a green light. The police report estimates that Ms Williams was travelling at 5mph when Mrs Barson crashed into her. “Authorities did not issue Ms Williams with any citations or traffic violations. This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one.”

A playboy who tried to blackmail the Royal Family over a gay sex scandal killed himself by taking a lethal cocktail of drugs, an inquest heard today. Ian Strachan, 40, tried to extort £50,000 after claiming he had video of an unnamed man performing a sex act on a male aide and taking cocaine. But he was branded a fantasist and jailed for five years in 2008, serving 2½ years. Strachan, whose real name was Paul Adalsteinsson, used different names — including Paul Stein — to obtain a variety of prescription drugs which he popped “like sweets,” the inquest heard. He had registered to three separate practices, two GPs and a private clinic. His left leg was amputated following a 30ft fall from a balcony in 2013, and he was visiting numerous hospitals — including Chelsea and Westminster and St Thomas’ — for surgery. Last year he suffered two heart attacks and became violent towards his mother, Westminster Coroner’s Court heard. In the hours before his death he had become aggressive and sent texts at 1am to his mum Elizabeth Stratton, who had been for lunch with him the day before. The text messages read: “You want a body, you have got one. It will be a different day tomorrow, I won’t be here.” He was found collapsed on Christmas Eve after taking codeine, maxicodone, xopicone and other prescription drugs mixed with milk. Toxicology reports also found cocaine in his system. Strachan was described at the 2008 Old Bailey blackmail trial as a fantasist who had a wild party lifestyle. He concocted the elaborate plot with fellow blackmailer Sean McGuigan, who also got five years. The pair demanded the cash for sex and drugs recordings said to be of an unnamed, married royal.

On This Day

  • 1698 – Thomas Savery patents the first steam engine.
  • 1934 – The Night of the Long Knives ends with the death of Ernst Röhm.
  • 1937 – Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan are last heard from over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight.
  • 1962 – The first Wal-Mart store opens for business in Rogers, Arkansas.

Deaths

  • 1566 – Nostradamus, French astrologer and author (b. 1503)
  • 1850 – Robert Peel, English lieutenant and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1788)
  • 1961 – Ernest Hemingway, American novelist, short story writer, and journalist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1899)
  • 1973 – Betty Grable, American actress, singer, and dancer (b. 1916)
  • 1991 – Lee Remick, American actress (b. 1935)
  • 1993 – Fred Gwynne, American actor (b. 1926)
  • 1997 – James Stewart, American actor (b. 1908)
  • 2013 – Douglas Engelbart, American computer scientist, invented the computer mouse (b. 1925)
  • 2016 – Caroline Aherne, English actress and comedian (b. 1963)
  • 2016 – Michael Cimino, American director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1939)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Pamela Anderson (50), Olivia de Havilland (101), Liv Tyler (40), Dan Aykroyd (65), Geneviève Bujold (75), Debbie Harry (72), David Prowse (82), Vincent D’Onofrio (58), Mike Tyson (51), Gary Busey (73), Amanda Donohoe (55), John Cusack (51), Mel Brooks (91), Felicia Day (38), Kathy Bates (69), Alice Krige (63), Elon Musk (46), Tobey Maguire (42), J.J. Abrams (51), Ariana Grande (24), Ricky Gervais (56) and Carly Simon (72).


Dead Pool 25th June 2017

Afternoon Poolers, another week passes but no more points awarded. You’d have thought that with these record breaking heatwaves we’ve been experiencing that someone of note would have kicked the bucket, but our bucket is empty yet again this week. We’re just about half way through the year and to be fair, most of us have scored, which is unusual in itself. But don’t worry if you have yet to score, a good Cert will get you at least halfway up the table.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

  • Tim Hague, 34, Canadian mixed martial artist (UFC, WSOF, KOTC), brain haemorrhage from boxing match.
  • Brian Cant, 83, British actor (Dappledown Farm) and television presenter (Play School), complications of Parkinson’s disease.
  • Zoltan Sarosy, 110, Hungarian-born Canadian chess master.
  • Virginia Moyano, 113, Argentine supercentenarian, nation’s oldest person, cardiac arrest.
  • Prodigy, 42, American rapper (Mobb Deep), complications from sickle cell anemia.

In Other News

The Duke of Edinburgh has left hospital after being admitted as “a precautionary measure”. Prince Philip was treated at the private King Edward VII Hospital, in central London, for an infection arising from a pre-existing condition. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman had said on Wednesday that the 96-year-old was in good spirits. We understands his condition is “not a cause for serious concern”. He had been with the Queen at Trooping the Colour on Saturday and the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. However, after being admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening, he missed Wednesday’s State Opening of Parliament, where his place was taken by the Prince of Wales, and a second day at Ascot. BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that, given the duke was treated for a pre-existing condition, it is safe to assume he has been suffering from the recurrence of the bladder infection he suffered twice in 2012. Prince Philip has spent much of his life in good health, but he was treated for a blocked coronary artery in 2011 and the bladder infection the following year.

For the first time in 23 years, Ant and Dec could go their separate ways in the wake of Ant McPartlin’s battle with alcohol and prescription drugs – at least temporarily. With Ant currently getting treatment for his addictions at a rehab facility, ITV are thought to be giving him a year off work to recover fully – meaning the other half of the famous presenting duo, Declan Donnelly, could end up going solo for huge projects like I’m A Celebrity in November. An insider said that no decision has yet been taken about Ant’s work schedule for the next few months and that no-one at the broadcaster wants to rush him before he’s well again. Ant released a shock statement last weekend admitting to substance abuse as a result of a botched knee operation two years ago. The injury had left him hooked on the prescription painkiller Tramadol and using alcohol to numb the pain.

In another addiction story, Tiger Woods’s manager has confirmed the golfer has checked into rehabilitation as he seeks to handle medication issues linked to his recent arrest for driving under the influence. Woods was taken into custody by police in Florida on 29 May, having been found asleep at the wheel of his car by the side of the road. Police officials confirmed a breathalyser test as taken by Woods – who was disorientated and unsure of where he was – for alcohol consumption was blank, with the 14-time major champion later insisting upon an “unexpected reaction” to prescription medication. On Monday, Woods issued an update which read as follows: “I’m currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder. I want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of support and understanding, especially the fans and players on tour.”

And finally, a Brazilian pilot who crash-landed into an Amazon river, saving the life of his passenger, has died after falling from a rescue helicopter. The single-engine plane managed to land on the river after an electrical fault. It submerged within seconds. Both pilot and passenger managed to escape and waited hours to be rescued in a hard to reach area in the jungle. When rescuers threw a rope for them to climb up, the pilot lost his grip, fell into the river and was dragged away. The 64-year-old pilot, Elcides Rodrigues Pereira, has been hailed as a hero after footage emerged of the dramatic crash landing, last Wednesday, in the northern state of Roraima. Mr Pereira and Ednilson Cardoso, a 28-year-old nursing technician, were on a health mission to visit a remote indigenous tribe. Mr Cardoso told local media that he had tied the rope around the pilot, who was tired, but he fell into the Catrimani river. The failed rescue operation was organised by the owners of the aircraft, and not by the authorities. Fire-fighters only managed to find the body of the pilot on Saturday.

On This Day

  • 1876 – Battle of the Little Bighorn and the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.
  • 1947The Diary of a Young Girl (better known as The Diary of Anne Frank) is published.
  • 1950 – The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
  • 1978 – The rainbow flag representing gay pride is flown for the first time during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.

Deaths

  • 1976 – Johnny Mercer, American singer-songwriter, co-founded Capitol Records (b. 1909)
  • 1997 – Jacques Cousteau, French oceanographer and explorer (b. 1910)
  • 2009 – Farrah Fawcett, American actress and producer (b. 1947)
  • 2009 – Michael Jackson, American singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, & actor (b. 1958)
  • 2015 – Patrick Macnee, English actor (b. 1922)

Last Week’s Birthdays

Iain Glen (56), Peter Weller (70), Nancy Allen (67), Selma Blair (45), Joss Whedon (53), Frances McDormand (60), Duffy (33), Meryl Streep (68), Bruce Campbell (59), Kris Kristofferson (81), Lindsay Wagner (68), Stephen Chow (55), Tim Russ (61), Cyndi Lauper (64), Chris Pratt (38), Juliette Lewis (44), Lana Wachowski (52), Lana Del Rey (32), Nicole Kidman (50), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (28), John Goodman (65), Robert Rodriguez (49), Martin Landau (89), Danny Aiello (84), Olympia Dukakis (86), Miles O’Keeffe (63), Zoe Saldana (39), Aidan Turner (34), Kathleen Turner (63), Gena Rowlands (87), Sadie Frost (52), Paula Abdul (55), Richard Madden (31), Isabella Rossellini (65) and Paul McCartney (75).


Dead Pool 18th June 2017

Welcome all, a quiet week this week, no points scored and a dire lack of celebrity news. However we’ve managed to cobble together a little something worth reading, don’t ask how, we’re just brilliant here at Dead Pool Towers.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher died from sleep apnoea and “other factors”, the Los Angeles  County coroner says. Her death certificate said in January that the 60-year-old, best known for her role as Princess Leia, had suffered a cardiac arrest. But in a statement the LA coroner said the exact cause was unknown. Sleep apnoea is a common condition in which a person stops breathing during sleep, either for a few seconds or minutes. As well as listing sleep apnoea as a cause of death, the coroner’s statement cited other factors, including heart disease and drug use. In a statement released to People magazine after the coroner’s ruling, Fisher’s daughter Lourd said: “My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life. She ultimately died of it. “She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases.” Her manner of death would be listed as undetermined, the coroner’s statement said. Fisher had been on tour promoting her book The Princess Diarist when she was taken ill on a flight from London to Los Angeles on 23rd December. She never regained consciousness and died on 27 December at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre.

A Spanish bullfighter has died after being gored during a festival in southwest France. Ivan Fandino, 36, caught his feet in his cloak and fell to the floor, where he was gored by the bull. He suffered a lung injury and died on his way to hospital from a heart attack on Saturday, French media say. Fandino, who was taking part in the Aire-sur-l’Adour bullfighting festival near Pau, is reportedly the first matador to die in France in a century. The Basque-born matador had already taken part in a competition earlier in the day before he was injured. Photographs showed he was conscious, but bleeding heavily, as he was led away from the ring. Last July, bullfighter Victor Barrio, 29, became the first matador to die in Spain in 30 years after he was gored during an event being aired live on television. Fandino had been injured at least twice in previous events – once in 2015, when thrown into the air by a bull in Pamplona, Spain, but more seriously the year before when he was knocked unconscious in Bayonne, France.

A man who became the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls without a protective device has died after apparently trying the stunt again in an inflatable ball, police say. The body of American Kirk Jones was found 12 miles (19km) downriver weeks after the ball was found empty and spinning at the bottom of the falls. In 2003 he suffered only cuts and bruises after plunging over the falls. Mr Jones, 53, said afterwards that he would never try such a thing again. New York State Park Police told the Syracuse Post-Standard that Mr Jones’s body had been found on 2nd June in the Niagara River near the village of Youngstown at the mouth of Lake Ontario. Police confirmed it was the same man who had survived the falls 14 years previously. Det Sgt Brian Nisbet told the newspaper it was believed Mr Jones had tried to go over the falls in a large inflatable ball on 19th April. The ball was recovered, empty, by the Maid of the Mist boat near the foot of the falls. In 2003 Mr Jones was fined by a Canadian court for performing an illegal stunt and banned from the country. Although his family said he had jumped as a daredevil act, Mr Jones later said he had been trying to kill himself. He told reporters afterwards that he felt “very happy to be alive”. “I understand what I did was wrong,” he said at the time. “You will never see an action in Niagara waters with my name written on it again.” In an interview with ABC television he described going over the falls and being “sucked inside… the curtain of the falls and enveloped in it”. He said he remembered spiralling at great speed with “unbelievable” pressure on his head and then feeling pain as he hit a slab of granite at the bottom. He said he briefly lost consciousness but came to under water, swam to the surface and took his first breath.

On This Day

  • 1429 – French forces under the leadership of Joan of Arc defeat the main English army under Sir John Fastolf at the Battle of Patay. This turns the tide of the Hundred Years’ War.
  • 1812 – The United States declaration of war upon the United Kingdom is signed by President James Madison, we’ve hated each other since. 
  • 1815 – Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Waterloo results in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher forcing him to abdicate the throne of France for the second and last time.
  • 1858 – Charles Darwin receives a paper from Alfred Russel Wallace that includes nearly identical conclusions about evolution as Darwin’s own, prompting Darwin to publish his theory.
  • 1873 – Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.
  • 1900 – Empress Dowager Cixi of China orders all foreigners killed, including foreign diplomats and their families. 117 years later, Theresa May will attempt the same feat. 
  • 1928 – Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilmer Stultz is the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).
  • 1940 – “Finest Hour” speech by Winston Churchill.
  • 1983 – Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Jason Patric (51), Ken Loach (81), Arnold Vosloo (55), Courteney Cox (53), Ice Cube (48), Helen Hunt (54), Neil Patrick Harris (44), Jim Belushi (63), Yasmine Bleeth (49), Donald J. Trump (71), Boy George (56), Chris Evans (36), Stellan Skarsgård (66), Ally Sheedy (55), Tim Allen (64), Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen (31), Malcolm McDowell (74), Richard Thomas (66), Simon Callow (68), Kathy Burke (53), Steve-O (43), Richard Ayoade (40), Shia LaBeouf (31), Peter Dinklage (48), Hugh Laurie (58), Adrienne Barbeau (72) and Jane Goldman (47).


Dead Pool 11th June 2017

Welcome all to yet another  deadly points extravaganza!! With the sad death of Peter Sallis, we can award the following people 54 points, Abi, Doug, Gwyn, Paul G, Louise, Martin and Vic. Sarai was the only one to get Adam West, so 62 points to her. Well done all of us! We’ve passed the halfway point now and things are certainly looking like this year might break all point scoring records.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Richard Hammond, the former star of Top Gear, has been airlifted to hospital after being involved in a serious car crash in a Swiss mountain race, according to reports. Swiss media 20 Minuten reported that the 47-year-old Grand Tour co-host crashed the car on a road that was closed for the Bergrennen Hemberg race. It’s now been confirmed that Hammond suffered a fractured knee but no serious injuries. Photos from the scene show a wrecked car in flames, which were later extinguished by firefighters. Hammond – who was in Switzerland filming scenes of Amazon series The Grand Tour alongside Jeremy Clarkson – was seriously injured in a car crash in September 2006, many of us think he’s never been quite right since. The latest incident comes less than three months after Hammond was injured falling off a motorbike while filming in a remote part of Mozambique. A spokesperson for The Grand Tour stated: “Richard was conscious and talking, and climbed out of the car himself before the vehicle burst into flames. Clarkson described it as the “biggest” and “most frightening” crash he had ever seen, commenting in a Twitter post: “Thankfully, Richard seems to be mostly OK.”

Former child star Amanda Bynes has confirmed she’s returning to acting during her first interview in four years. The 31-year-old has been out of the limelight in recent times after going through a difficult period that saw erratic behaviour and social media postings, as well as brushes with the law. But now Amanda is happy, healthy and loving life and  the star said she’s three years sober and looking forward to a bright future. The biggest revelation was Amanda’s declaration that she’s returning to Hollywood, despite quitting the industry in 2010. For now, the actress is enrolled at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, and is also hoping to release her own clothing line in the future. A stark change from being he actress who was released from a psychiatric facility in October 2014 after less than a month of treatment, and was then arrested for DUI in 2012, but avoided jail time by completing inpatient treatment and was placed on three years’ probation in early 2014. She was placed under the conservatorship of her mother Lynn in August 2013 after she set fire to a driveway, how.. what??

It has been confirmed that Stacy Keach suffered a heart attack onstage during the opening night performance of Pamplona at the Goodman Theatre, prompting a cancellation of the rest of the show’s run to allow him to recover. Keach took a moment to describe the experience “I felt like this great fog had come over me. It was the most bizarre moment of my entire career,” he said. He continued: “I was feeling no pain. The whole time, I was hoping that I was just in the middle of an actor’s nightmare, and then I would soon wake up and find myself back in the position where I knew what I was doing again.” It was originally reported that during the opening performance, Keach was getting lost in his monologue, “repeating large swaths of text three or four times and appearing confused and, for certain, far from his usual on-stage self.” Keach remains in the hospital, but is expected to be released from hospital on Tuesday and make a full recovery.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Elizabeth Hurley (52), Jürgen Prochnow (76), Johnny Depp (54), Natalie Portman (36), Michael J. Fox (56), Eddie Marsan (49), Griffin Dunne (62), Nancy Sinatra (77), Kanye West (40), Liam Neeson (65), Karl Urban (45), Michael Cera (29), Helen Baxendale (47), Bear Grylls (43), Paul Giamatti (50), Robert Englund (70), Sandra Bernhard (62), Gianna Michaels (34), Mark Wahlberg (46), Mel Giedroyc (49), Angelina Jolie (42), Noah Wyle (46), Bruce Dern (81), Russell Brand (42) and Sean Pertwee (53).


Dead Pool 4th June 2017

Welcome all, another week passes by and yet more  celebrities kick the bucket. This week   we have the joy of handing out points, with the sad demise of John Noakes, Martin scores 67 points, well done that man. This week we also learn that actress Sondra Locke is 73 years old and looks younger than I do.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John has revealed she has again been diagnosed with breast cancer and will postpone a number of planned tour dates as she embarks on treatment. A statement posted to her official Facebook page said the star of Grease and Xanadu was reluctantly cancelling some upcoming performances in the US and Canada after receiving the diagnosis. “The back pain that initially caused her to postpone the first half of her concert tour, has turned out to be breast cancer that has metastasised to the sacrum,” the post stated. The statement said the singer, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, would undergo treatment that included photon radiation therapy, as well as “natural wellness therapies”. Newton-John, 68, became an ardent supporter of breast cancer awareness and research after her initial battle with the disease. She underwent a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction at the time.

Golf star Tiger Woods was arrested on a drink-driving charge in Florida early on Monday morning, police say. Police recorded the arrest at 07:18 local time. The golfer was released a few hours later, records from Palm Beach County police show. The police record lists the charge as Driving Under the Influence (DUI). It specifies an unlawful blood alcohol level and says that he was released “on his own recognisance”, meaning he promised in writing to co-operate with future legal proceedings. The 41-year-old golfer has been recovering from recent back surgery and last blogged about his health on 24th May. He wrote that the surgery had relieved terrible pain and that he hadn’t “felt this good in years”. He said the outlook for a return to competitive golf was “positive” but that he was not in a “hurry”. “I want to play professional golf again but I’m not looking ahead,” he said. “I can’t twist for another two and a half to three months. Right now, my sole focus is rehab and doing what the doctors tell me. I am concentrating on short-term goals.” The mugshot shows a dishevelled Tiger Woods, bleary-eyed and unshaven – just the sort of image he would not want associated with himself in public. The picture will haunt him throughout these proceedings and beyond. This is someone who has put back together his public life after that epic fall from grace with all the news of the extramarital affairs that broke in 2009.

And finally, an Australian fisherman has described how a 200kg (440lb) great white shark leapt into his boat, knocking him over and lacerating his arm. Terry Selwood, 73, had dropped a line at his “usual spot” at Evans Head in New South Wales when the animal launched itself out of the water. He said the 2.7m (8.8ft) shark landed in the boat, which measured about 5m, and grazed him with its pectoral fin. Mr Selwood was rescued after radioing for help. “I was losing a fair amount of blood, I was stunned, I couldn’t register what happened and then I thought, ‘oh my God, I’ve got to get out of here,'” he told the media. “There I was on all fours and he is looking at me and I am looking at him, and then he started to do the dance around and shake and I could not get out quick enough.” Bill Bates, a member of Marine Rescue Evans Head, said his crew found Mr Selwood standing on the side of the boat covered in blood. “We offloaded the owner into our boat and gave him immediate first aid and stabilised the bleeding, it was a 5m boat so you can imagine there was no more room for people when the shark was in there.” The crew brought Mr Selwood to shore following the incident on Saturday, and he was taken to hospital. He has since gone home. New South Wales fishing authorities said the animal would undergo a post-mortem examination, which was standard practice for “any deceased shark in good condition”. “This enables us to take tissue and blood samples for ongoing science and research purposes,” a Department of Primary Industries spokeswoman said.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Imogen Poots (28), James Purefoy (53), Morena Baccarin (38), Dominic Cooper (39), Jewel Staite (35), Justin Long (39), Zachary Quinto (40), Liam Cunningham (56), Dana Carvey (62), Sally Kellerman (80), Amy Schumer (36), Morgan Freeman (80), Brian Cox (71), Jonathan Pryce (70), Rene Auberjonois (77), Heidi Klum (44), Alanis Morissette (43), Clint Eastwood (87), Colin Farrell (41), Brooke Shields (52), Lea Thompson (56), Tom Berenger (68), Sharon Gless (74), Colm Meaney (64), Stephen Tobolowsky (66), Duncan Jones (46), Keir Dullea (81), Jennifer Ellison (34), Leigh Francis (44), Annette Bening (59), Danny Elfman (64), Melanie Brown (42), Kylie Minogue (49), Gladys Knight (73) and Sondra Locke (73).


Dead Pool 28th May 2017

Welcome to a slightly pared down version of the newsletter.  Due to the events in Manchester recently, not so many celebrity stories graced the editorial pages. However, we do have points to award, namely 61 points to Jemm, Wendy & Millie for correctly predicting the sad loss of Sir Roger Moore.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Kim Woo-Bin, the South Korean actor and model, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, his talent agency SidusHQ confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. The Uncontrollably Fond star, who starred in breakout roles on KBS drama School in 2013 and 2013’s majorly popular The Heirs, is now battling nasopharyngeal cancer, a rare head and neck cancer that affects fewer than one in every 100,000 people in North America, although more common in parts of Asia, according to the American Cancer Society. He made the discovery after a hospital visit after reportedly feeling “abnormalities in his body.” Fortunately, Kim Woo-Bin seems to have found the cancer early, and has already begun treatment and radiation therapy. Kim Woo-Bin was set to start filming a new movie called Wiretap in July, but the film company confirmed that they’ll be pushing back the filming until he regains his health.

Actress Sarah Hyland has asked for privacy as she battles personal health issues that have been impacting her weight. The Modern Family star has appeared thinner of late, sparking concerns she may be suffering from an eating disorder, but the 26-year-old insists she’s struggling with an illness that has wreaked havoc on her body. “I haven’t had the greatest year,” Sarah wrote in a series of notes on Twitter on Wednesday. “Maybe one day I’ll talk about it, but for now I’d like my privacy.  “I will say that this year has brought a lot of changes and with that, physical changes. I have been told that I can’t work out, which, for me, is very upsetting.” Alluding to a medical diagnosis, the actress went on to reveal she has been forced to follow strict doctor’s orders. “I’ve basically been on bed rest for the past few months, I’ve lost a lot of muscle mass,” she shared. “My circumstances have put me in a place where I’m not in control of what my body looks like.” Sarah insists her weight loss is an unfortunate byproduct of the illness, adding she has been taking life-saving medication that has contributed to her extreme weight fluctuation.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Joseph Fiennes (47), Paul Bettany (46), Jack McBrayer (44), Louis Gossett Jr. (81), Helena Bonham Carter (51), Pam Grier (68), Bobcat Goldthwait (55), Philip Michael Thomas (68), Lenny Kravitz (53), Stevie Nicks (69), Doug Jones (57), John C. Reilly (52), Alfred Molina (64), Jim Broadbent (68), James Cosmo (69), Gary Burghoff (74), Priscilla Presley (72), Tommy Chong (79), Bob Dylan (76), Eric Cantona (51), Joan Collins (84), Melissa McBride (52), Drew Carey (59), Ginnifer Goodwin (39), Naomi Campbell (47), Judge Reinhold (60), Noel Fielding (44), Belladonna (36) and Mr. T (65).


Dead Pool 21st May 2017

Welcome all to a points extravaganza! With the death of that lovely gentleman, Ian Brady at the age of 79, we can award the following people 71 points. Myself, Paul G, Julia, Martin, Nicola, Abi, Julie & Gaz. Well done all of us.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Rolf Harris has been released from prison after serving almost three years. The 87-year-old left Stafford Prison early on Friday morning and was seen arriving at his home near Maidenhead in Berkshire. Harris was jailed in 2014 after being convicted of a number of kiddie-fiddling offences. He was driven away from the prison in a blue Ford Focus and arrived at his home shortly after 9am. He was accompanied by a security man and was helped from his car by a friend. Harris was wearing blue jeans and a denim jacket and appeared frail as he arrived at his house. The shamed former entertainer is currently standing trial at Southwark Crown Court and will have to appear in person when the case resumes on Monday. Harris, who denies four charges of indecent assault against three women between 1971 and 1983, had previously appeared via video link.

A hoax conspiracy theory that Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne is dead has resurfaced on the 15th anniversary of the release of her hit single Complicated. A Twitter user who claims to be a 17-year-old high school student and has more than 13,000 followers detailed the claim in a thread which has since been liked and retweeted nearly a quarter-of-a-million times in total. In the thread, they allege that the singer took her own life in late 2003 after her grandfather’s death. The theory says because her supposed “death” occurred at the peak of her career, Ms Lavigne’s record company hired a lookalike known as Melissa Vandella to impersonate her. Vandella was reportedly recruited beforehand to pose as the Canadian singer for paparazzi, the theory continues. This death hoax has surfaced several times in the last few years. Ms Lavigne was also the victim of another rumour, which said that she’d been killed in a snowboarding accident. Those who support the theory on Twitter back their claim with inconsistencies over the years in the appearance of the star’s skin, jawline, eye corners and fashion style as well as handwriting. Others cite a promo picture of the singer with the word Melissa written on her hand. Which gives us a slight issue at Dead Pool Towers, if the conspiracy is true and Melissa/Avril dies again, how many points will she score?

Sinead O’Connor has threatened to commit suicide if she doesn’t get her younger children back. The singer said child and family agency Tusla they will have a celebrity “death on their hands” if they continue to keep them from her. The mum of four took to Facebook on Friday night threatening she would attempt to take her life if the State body does not allow her access. The Nothing Compares 2 U star, 50, had been based in Chicago for most of last year following a reported suicide bid in Ireland days before Christmas 2015. Sinead sparked more concern earlier last year when she went missing for 24 hours on a bike ride around Chicago city but was later found safe and well. She now lives in New York. One would believe that such outbursts are reason enough to take her kids away from her.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Jack Gleeson (25), Cher (71), Louis Theroux (47), Peter Mayhew (73), Grace Jones (69), Tina Fey (47), Yun-Fat Chow (62), Miriam Margolyes (76), Megan Fox (31), Pierce Brosnan (64), Debra Winger (62), David Boreanaz (48), Danny Trejo (73), Tori Spelling (44), Janet Jackson (51), Cate Blanchett (48), Sofia Coppola (46), Tim Roth (56), George Lucas (73), Robert Zemeckis (65), Martine McCutcheon (41), Francesca Annis (72), Danny Huston (55), Siân Phillips (84) and Greg Davies (49).


Dead Pool 14th May 2017

Welcome all, not a lot has happened last week, so I’ll not drone on. Sad to see Robert Miles pass away without sharing that he had cancer with us, he could have been a high scorer!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Chris Froome, the British cyclist, has been rammed off the road in a hit-and-run attack. The three-time Tour de France winner and Olympic medallist’s bike was left badly damaged after he was struck “on purpose by an impatient driver”. Froome said he was “thankfully okay” after being deliberately hit by the driver, who is said to have followed him onto the pavement, while training in southern France. He has reported the incident to police in France, but it is unclear if officers will be able to trace the driver. The Telegraph understands that Froome tried to memorise the licence plate at the time, but was unable to recall it later. The incident took place on a quiet back road so there is unlikely to be any CCTV footage. Froome posted a picture on Twitter on Tuesday morning of his crumpled bike at the side of the road after it was “totaled” in the incident. Froome was unhurt and is understood to be already back out training as he prepares to try to win a fourth Tour de France title in five years this July.

In other sporting news, John McGuinness broke four vertebrae and three ribs in addition to the leg fracture that he sustained in his crash at the North West 200 on Thursday. Initial reports indicated McGuinness, 45, had sustained a  broken leg. The English rider’s Honda team said on Friday that McGuinness would remain in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital for another week. “John will wear a cast for up to six weeks in treatment for the vertebrae,” said the Honda statement. McGuinness’ injuries mean he will miss the Isle of Man TT which starts in two weeks. “John has been diagnosed with a compound fracture to his right lower leg, while in theatre on Thursday night it was not possible to plate the leg as initially thought due to the extent of the injury, and tomorrow an external fixator will be fitted,” added the Honda statement. “In addition, John has also suffered four broken vertebrae and has three broken back ribs.” McGuinness also dislocated a thumb during a Honda team test at Castle Combe in early April.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is not asleep when he closes his eyes for long periods during meetings but is resting his eyes, his spokesman says. “The president cannot suffer bright lights,” George Charamba was quoted as saying by the state-run Herald newspaper. Mr Mugabe, 93, has been seen apparently sleeping at several events, leading to speculation about his fitness. He intends to stand in presidential elections next year. The president is currently receiving specialised medical treatment for his eyes in Singapore. Mr Mugabe most recently appeared to fall asleep during a discussion panel about “fragile states” at a World Economic Forum meeting in South Africa earlier this month. There he stated that Zimbabwe was ‘one of the most developed countries in Africa’.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Samantha Morton (40), Robert Pattinson (31), Iwan Rheon (32), Harvey Keitel (78), Stephen Colbert (53), Zoë Wanamaker (68), Mark Heap (60), Malin Akerman (39), Emilio Estevez (55), Ving Rhames (58), Gabriel Byrne (67), Catherine Tate (49), Pam Ferris (69), Holly Valance (34), Rosario Dawson (38), Albert Finney (81), Billy Joel (68), Vicky McClure (34), David Attenborough (91), Enrique Iglesias (42) and Traci Lords (49).


Dead Pool 7th May 2017

An eventful week for news, but alas no scoring deaths. Although you could have had a couple of interesting Mavericks, by far the most interesting death of the week was Mbah Gotho, he would have scored you 4 points! Now that’s not a common occurrence.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

The world was plunged into uncertainty on Thursday morning when royal staff from across Britain were summoned to London for a “highly unusual” meeting at Buckingham Palace. Speculation abounded over whether the 91-year-old Queen or her 95-year-old husband, Prince Philip, had died. The Palace was quick to make clear that both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were in good health – but that Prince Philip would be taking a step back from public duties. With both Royals now in their 90s, it wasn’t the first time concerns over their health have been raised. The Guardian recently revealed the secret plan in place for when the Queen does eventually die, known as “London Bridge is Down”, but yesterday’s events have left many Britons wondering what happens when Prince Philip passes away. In the event of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, it is expected that the news will first be confirmed to the BBC. If he dies overnight, the announcement is likely to come at 8am local time. While the Queen’s consort is entitled to a full state funeral, Prince Philip has previously insisted that he does not want the “fuss” of lying in state at Westminster Hall. The Palace of Westminster is always on six-hour notice to prepare Westminster Hall for a lying-in-state, but authorities have reportedly been told this will not be necessary for Prince Philip. It is thought that his body would lie at St James’s Palace instead, where Princess Diana lay for several days before her funeral in 1997. The funeral is likely to be a low-key affair, with only Prince Philip’s family, friends and heads of state from Commonwealth countries attending a service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The Duke of Edinburgh would then be buried in Frogmore Gardens, in the grounds of Windsor Castle. After Prince Philip has died, if the Queen survives him, she will be expected to enter into an official period of mourning, which is believed to last eight days. During that period, laws will not be given the Royal Assent and affairs of state will be put on pause out of respect. A further period of official Royal Mourning is expected to continue for 30 days, after which, it is believed, the Queen would make a full return to public duties. While concerns over the health of the Queen and Prince Philip, who have been married for nearly 70 years, have been raised several times in recent years, both Royals appeared to be in good health on Thursday.

North Korea has accused the CIA and South Korea of a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un with “biochemical substances”. A statement from the ministry of state security claimed “hotbeds of evils in the world hatched a vicious plot” targeting Mr Kim during a public appearance for ceremonial events in Pyongyang. It said a terrorist group backed by the CIA and South Korean spies had entered the country for the attempted assassination, vowing that an “anti-terrorist attack” would begin immediately. The statement threatened that the “the last-ditch effort” of American “imperialists” and the South had gone “beyond the limits”. It claimed the two intelligence agencies “ideologically corrupted” and bribed a North Korean with the surname Kim, turning him into “a terrorist full of repugnance and revenge against the supreme leadership of the DPRK”. “They hatched a plot of letting human scum Kim commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership during events at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun military parade and public procession” the Korean Central News Agency said. “They told him that assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months. The latest allegations emerged amid heightened tensions over a series of weapons tests carried out by the totalitarian state.

The country music legend Loretta Lynn has been taken to hospital after a stroke. Sony Music confirmed that the 85-year-old singer and songwriter was admitted to a  Nashville hospital on Thursday night after the stroke at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Lynn’s website said she was responsive and expected to make a full recovery, but had been advised by doctors to stay off the road while recuperating. Upcoming shows would be postponed. Lynn, originally from Kentucky, had a string of hits starting in the 1960s with the biographical Coal Miner’s Daughter, You Ain’t Woman Enough, The Pill and One’s on the Way. She continues to tour and record regularly, but had to postpone shows last year after suffering injuries in a fall that required surgery. She is set to release a new album this August, called “Wouldn’t It Be Great,” and she will be the subject of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum also in August.

And finally, a New York City man is on a mission to flush the cremated remains of his lifelong friend, a plumber, down ballpark toilets around the US. Tom McDonald told the New York Times that it’s a fitting tribute for Roy Riegel. The two baseball fans were childhood friends in Queens, not far from – appropriately – Flushing Meadows, where the Mets play. Like baseball, this endeavor has rules. The game has to be in progress when McDonald sprinkles the ashes into the toilet. So far, he’s completed his task at 16 stadiums. “I know people might think it’s weird, and if it were anyone else’s ashes, I’d agree,” McDonald said. “But for Roy, this is the perfect tribute to a plumber and a baseball fan and just a brilliant, wild guy.” Riegel’s family agreed to share a portion of the ashes after his death in 2008. McDonald spoons out a little each time, from an old peanut can, wrapped in Mets ticket stubs, that he keeps next to World Series highlight videos and his collection of 149 baseball Hall of Fame autographs. Hank Riegel, of Waterloo, New York, said his brother would appreciate the offbeat gesture. “He’d be like, ‘Oh, yeah, do that,’” Riegel said. “He would definitely approve of it. Never once did Roy follow the rules.”

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

George Clooney (56), Alan Dale (70), Henry Cavill (34), John Rhys-Davies (73), Lance Henriksen (77), Richard E. Grant (60), Chris Brown (28), Michael Palin (74), Adele (28), Will Arnett (47), Rocco Siffredi (53), Christina Hendricks (42), Rob Brydon (52), Frankie Valli (83), Dwayne Johnson (45), Ellie Kemper (37), David Beckham (42), David Suchet (71), Matt Berry (43), Jamie Dornan (35), Wes Anderson (48), Julie Benz (45), Joanna Lumley (71), Gal Gadot (32), Kirsten Dunst (35), Burt Young (77), Willie Nelson (84) and Una Stubbs (80)


Dead Pool 30th April 2017

A few more deaths to add to the never-ending list, however no points scored. We’re a third of the way through the year and Laura, last year’s angel of death, is still the woman to beat.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Sir Elton John suffered a “potentially deadly” bacterial infection during a tour, forcing him to spend two nights in intensive care and cancel concerts in the US, his management says. The singer became violently ill at the end of a tour of South America last week, requiring him to return to the UK for urgent treatment. Nine concerts that were due to be staged in Las Vegas and California over the next two weeks have been cancelled. Sir Elton is now resting at home. A statement by his management said infections of the kind suffered by the star were “rare and potentially deadly”. It gave no other details. “Thankfully, Elton’s medical team identified this quickly and treated it successfully. He is expected to make a full and complete recovery,” it added. Sir Elton is due to resume his schedule of live performances in the UK on 3rd June. “I am so fortunate to have the most incredible and loyal fans and apologise for disappointing them. I am extremely grateful to the medical team for their excellence in looking after me so well,” the star said. It is not the first time Sir Elton has battled a serious bout of ill-health. While performing his show The Million Dollar Piano at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada in May 2012, Sir Elton became ill with a serious respiratory infection. Following his doctor’s recommendation, he cancelled the show’s last four concerts. In July 2013, he had to cancel a concert in London’s Hyde Park when he was diagnosed with appendicitis, which required urgent surgery. The 70-year-old singer has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time.

Actor Tom Hardy helped to apprehend a man who had allegedly stolen a motorbike in London in a potentially deadly situation, police have said. The Hollywood star, famed for making female gussets moist, stepped in after two teenagers on the bike crashed into a car in Richmond, south-west London, on Sunday afternoon. They ran off before one was grabbed by the Mad Max and Taboo star and the other was arrested by a police officer. Two 16-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, police said. Witness Arun Pullen told The Scum newspaper: “Tom must have been walking down the road. He went off like a shot in pursuit and looked furious.” A Richmond Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that there were two people on a stolen moped that went through a red light and crashed into another vehicle. “The males ran off and one was detained by Tom Hardy. “Both suspects were initially taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.” A spokeswoman for the 39-year-old actor, who has also starred in films including The Dark Knight Rises, The Revenant, Inception and Legend, declined to comment.

Caprice Bourret has revealed her sudden departure from Channel 4 reality show The Jump in February was due to her being diagnosed with a brain tumour. The model and businesswoman, 45, has undergone surgery for the tumour, which she discovered while competing in the winter sports show. A representative said at the time that she had withdrawn from the competitive skiing show due to illness. She told the media: “I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I found out while I was competing in the show and boy, was it more horrific than any of the challenges.” The mother of two has praised The Jump with saving her life as it was at their insistence she went to consult a doctor. She said: “I had headaches that were not going away and my vision was beginning to act up so the show’s production insisted I see their doctor.” A growth the size of a thumb was detected. She said: “My first thought was for my two little boys. I’m their rock and keep my family together. It was the scariest moment I’d ever experienced.” She said of her op, which took place last month: ‘I had a seven-and-a-half hour operation… Anyway, the nurse came in and she sat down and she said, “Don’t be alarmed but you have a brain tumour. Obviously, I started to break down and cry hysterically. I just said, “Am I going to die?” That’s the first thing you think about.” Caprice then decided to return to the UK in order to have her operation to remove the tumour and can’t thank bosses of the Channel 4 show enough for being so understanding.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Daniel Day-Lewis (60), Michelle Pfeiffer (59), Uma Thurman (47), Kate Mulgrew (62), Jerry Seinfeld (63), Jessica Alba (36), Ann-Margret (75), Penélope Cruz (43), Jay Leno (67), Channing Tatum (37), Giancarlo Esposito (59), Kevin James (52), Jet Li (54), Melania Trump (47), Joan Chen (56), Renée Zellweger (48), Hank Azaria (53), Al Pacino (77), Talia Shire (71), Barbra Streisand (75), Djimon Hounsou (53), Aidan Gillen (49), Shirley MacLaine (83), Richard Donner (87), Dev Patel (27), John Hannah (55), John Oliver (40) and Lee Majors (78).


Dead Pool 23rd April 2017

Welcome Poolers, not a good week if you were a sportsman, many of which seemed to be dropping like flies at a young age last week. Alas nobody deemed them worthy to have been picked as Mavericks, but we do have some points to award, albeit slightly delayed. Doug pointed out that Jane Freeman of The Last of the Summer Wine fame, died in March at the age of 81. I have no idea how we missed this, but we did, so belated points to Doug!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Renowned Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallmann has been shot and injured in an ambush at her conservation park in central Kenya. The author of the best-selling memoir I Dreamed of Africa was airlifted to hospital for treatment. Ms Gallmann, 73, owns the Laikipia Nature Conservancy. She also ran a luxury safari lodge that was burned down last month by suspected cattle herders, who have been in conflict with landowners. Herders have been invading private property in search of fresh grazing in the drought-stricken Laikipia region. British rancher Tristan Voorspuy, who also ran a safari company, was shot dead in early March while inspecting his lodges in Laikipia. There is no confirmation of who carried out the attack on Ms Gallmann, who was reportedly shot in the stomach. She was flown by helicopter to hospital in Nairobi to undergo treatment. Police believed that attack may have been in retaliation for a police operation that killed 100 cattle in the conservancy.

The Queen has celebrated her 91st birthday by taking part in one of her favourite activities – watching the races at Newbury Racecourse. It was a more modest affair than the national festivities for her 90th birthday last year. But military salutes were held across the UK to mark the occasion – including a 21-gun salute of tiny cannons fired by children at Windsor Castle. The Queen, who reached her 65-year Sapphire Jubilee in February, is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, which also means that the longer she survives the less points she’s worth.

An Indian hospital treating an Egyptian woman, believed to have been the world’s heaviest woman, says she has lost 250kg (550lbs) after surgery. Eman Abd El Aty’s family said she originally weighed 500kg – and was unable to leave her home for 25 years. Ms Abd El Aty underwent bariatric surgery at Mumbai’s Saifee hospital two months ago. The hospital said she could now fit into a wheelchair and sit up for longer periods of time. The hospital has released new pictures of Ms Abd El Aty following weight reduction surgery. Bariatric surgery is used as a last resort to treat people who are dangerously obese (having a body mass index of 40 or above, or 35 with other obesity-related health conditions). Dr Lakdawala said in a statement that Ms Abd El Aty continued to “rapidly” lose weight, but added that a stroke she had suffered as a child meant that she was still paralysed on one side of her body and continued to suffer convulsions. She also has difficulty speaking and swallowing. The statement added that the hospital was now waiting for her to lose enough weight for her to be able to fit inside a CT scan machine to ascertain the cause of her stroke. Ms Abd El Aty’s weight loss means she may no longer be the heaviest woman alive. The Guinness world records says the heaviest woman living is Pauline Potter in the US, who weighed 293.6 kg (643 lbs) when measured in July 2012.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (51), Amber Heard (31), Jack Nicholson (80), Sheryl Lee (50), John Waters (71), Glen Campbell (81), James McAvoy (38), Andie MacDowell (59), Tony Danza (66), Iggy Pop (70), Jessica Lange (68), Andy Serkis (53), Clint Howard (58), Carmen Electra (45), Ryan O’Neal (76), George Takei (80), Nicholas Lyndhurst (56), Leslie Phillips (93), Hayden Christensen (36), James Franco (39), Tim Curry (71), Kate Hudson (38), Ashley Judd (49), David Tennant (46), Edgar Wright (43), Hayley Mills (71), Eli Roth (45), Rick Moranis (64), James Woods (70), Conan O’Brien (54), Rooney Mara (32), Jennifer Garner (45), Sean Bean (58), David Bradley (75) and Victoria Beckham (43).


Dead Pool 16th April 2017

Welcome to the Easter Weekend tardiness edition of The Dead Pool. Apologies for the lateness of this issue, life got in the way. But what have we here? Points? With the death of the last known person born in the 1800’s, we have the following to congratulate: Julie, Paul C. and Dave listed her as a Cert, 133 points each. Laura and Lee both had her as their Woman, 133 points each and Stu just had her listed and got a pitiful 33 points.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

 In Other News

Buck up folks, it looks like you should have listed a few Death Row inmates on your lists as Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is defending his decision to put to death seven prisoners over an 11-day period starting on Monday! The executions have drawn international attention and have been condemned by rights groups as an “assembly line” and a violation of the US legal process, but this is the New American Way. The unprecedented pace is due to one of the drugs used expiring later this month and they surely don’t want to waste that shit. Midazolam – one part of the three-drug lethal injection “cocktail” – is set to expire at the end of April, and has been criticised as contributing to several botched executions in other states. Governor Hutchinson says he is confident that the drugs will work as expected, and that he is satisfied the prison staff can handle the executions, six of which are happening over only three days.

The Only Way Is Essex star Amber Dowding has returned home from hospital after worrying fans with an announcement that she had fallen ill. But taking to Instagram after the ordeal, the 23-year-old ensured fans that she’s back at home after battling the mystery illness. Sharing a ‘stunning’ selfie, Amber looked healthy while posing for the camera with a full face of makeup and her long blonde locks worn in a stylish up-do. And after worrying her followers with the news that she was in hospital earlier this week, the reality star made sure to confirm that she’s now returned home. Earlier this week the blonde bombshell shared a photo of herself, revealing she’d been taken to hospital in her glamorous get-up. Hopefully the NHS are sending a bill.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to be a better momma and a better woman,” fallen UK soap star Danniella Westbrook posted on Instagram ahead of yet another stint in rehab in the hope of “battling her demons” once and for all. The 43-year-old former child actor who became a star in the UK thanks to hit soap EastEnders announced that she was checking herself into rehab for “all of her addictions”. It’s the latest chapter in a two-decade slide which included a cocaine habit so bad her septum collapsed. The return to rehab comes after Westbrook appeared on UK TV show In Therapy last year, spilling details of her history of sexual abuse, the breakdown of her relationships, and her battles to get clean.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Ellen Barkin (63), Emma Watson (27), Emma Thompson (58), Maisie Williams (20), Seth Rogen (35), Sarah Michelle Gellar (40), Adrien Brody (44), Robert Carlyle (56), Peter Capaldi (59), Julie Christie (77), Ron Perlman (67), Peter Davison (66), Claire Danes (38), Ed O’Neill (71), Andy Garcia (61), Shannen Doherty (46), David Cassidy (67), Joss Stone (30), Jeremy Clarkson (57), John Milius (73), Daisy Ridley (25), Haley Joel Osment (29), Steven Seagal (65) and Max von Sydow (88).


Dead Pool 9th April 2017

Another strange pointless week, so another run of the mill newsletter. So, let’s ask our little community to contribute. If you feel you have an article for the newsletter within you, please forward it and it shall appear. We’ve had quite a few successful contributions over the years, some people even producing a series of articles, all of which were amazing. Another thing you could do to help out is to forward any interesting stories about death you might stumble upon, even though I do trawl through five different news RSS feeds a week, I do miss a lot. Anyhow….

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former England hooker Brian Moore has announced he is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack. The 55-year-old, whose international career spanned eight years between 1987 and 1995, revealed the news on his Twitter account on Saturday morning. He wrote: “As this is starting to get out – I’m in ICU of St George’s having suffered heart attack. Thanks to the professionals who saved my life.” Moore made 64 appearances in an England shirt and has since gone on to become a television pundit. The RFU was among those offering best wishes to Moore. Former team-mates and others associated with the sport were also among the well-wishers, while Moore himself later responded to the many messages of support with a light-hearted quip. “I’m trying to work out whether nearly 5K of likes over the news I’ve had a heart attack is sympathy or schadenfreude,” he wrote on Twitter.

The BBC faced criticism on Wednesday after it mistakenly reported that the DJ Brian Matthew, who hosted its long-running Sounds of the 60s programme, had died. The broadcaster had been told by his family that he was critically ill. Less than three hours after announcing the veteran DJ’s death on air, with tributes led by the BBC’s director-general, Tony Hall, the corporation issued an embarrassing clarification. “We were informed by close family and friends that Brian had passed away in the night. They have since been in contact to say that he remains critically ill,” a statement said. But the statement did not include an apology for the earlier error, and a spokeswoman for Radio 2 said: “The family have their privacy and we respect that, and we support them at this time, but there isn’t anything to add to the statement.” For the record, Brian Matthew died yesterday, we’re pretty sure of it this time.

Michael Gambon has not travelled to Dublin to receive a special award at IFTAs ceremony after coming down with an illness. The Irish Film and Television Academy announced today that the legendary actor was taken into hospital earlier this week. According to a statement by the organisation he “has now been discharged, however, medical advice is that he is not well enough to travel to Dublin to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award at the IFTA Award Ceremony this weekend”. It continued: ” Michael had been determined to come to Dublin to receive his IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award. “Naturally, he is devastated not to be able to travel to be part of the Awards Ceremony. “The Irish Film and Television Academy has confirmed to Michael that he will receive his Lifetime Achievement Award at a special event to be held in his honour later this year. The Irish actor, who replaced the late Richard Harris in the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore, was to be recognised for a career spanning more than 50 years. Gambon, 76, is best known for his roles in TV drama The Singing Detective, cult movie The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and Gosford Park.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Kristen Stewart (27), Elle Fanning (19), Dennis Quaid (63), Hugh M. Hefner (91), Robin Wright (51), Patricia Arquette (49), Emma Caulfield (44), Dean Norris (54), Russell Crowe (53), Jackie Chan (63), Francis Ford Coppola (78), Paul Rudd (48), Zach Braff (42), John Ratzenberger (70), Billy Dee Williams (80), Mitch Pileggi (65), Roger Corman (91), Pharrell Williams (44), Robert Downey Jr. (52), Hugo Weaving (57), Eddie Murphy (56), Alec Baldwin (59), Amanda Bynes (31), Paris Jackson (19) and Michael Fassbender (40).


Dead Pool 2nd April 2017

Yet another week lacking of celebrity news, and let’s be honest, the celebrity deaths are pretty much names you may have heard in passing at best. Shall we unleash the evil flying monkeys?

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News 

Linda Nolan has opened about about her fears following her secondary breast cancer diagnosis. The 58-year-old star recently confirmed the devastating news that she had breast cancer for the second time and that the disease was incurable. Speaking about the diagnosis, Linda admitted: “I am really scared, I don’t want to die. All my little nieces and nephews, my step-children and step-grandchildren, they are my life now because I never had children. “I want to grow old with my family. There is so much I want to do. I have to be positive and make sure I do.” Linda revealed that, although doctors had told her that the cancer was incurable, some people living with the same disease can live for up to 20 years. “I’m not going to be dying from cancer,” she insisted. “I’m going to be living with cancer if that’s what I have to do.” This is Linda’s second battle with breast cancer after she was first diagnosed with the disease back in 2007. While she was fighting the shattering illness, her husband of 27 years, Brian Hudson, lost his battle with skin cancer.

A missing Indonesian man was found  dead inside the body of a python, according to local police. Akbar went missing on Sunday on the island of Sulawesi, after leaving to harvest palm oil. In the search for the 25-year-old, police told BBC Indonesian that they had found a huge snake they suspected had swallowed the man. The reticulated python, reported to be 7m (23ft)-long, was cut open and the man’s body was found. Video shot by police showed the snake being cut open with a long knife, slowly revealing the man’s clothed body. Reticulated pythons are among the world’s longest reptiles and suffocate their victims before swallowing them whole. Pythons rarely kill and eat humans, although there are occasional reports of them swallowing young children or pets.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Mackenzie Davis (30), Ali MacGraw (78), Ewan McGregor (46), Christopher Walken (74), Rhea Perlman (69), Richard Chamberlain (83), Warren Beatty (80), Robbie Coltrane (67), Céline Dion (49), Kenneth Welsh (75), Eric Clapton (72), Lucy Lawless (49), Brendan Gleeson (62), Marina Sirtis (62), Christopher Lambert (60), Elle Macpherson (53), Eric Idle (74), Nick Frost (45), Julia Stiles (36), Vince Vaughn (47), Lady Gaga (31), Dianne Wiest (72), Chris Barrie (57), Quentin Tarantino (54), Nathan Fillion (46), Mariah Carey (48), Jessie J (29), Julian Glover (82), Fergie (42), Michael York (75), Keira Knightley (32), Jennifer Grey (57), James Caan (77), Diana Ross (73), Steven Tyler (69) and Martin Short (67).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 26th March 2017

Welcome all, another week  goes by and we have a few  points to dispense. Luke scores 49  points with the demise of the man who not so secretly ruled the world, David Rockefeller and Sylvia scores 84 points with the welcomed death of ‘former’ terrorist Martin McGuinness. There’s not much in the way of news this week, but we do have a new points leader and some fun stories.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

In what we would all call a non-news event, headlined “Prince William’s air ambulance in near-miss with drone”, an air ambulance regularly piloted by the Duke of Cambridge ‘narrowly avoided’ a mid-air crash with a drone, a report by the BBC said. UK Airprox Board investigators said the Eurocopter 145, used by the East Anglian Air Ambulance, missed the remote-controlled machine “by chance”. There had been “high risk” of a crash, “endangering the EC145 and its crew” over a busy area, the report said. Prince William was not in the aircraft at the time but the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) said it had been flown repeatedly by the royal during his work for the service. So, in conclusion, a helicopter that didn’t contain Prince William, didn’t crash into a drone. I would also imagine that a drone made of plastic weighing around 2lbs wouldn’t cause much damage to a two ton helicopter with enough downdraft to shift nearly 8 tons. Think of a fly hitting your windscreen on the motorway if said fly wasn’t blown off course to begin with. Thank goodness that William survived!!!

The Mirror tried to shock readers with A MORBID website that has correctly predicted three celebrity deaths in 2017 – with 47 other famous faces remaining on the list for the next nine months. The death of world-renowned banker David Rockefeller is the third correctly predicted by a chilling website. He joins rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen and American actress Mary Tyler Moore among the celebs to leave this year. A host of much-loved names make up the rest of the list – including Bruce Forsyth, Vera Lynn and even the Queen. But it is not just the famous faces we love and admire who make up the list no one wants to be on. “The Death List 2017” also predicts that Zimbabwe’s dictator Robert Mugabe and Moors murderer Ian Brady won’t make it until the end of the year. It seems to have picked its list based on celebrities who are either in their 80s or 90s or known to be suffering from ill health. The site has since been slammed by MediaWatch-UK. A spokesman said: “The idea of an annual Deathlist is not only morose and insensitive but I imagine deeply upsetting for the individuals named in it and their families. “While an awareness of our mortality can have the positive effect of helping us to live each day to its fullest; this list seems to delight in making accurate predictions about another human’s demise. In some cases, forum comments openly welcome certain celebrity deaths. Only three correct predictions? Phhht! They should have covered us!

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Lee Pace (38), Sarah Jessica Parker (52), Elton John (70), Jessica Chastain (40), Lara Flynn Boyle (46), Jim Parsons (43), Alyson Hannigan (42), Kelly LeBrock (56), Mary BerryBrad Dourif(82), Amanda Plummer (60), Reese Witherspoon (41), William Shatner (86), Gary Oldman (59), Matthew Broderick (55), Jaye Davidson (49), Timothy Dalton (73), Holly Hunter (59), David Thewlis (54), William Hurt (67), Spike Lee (60), Carl Reiner (95), Freema Agyeman (37), Jane March (44), Theresa Russell (60), John de Lancie (69), Bruce Willis (62), Glenn Close (70), Ursula Andress (81) and Brad Dourif (67).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 19th March 2017

Well! What can I say! A late showing by Chuck Berry last night saved us from another boring round up as we now have points to dispense!! Congratulations to Sylvia who gets 160 points for having him as a Cert and a well done to Mark, Nick and Debby, 60 points each for just listing him. Awesome job guys, let’s keep the momentum going, somehow…

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Sir Michael Caine has dropped two stone amid growing fears that he might one day develop cancer. Caine84, has cut back on drinking and has thrown himself into a new healthy living regime as he wants to be around to see his grandchildren reach their late teens. He told the media: ‘I know my days are numbered and that’s the main worry.’ He continued: ‘I’ve had to cut back on the drinking and I’m always looking up what’s the best thing against cancer, so I’ll eat that or do this or not do that.’ The Oscar-winner – who has shed 30lbs on his health kick – admitted that he hopes to live at least another two years so he can be around for his grandchildren, six-year-old twins and a seven-year-old grandson. Sir Michael also credited his wife Shakira, 70, for keeping him going, as he admitted he would have been ‘dead long ago’ without her. He added: ‘Without her, I’d have been dead long ago. I used to drink a bottle of vodka a day and smoke several packs of cigarettes.’

Scottish comedian Billy Connolly has made a rare public appearance looking vastly different in a new charity video, after stepping back from the spotlight to battle both cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. The 74-year-old funnyman appeared pale, gaunt and subdued in a video calling for donations to Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day, in support of Alzheimer’s and dementia research. “Hello, Billy Connolly here asking for your cash,” he says to the camera. “Not for me obviously. I’ve got cancer and Parkinson’s and I definitely need a hair cut, but no,” he added, proving he had retained the sense of humour that made him famous. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013 after an Australian fan who happened to be a doctor spotted him in a hotel lobby and advised him to seek medical advice for his “strange gait”. Just hours after Connolly was diagnosed with the degenerative disease he was told he had prostate cancer. He received treatment for the cancer soon after and was given the all-clear later that year. In an April 2016 interview, the comedian admitted he’d had suicidal thoughts since the Parkinson’s diagnosis.

And finally, Ben Affleck has said he has completed treatment for alcohol addiction. In a Facebook post, the Batman and Argo actor admitted that alcoholism was “something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront”. He said the latest course of treatment was “the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery”. His battles with drink problems stretch back more than 15 years, with his first reported stint in an alcohol treatment clinic taking place in 2001. In his new statement, he wrote: “I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. “I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.” Sadly, with his recovery comes more bad news, he will star as Batman in the new upcoming film.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Brad Dourif (67), Luc Besson (58), Kurt Russell (66), Rob Lowe (53), Gary Sinise (62), John Boyega (25), Lesley-Anne Down (63), Patrick Duffy (68), Alan Tudyk (46), Erik Estrada (68),  Judah Friedlander (48), Eva Longoria (42), David Cronenberg (74), Will.i.am (42), Michael Caine (84), Sasha Grey (29), Billy Crystal (69), William H. Macy (67), Annabeth Gish (46), Jaimie Alexander (33), Aaron Eckhart (49), Liza Minnelli (71) and Ron Jeremy (64).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 12th March 2017

Welcome  Poolers, another week, another few pointless deaths. I shan’t waffle on, it’s a Sunday after all and we all need to get lazy! Those pants don’t get sat on by themselves!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said he has never been “so sick” as he has felt in recent weeks. He was speaking to dignitaries in the capital, Abuja, after returning from seven weeks of medical leave in the UK. His absence led to some anxiety in Nigeria with people speculating about the president’s health. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was left in charge and Mr Buhari’s spokesperson has tweeted that he will formally return to power on Monday. The 74-year-old flew into an air force base in the northern city of Kaduna from London on Friday morning. Despite talking about how he felt, Mr Buhari did not reveal any details of his condition. He did say he was “feeling much better now” but added that further medical checks would be required. These comments will do little to reassure critics who are questioning whether the president is fit enough to hold office. It is the second time in less than a year that Mr Buhari has sought medical assistance overseas. Last June, he spent nearly two weeks, again in London, for treatment for an ear infection.

An Egyptian woman, believed to be the world’s heaviest at 500kg (1,102lb or 79 Stone), has undergone weight reduction surgery. A spokesperson at Mumbai’s Saifee Hospital said Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, 36, had lost 100kg since arriving in India in January, that’s one of me that is! “We are trying to get her fit enough to fly back to Egypt as soon as possible,” the hospital said in a statement. The spokesperson told the BBC that she was likely to lose more weight in the coming months. The surgery was performed by a team of doctors led by bariatric surgeon, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala. Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is used as a last resort to treat people who are dangerously obese.

Veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday has announced that he is being treated for cancer, just hours before a glossy magazine was due to reveal his illness, describing it as a serious concern. “Johnny” – as his fans call the closest France has got to Elvis who is often dubbed “the biggest star you’ve never heard of” – was quick to reassure followers on Twitter that his life was not in danger. “I was actually screened a few months ago for cancer cells for which I am currently being treated,” he wrote. “My life is not in danger today,” added the 73-year-old. “I’m doing very well and am in good physical condition,” he added. Hallyday’s announcement came ahead of the publication on Thursday by Closer magazine, which claimed his condition was life threatening. British rock lovers may scoff, but Johnny enjoys cult following back home, having sold more than 100 million records in his decades-long career. His health has been the subject of media speculation since he was hospitalised in 2009 in the United States for complications following a hernia operation, and was put in an artificial coma. Hallyday is a colourful character loved for hits such as “Allumez le Feu”, but also home-grown versions of rock standards such as Elvis Presley’s Hound Dog and Bebop a Lula by Gene Vincent.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

John Barrowman (50), Johnny Knoxville (46), Nina Hartley (58), Robert Glenister (57), Olivia Wilde (33), Sharon Stone (59), Jon Hamm (46), Chuck Norris (77), Juliette Binoche (53), Freddie Prinze Jr. (41), Rachel Weisz (47), Bryan Cranston (61), Rob Reiner (70), Tom Arnold (58), Ellen Muth (36), Shaquille O’Neal (45), Eva Mendes (43), Jolene Blalock (42), Paul Blackthorne (48), Liza Minnelli (71), Aaron Eckhart (49), Jaimie Alexander (33), Penn Jillette (62) and Ron Jeremy (64).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 5th March 2017

The evil flying monkeys didn’t disappoint us last week, they caught a few famous names for us, alas no points though. Maybe we should send them out again, just to keep them in tip top condition. But one thing is for certain “It’s game over man, game over!” for Bill Paxton, one of two men who was killed by an Alien, a Predator and a Terminator, the other being Lance Henriksen, who at 76 years old is looking like he should have beaten Paxton to the grave.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Sir Bruce Forsyth has returned home after spending five nights in intensive care following a severe chest infection. The 89-year-old’s manager said he had been in St Peter’s Hospital in Surrey since Sunday. “Sir Bruce Forsyth is scheduled to return home from hospital later today and would like to thank everyone for their good wishes,” Ian Wilson said. He added the entertainer thanked hospital staff for their care. In 2015, the presenter underwent keyhole surgery after suffering two aneurysms, which were discovered when tests were carried out following a fall at his Surrey home. Sir Bruce left Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, having presented it since the first series, but his manager denied reports last October that he had retired from the entertainment industry. At the time, Mr Wilson said Sir Bruce was “recuperating from various health issues”, adding: “His sole focus at the moment is to continue getting better and he has made no formal or informal decision about retiring from show business.” Sir Bruce has not been seen in public recently, and was too frail to attend the funerals of close friends Ronnie Corbett and Sir Terry Wogan last year. In an interview last October, his wife said he was still having “a bit of a problem moving”. “He’s in incredible shape mentally but he gets very tired,” she said, adding: “With a little bit of luck he should be back.”

Geological time – that’s what French artist Abraham Poincheval is hoping to experience over the next week, as he is entombed inside a limestone rock. He will become the “beating heart” of the 12-tonne boulder, he says – discovering how that perspective warps time and space. Poincheval is conducting his experiment at Paris’s Palais de Tokyo gallery. A space the shape of his body – and air holes – have been carved into the rock. There is also a place for supplies of water, soup and dried meat. Cables will monitor his heart and provide an emergency video link. Journalists looked on as workmen pressed together the two halves of the rock at the gallery on Wednesday. “The purpose is to feel the ageing stone inside the rock,” Poincheval said during his weeks of preparation for the ordeal. At the time, he was coy about how he would go to the toilet, but in the moments running up to his entombment he came clean to AFP news agency, admitting he would urinate into empty water bottles and sit on a small container to excrete. And the smell? “The stone will absorb some of the smell,” he said. “I think I can take it.” If he emerges intact from the boulder, Poincheval plans to sit on a dozen eggs for the three or four weeks they take to hatch.

Former England batsman James Taylor has said that he was “shot a few yards across the room” by his defibrillator. Taylor was forced to retire from cricket aged 26 after being diagnosed with a heart condition in 2016. He was fitted with an internal defibrillator in June for his irregular heartbeat, and he said it has since gone off on one occasion. “I can’t trust my heart. It’s keeping me alive, just about, but it’s being very temperamental,” he said. Addressing new members of the Professional Cricketers’ Association in Birmingham, Taylor, now 27, said: “The defibrillator has kicked in with real force. “It shot me a few yards across the room, probably because I’m small. “That’s probably why I’ve got the anxieties I have now and I’m a little bit scared of exerting myself or pushing myself in some way. “I know the feeling when it does go off, when things aren’t quite right. It’s a scary feeling and it hurts. It does its job, that’s the most important thing.”

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Chase Masterson (54), Adam Baldwin (55), Kate Mara (34), Timothy Spall (60), Richard Coyle (45), John Turturro (60), Rae Dawn Chong (56), Mercedes Ruehl (69), Stephanie Beacham (70), Javier Bardem (48), Ron Howard (63), Jensen Ackles (39), Zack Snyder (51), Dirk Benedict (72), Roger Daltrey (73), Harry Belafonte (90), Bryce Dallas Howard (36), Daniel Craig (49), Nathalie Emmanuel (28), Rebel Wilson (37), Gates McFadden (68), Jon Bon Jovi (55), Chris Martin (40), Alexander Armstrong (47), Julie Bowen (47), Miranda Richardson (59), Charlie Brooker (46) and Dominique Pinon (62).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 26th February 2017

What a struggle it has been to find dead celebrities this week. Here at Dead Pool Towers we forgive you for not listing the names below, no wonder there were no klaxons!!! However, The Clock of Doom still swings the eternal pendulum and next week promises a deluge of deaths as we’re sending out the flying monkeys!!!! Beware all celebrities, a portent has been proclaimed!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Shannen Doherty has completed chemotherapy! To mark the momentous date in her breast cancer journey — which is almost exactly two years since she was diagnosed in March 2015 — the Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed actress took to Instagram on Friday to share the  news with her followers. “#fbf to this morning… not that long ago. Last day of chemo. Exhausted,” Doherty’s caption begins. In the social media photo, 45-year-old Doherty, who is snuggled in between the sheets of her bed, stares solemnly into the camera. “Now that I’m done with chemo and radiation, the waiting game is here. Waiting for test. Waiting to see if I’m clear or not. Waiting for reconstruction. Waiting,” the post continues. She concludes: “I think when one gets cancer, they are always waiting to a certain extent. To those who know… I’m waiting with you. #cancerslayer.” Since she fist opened up about her cancer battle, the actress has frequently documented the ups and downs of the diagnosis on social media, including shaving her head, her first day of radiation, and going to her appointments with her mother by her side.

Leah Bracknell has opened up about finding the light in the darkness of her terminal cancer diagnosis. The former Emmerdale actress made an appearance on Friday’s Loose Women to update fans on her health. She first revealed news of her devastating diagnosis last October, later launching a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising £50,000 for pioneering treatment. Speaking about living with stage four lung cancer, “I feel positive about life. You get told that they can’t do anything to help you and I’m thinking, ‘What do I do now?’ “I can’t change the diagnosis, but I can choose how I respond. Initially you are in complete meltdown. I didn’t tell anyone for two or three days while I tried to think of a way to tell them positively.” She continued: “I am going to choose to make positive decisions, I am going to choose to embrace life and I’m going to choose to be thankful that I have life, because I might not have done. “I didn’t want doctors to ‘guestimate’ what they thought my prognosis could be. It is based on statistics that could be out of date and not about my age or type of cancer. I don’t wake up every day feeling fearful – I wake up feeling grateful and feeling happy.” She added: “It’s about taking back control and working with people to empower yourself.”

Actor Hugh Jackman has announced that his skin cancer has returned yet again. The X-Men actor posted an image on Instagram with a bandage covering his nose Monday, announcing that the disease he has battled five times before had reemerged. However, he is fine. He wrote: “Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent body checks and amazing doctors, all is well. Looks worse with the [bandage] on than off. I swear! #wearsunscreen.” The actor has been treated for skin cancer six times. Jackman, who has described himself as “a good example of making sure you get checkups and listening to your wife”, first underwent treatment for basal cell carcinoma in 2013.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Smokey Robinson (77), Rhianna (29), Sidney Poitier (90), Ellen Page (30), Sophie Turner (21), Drew Barrymore (42), Kyle MacLachlan (58), Aziz Ansari (34), Edward James Olmos (70), Billy Zane (51), Sean Austin (46), Téa Leoni (51), Dakota Fanning (23), Kelly Macdonald (41), Peter Fonda (77), Jeri Ryan (49), Thomas Jane (48), Julie Walters (67), Kelsey Grammer (62), Tyne Daly (71), Anthony Daniels (71), Brenda Blethyn (71), Ivana Trump (68), Benicio Del Toro (50), Jeff Daniels (62), Ray Winstone (60), Molly Ringwald (49), John Travolta (63) and Cybill Shepherd (67).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 19th February 2017

It’s been a funny old week; although we’ve had no klaxons, quite a few interesting deaths have come to pass, along with half a dozen racehorses that wont be mentioned. No points to awards this week, but plenty to be getting on with.

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former boxer Michael Watson, the man who first started off The Dead Pool, was hurt in a suspected carjacking attempt last week in London, his friend has said. The 51-year-old, who suffered a near-fatal brain injury in a 1991 fight with Chris Eubank, was in a car with his carer when it was hit from behind. The carer tried to speak to the driver but was sprayed in the face with “some sort of ammonia”, former boxer Spencer Oliver told BBC Radio 5 live. Mr Watson was dragged along the road as a man drove off in his car, he said. Police said both men required hospital treatment, but their injuries were not life-threatening. Mr Oliver, who spoke to both Mr Watson and his carer, Lennard Ballack, after the incident, said the pair were at traffic lights in Chingford, east London, last Thursday when they got into difficulties. After a white Mercedes bumped into them, Mr Ballack got out, intending to tell the driver that no damage had been done, Mr Oliver said. But when he tapped on the car window, the driver leapt out and sprayed him with “some sort of ammonia”, he said. Mr Ballack fell to the ground and tussled with his attacker, while the passenger tried to hijack Mr Watson’s car, he added. Mr Watson got caught up in the seatbelt as he tried to get out. As the car was driven off, he was “hanging out of the door”, said Mr Oliver. The former boxer is now recovering at home from injuries to the skin caused by being dragged along the road. Mr Oliver said the incident had been traumatic and both men were still shaken up. Mr Watson’s 1991 WBO super-middleweight title fight with Mr Eubank left him partially disabled and ended his boxing career. He spent 40 days in a coma and had six brain operations and also made The Dead Pool Master a lot of dirty money!

The actor Harrison Ford has emerged unscathed following another mid-air mishap. Ford, 74, was told to land his single-engine plane on a runway at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, on Monday, but he mistakenly landed it on a parallel taxiway, passing over an American Airlines jet holding nearby, NBC reported. “Was that airliner meant to be underneath me?” Ford is heard asking air traffic controllers in a recording. American Airlines Flight 1456, with 110 passengers and six crew, departed safely for Dallas a few minutes later. Ford’s publicist, Ina Treciokas, declined to comment. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor couldn’t confirm that Ford was piloting the Aviat Husky that overflew the Boeing 737, but he said the pilot received and had read back the proper landing instructions. The FAA is investigating. In March 2015, Ford was seriously injured when his second world war-era trainer crashed on a Los Angeles golf course when it lost power shortly after takeoff. The actor was praised for his ingenuity in avoiding more populated areas. In 1999, Ford crash-landed his helicopter during a training flight in which he and an instructor were practising auto rotations in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles; neither of them was hurt. An in another incident, Ford was flying a Beechcraft Bonanza in 2000 when wind shear forced him to make an emergency landing at Lincoln Municipal Airport in Nebraska. Ford and his passenger were uninjured when the plane clipped the runway.

The Jump has claimed its latest victim. Five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins has quit TV winter sports show The Jump after breaking his leg. The former Tour de France winner said he was “gutted” after sustaining a “small leg fracture” while taking part in snowcross training. Channel 4 said Sir Bradley had been keen to continue but would not appear after the fourth show in the series. Last year, injuries to a number of celebrities prompted a review of safety procedures on the reality show. Sir Bradley, who announced his retirement from cycling in December, tweeted: “Gutted to be leaving The Jump. I wanted to give you an injury update. “Seen a specialist, I have a small leg fracture and need to rest for 3-6 weeks. Good news no surgery or cast required. “Huge thanks to the crew and good luck to all of the cast. Due to the way the show is filmed, I’ll still be on until show four, so tune in. Before his departure, model Vogue Williams left this season of the show after suffering a knee injury in training. Last year’s series of The Jump was dogged by injuries, which resulted in seven celebrities quitting the programme.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Ashton Kutcher (39), Jennifer Aniston (48), Burt Reynolds (81), Jennifer Jason Leigh (55), Cristiano Ronaldo (32), Elizabeth Banks (43), Damien Lewis (46), Chloe Grace Moretz (20), Laura Dern (50), Chris Rock (52), Garth Brooks (55), Sheryl Crow (55), James Spader (57), Mia Farrow (72), Charlotte Rampling (71), Joe Pesci (74), Greg Norman (62), Sarah Palin (53), Christopher Guest (69), Michael Sheen (48), Nick Nolte (76), Seth Green (43), Axel Rose (55), John Grisham (62), Rick Astley (51) and Glenn Beck (53).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 12th February 2017

Afternoon poolers, today we have a points bonanza with the untimely death of Joost van der    Westhuizen, the following each get 105 points: Martin, Laura, Paul C, Dave, and Lee. However Shan had him as a Cert, so 205 points to her! Also, Sylvia correctly guessed that Tara Palmer-Tomkison would kick the bucket, so a further 105 points awarded! Well done all!!!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Chas Hodges, one half of music duo Chas & Dave, has cancer of the oesophagus. he 73-year-old will begin treatment “immediately” after the illness was caught “at an early stage”, the band said in a Facebook post. They added: “Chas recently underwent hospital tests which revealed cancer of the oesophagus. Luckily this has been spotted at an early stage and he’ll be undergoing treatment immediately.” The star “expects to be back out on the road with Dave” soon, but the duo have cancelled several dates scheduled across February. Performances at Potters Bar, Norwich and in Milton Keynes on February 17, 18 and 19 “will need to be rescheduled”. “Apologies to ticket-holders for the inconvenience. The venues themselves will advise regarding re-scheduling/refunds,” the statement added. The duo, famous for hits such as Gertcha and Rabbit, formed in the 1970s and are the creators of a musical style dubbed rockney – a mix of rock and cockney.

The Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, has moved house because of fears for his personal safety, the party has said. Paul Oakden, Ukip’s chairman, said on Saturday that Nuttall’s house in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where the Ukip leader is standing in the forthcoming byelection, had been targeted after the address was shared on social media. “Since the address of the house Paul Nuttall has been staying at during the Stoke-on-Trent Central campaign was published on social media there have been a series of concerning incidents at or around it,” Oakden said. “The most serious of these was two unknown men attempting to gain access to the house through a rear entrance. There has also been hate mail posted through the letterbox and other intrusive behaviour including trespassing in the private garden of the premises and attempts to take pictures through windows and the letterbox.”

Australian wicketkeeper Sam Harper was taken to hospital overnight after being struck on the head by a bat during a Sheffield Shield match. The Victoria player, 20, needed medical treatment after he was caught by the follow-through of a shot from South Australia batsman Jake Lehmann. Harper, who was wearing a helmet, later had a brain scan in hospital. “Scans have not identified any bleeding or bone damage,” a Cricket Victoria statement read. “However, he will remain in hospital overnight for observation.” In January, Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper Peter Nevill was ruled out of the Big Bash tournament after he suffered a burst blood vessel when he was hit by a flying bat during his side’s win over Adelaide Strikers. Concussion in cricket, and the use of the bouncer, have been under increased scrutiny since November 2014 when Australia Test batsman Phillip Hughes died after being struck on the top of the neck by a ball while batting for South Australia during a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales.

And finally, an Egyptian woman, believed to be the world’s heaviest woman at 500kg (78.5 stone), has arrived in Mumbai, India, for weight reduction surgery. The family of 36-year-old Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty said it was the first time she had left home for 25 years. She was flown on a chartered plane to Mumbai where bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala plans to operate. The Indian embassy in Cairo initially denied her visa request as she was unable to travel there in person. If the claim about her weight is true, then that would make her the world’s heaviest woman alive as the current Guinness record holder is Pauline Potter of the United States who weighed 292kg in 2010. Ms Abd El Aty’s family says she weighed 5kg (11lb) at birth and was diagnosed with elephantiasis, a condition in which a limb or other body parts swell due to a parasitic infection, Dr Lakdawala told the BBC in a phone call from Mumbai. “They said when she was 11, she had gained immense weight because of which she could not stand up and would crawl. “And then she suffered a stroke which left her bedridden and she has not been able to leave home since then.” Dr Lakdawala believes that Ms Abd El Aty does not have elephantiasis, but suffers from obesity-related lymphoedema which causes gigantic swelling of legs. “She would need to remain in Mumbai for two to three months for the surgery and treatment after which she would be able to return home, but it would take two to three years to bring her body weight under 100kg,” the surgeon said.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Ashton Kutcher (39), Jennifer Aniston (48), Burt Reynolds (81), Jennifer Jason Leigh (55), Cristiano Ronaldo (32), Elizabeth Banks (43), Damien Lewis (46), Chloe Grace Moretz (20), Laura Dern (50), Chris Rock (52), Garth Brooks (55), Sheryl Crow (55), James Spader (57), Mia Farrow (72), Charlotte Rampling (71), Joe Pesci (74), Greg Norman (62), Sarah Palin (53), Christopher Guest (69), Michael Sheen (48), Nick Nolte (76), Seth Green (43), Axl Rose (55), John Grisham (62), Rick Astley (51), Bobby Brown (48), Glenn Beck (53) and Vince Neil (56).

Next week peeps!


Dead Pool 5th February 2017

Welcome all, another week and a few more deaths! As cruel as this game can be, this is possibly the cruelest announcement I have had to make. Last week I awarded an extra 50 points to many of you for ‘the first death of the season’, unfortunately for you I have had to deduct said points as Laura’s dubious choice of a fairly unknown murderer on Death Row has now been listed on Wiki, which unfortunately for some of you, trumps last weeks deaths. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, Mark scores 83 points for listing John Wetton and Paul G gets awarded 60 points for Desmond Carrington. Don’t you just love the drama!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former South Africa captain Joost van der Westhuizen is in a “critical condition” in hospital as he continues to fight motor neurone disease. The 45-year-old, who helped his country win the 1995 World Cup, was diagnosed with the illness in 2011. “The family and friends of Joost ask that you all pray for Joost,” read a statement on his J9 Foundation website. “When we have updates, we will let you know. For now, we ask that we all bow our heads in prayer.” Van der Westhuizen is regarded as one of the finest scrum-halves in rugby history and won 89 caps for the Springboks between 1993 and 2003, scoring 38 tries. He played in his first of three World Cups in 1995 when the Springboks beat New Zealand in the final, and won the Tri-Nations Championship in 1998.

Former US President George HW Bush has been discharged from a Texas hospital after a spell in intensive care as he was treated for pneumonia. “He is thankful for the many prayers and kind wishes he received during his stay,” said his spokesman Jim McGrath. The 92-year-old was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on 14th January, experiencing breathing difficulties. His wife, Barbara Bush, 91, was briefly admitted to the facility days later to be treated for fatigue and a cough. The nation’s 41st president was moved to intensive care where doctors inserted a breathing tube, which was removed after a couple of days. He was transferred out of the intensive care unit a week ago and has been recovering since then, taking antibiotics. Mr Bush, who served as US president from 1989-93, spent a week in hospital in the US state of Maine in 2015 after falling and breaking a neck bone. He also suffers from a form of Parkinson’s disease and uses a wheelchair.

A prominent Russian opposition activist has been hospitalised with organ failure, two years after he almost died of suspected poisoning. Journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who works for pro-democracy group Open Russia, fell ill at about 05:00 local time. Mr Kara-Murza’s wife told the BBC she was on her way to hospital where her husband is in a medically-induced coma. The activist nearly died when he suffered sudden kidney failure in 2015. “He is already on life support and in a medicated coma. It’s the same clinical picture [as last time],” Evgenia Kara-Murza told the press. The journalist’s wife said he had suffered the same sudden onset of symptoms as in his previous illness. “The ambulance took him directly to the hospital where the same medical team has since been trying to determine what is happening,” she said. “He was brought there conscious but was put in a medicated coma and on life support later, because his organs began shutting down like last time.” No cause was ever established for Mr Kara-Murza’s last illness, but tests confirmed that he had ingested a poisonous substance. Then aged 33, he was in a coma for almost a week and struggled to communicate when he regained consciousness.

And finally, The founder of video game company Bandai Namco, which released cult game Pac-Man, has died at the age of 91, the firm has announced. Masaya Nakamura established Nakamura Manufacturing, which went on to become the Nakamura Amusement Machine Manufacturing Company (Namco) in 1956. He started out installing two electric horses on the roof of a department store in Japan as amusement rides. He was known as the “father” of Pac-Man because it was a Namco release in 1980. The game was developed by Toru Iwatani and in 2016 was named the highest-grossing arcade game of all time by the website US Gamer. Mr Nakamura was an honorary advisor at Bandai Namco until his death on 22nd January. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, a Japanese government honour, in 2007 and was inducted into the International Video Game Hall of Fame in 2010.

On This Day

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Oprah Winfrey (63), Justin Timberlake (36), Minnie Driver (47), Gene Hackman (87), Christian Bale (43), Heather Graham (47), Harry Styles (23), Morgan Fairchild (67), Tom Select (72), Carol Channing (96), Alice Cooper (69), Isla Fisher (41), Shakira (40), Vanessa Redgrave (80), Lisa Marie Presley (49), Phil Collins (66), Michael C. Hall (46), Natalie Imbruglia (42), Dick Chaney (76), John Lydon (61) and Brett Spiner (68).

Next week peeps!