Sorry, this one ran away with me, loads to read, but no points this week.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Dave Mason, 79, English musician (Traffic) and songwriter (“Hole in My Shoe“, “Feelin’ Alright?“).  
• Lize van der Walt, 60, South African television personality (Gladiators – Gold), cancer. 
• Alan Osmond, 76, American musician (The Osmonds) and songwriter (“Down by the Lazy River“, “Crazy Horses“). 
• Elsie Kelly, 89, English actress (Benidorm, The Famous Five, Crossroads).  
• Darrell Sheets, 67, American reality television personality (Storage Wars), suicide by gunshot. 
• Rif Hutton, 73, American actor (Doogie Howser, M.D., JAG, General Hospital), brain cancer

In Other News

Trump has sadly survived another assassination attempt. Gunshots rang out inside the Washington Hilton shortly after 8:30pm Saturday evening, prompting scenes of panic as Secret Service agents rushed the president and other Cabinet officials out of the ballroom, while others took cover beneath tables. A male assailant shot and injured one law enforcement officer, before being detained near the hotel screening area, officials said. The man in custody has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California. Following the incident, the annual black-tie dinner was canceled. Trump then hosted a press conference at the White House where he applauded law enforcement for their swift response. Still dressed in his tuxedo from the dinner, Trump called the assailant a “thug” and a “lone wolf,” while Justice Department officials said the suspect has been charged with firearms and assault charges. Apparently, those in charge are looking for a motive for the assassination attempt, as the rest of the world shakes their head in disbelief that the guy failed to pop one into the fascist. Trump has now survived THREE assassination attempts, including two high-profile incidents during his 2024 campaign. In July 2024, he was shot and wounded in the ear during a rally in Pennsylvania, an attack that shocked the nation. Just months later, another armed individual was intercepted near Trump’s golf course in Florida in what authorities confirmed as a planned assassination attempt.Security experts say the frequency of such incidents is unprecedented in modern U.S. history. While several American presidents have faced threats, the number of direct attempts targeting Trump places him among the most frequently targeted leaders in the country’s history. 

One of Spain’s top bullfighters has been left seriously injured after being gored in the arsehole. Jose Antonio Morante Camacho suffered the horrific injury after he collided with the raging animal at an event in Seville on Sunday. Dubbed the “king of the bullfighters”, Camacho sustained a “very serious” injury when the bull’s horn perforated his rectum. The 46-year-old was competing with the fourth bull of the afternoon at La Maestranza bullring as part of popular April celebrations. According to reports, Camacho was trying to control the bull which had positioned itself in a notoriously treacherous spot in the arena. Camacho attempted a daring manoeuvre but failed to raise his arms in time, leaving him exposed. The bull charged at him, catching him at hip level and driving its horn into his rusty sheriffs badge. Camacho instantly dropped to the floor as he reached for his arse in agony. Moments later, he was carried out of the ring by fellow giggling bullfighters. Camacho was then rushed to a nearby hospital and placed under general anaesthetic for an emergency two-hour surgery. Doctors confirmed he had suffered a devastating internal injury, with the bull’s horn penetrating his balloon knot. The medical report said: “It’s a bull horn wound on the posterior anal margin with a trajectory of about 10cm, partially damaging the anal sphincter muscles with a perforation of the posterior wall of the rectum of 1.5cm The intervention consisted of washing the wound, repairing the rectal wall and the sphincter apparatus, leaving a suction drain in the post-anal and retro-rectal space.” Camacho now remains under close observation while his condition has been described as “very serious”. This is not the first time tragedy has struck one of Spain‘s leading matadors. Earlier this month, a retired bullfighter was gored to death as he prepared for a sold-out show. Ricardo Ortiz, 51, was attacked as he helped handle several raging beasts inside their enclosures.  

A millionaire big-game hunter was tragically trampled to death by a herd of five enraged elephants deep within the African jungle. Armed with a shotgun and tracking a rare species of antelope, Ernie Dosio, 75, was killed after stumbling across the animals in dense vegetation in Gabon. The carcass collector had been moving through thick undergrowth with a professional hunter when the pair unknowingly walked into the herd. The animals were said to be so well hidden that it was like they appeared “as if from nowhere”. The startled beasts then charged at the pair without warning. Dosio was horrifically trampled under the weight of the herd as his companion was hurled to the side. A retired game hunter who knew Dosio said: “Whilst in the forest Ernie and his PH (professional hunter) surprised five forest elephant cows with young and feeling under threat the elephants immediately attacked them. The professional hunter was attacked first and seriously injured losing his rifle which was knocked from him and lost in the undergrowth leaving Ernie with his shotgun. I would rather not go into details but it is safe to assume it would have been quick.” Safari company Collect Africa confirmed their client died after encountering the herd in central Gabon. Dosio’s body is now being repatriated to his home in California by the US embassy. Hopefully they’ll stuff him and put him on display.   

New Zealand Parkrunner Colin Thorne made international headlines when he became the oldest Parkrunner in history to join the 100 Club at the age of 98. Sadly he has just passed away at 102 years of age. Colin first joined the parkrun family in January 2017, already in his early nineties, quietly showing the world that it is never too late to begin something extraordinary. Over the next nine years, he completed an incredible 265 Parkruns across 21 locations and volunteered 16 times, proof not only of his commitment, but of his belief that Parkrun is about community as much as it is about movement. To see Colin at Parkrun was to be reminded of what really matters. He greeted everyone with that cheeky smile, a dry sense of humour, and a genuine warmth that made first-timers and regulars alike feel instantly welcome. He listened, he encouraged, and he inspired, often without needing to say very much at all. What made Colin truly special wasn’t just his age, remarkable though that was. It was his perseverance. Week after week, year after year, Colin kept showing up, determined to keep Parkrunning for as long as he possibly could. Even at 102, he embodied the very best of parkrun: turning up, doing what you can, and doing it with heart. Running had been part of Colin’s life long before parkrun. He took it up at 64, went on to complete numerous marathons and half marathons, and even ran the New York Marathon at the age of 89, a feat few of us could imagine at any age. Yet despite these astonishing achievements, Colin always wore his success lightly, choosing kindness and connection over accolades. Colin touched the lives of Parkrunners throughout New Zealand and far beyond. His story travelled, but his impact was deeply personal. He showed us that ageing does not have to mean slowing your spirit, that perseverance can be joyful, and that community is built one smile, one step, one Saturday morning at a time. 

Colombian professional cyclist Cristian Camilo Muñoz, a former teammate of Tadej Pogačar at UAE Team Emirates, has died in hospital, just six days after suffering a serious knee injury in a crash at the Tour du Jura. The 30-year-old, racing for the NU Colombia team, was treated in hospital after crashing out of the French one-day race on Saturday. According to the Flying Monkeys, Muñoz required 20 stitches to one of his knees, before leaving the hospital on Sunday night. He then joined up with his teammates in Spain for the Vuelta Asturias, which began in Oviedo on Thursday. However, the 30-year-old – a former winner of a stage at the U23 Giro d’Italia – began to feel unwell on Tuesday and was taken to another hospital in Valladolid, hours after posting a video birthday message to his wife on Instagram. There, his condition deteriorated and he underwent surgery, before being placed in an induced coma. Tragically, he failed to respond to treatment and he passed away on Friday, his team confirmed. According to reports in Spain, doctors at the hospital have indicated that the cause of Muñoz’s death was a hospital-acquired infection. His NU Colombia squad have withdrawn from the Vuelta Asturias as a mark of respect, while a minute’s silence was held before today’s second stage, where black ribbons were placed by officials on race vehicles.

On This Day

• 1865 – Union cavalry troopers corner and shoot dead John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, in Virginia.
• 1986 – The Chernobyl disaster occurs in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
• 1989 – The deadliest known tornado strikes Central Bangladesh, killing upwards of 1,300, injuring 12,000, and leaving as many as 80,000 homeless.

Deaths

• 1970 – Gypsy Rose Lee, American actress, striptease dancer, and writer (born 1911).
• 1976 – Sid James, South African-English actor (born 1913).
• 1989 – Lucille Ball, American model, actress, comedian, and producer (born 1911).
• 1999 – Jill Dando, English journalist and television personality (born 1961).
• 2017 – Jonathan Demme, American filmmaker, producer and screenwriter (born 1944).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Channing Tatum (46), Tom Welling (49), Pablo Schreiber (48), Stana Katic (48), Giancarlo Esposito (68), Kevin James (61), Jet Li (63), Karim Diane (24), Melania Trump (56), Joan Chen (65), Al Pacino (86), Gina Torres (58), Renée Zellweger (57), Hank Azaria (62), Jack Quaid (34), Aidan Gillen (58), Shirley MacLaine (92), Djimon Hounsou (62), Rory McCann (57), Barbra Streisand (84), John Cena (49), Dev Patel (36), John Hannah (64), Lee Majors (87), Gemma Whelan (45), John Oliver (49), Jack Nicholson (89), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (60), Amber Heard (40), Sheryl Lee (59), Michelle Ryan (42), James McAvoy (47), Andie MacDowell (68), Toby Stephens (57), Rob Riggle (56), Tony Danza (75), Iggy Pop (79), Andy Serkis (62), Veronica Cartwright (77), Jessica Lange (77), Clint Howard (67), Carmen Electra (54), George Takei (89), and Nicholas Lyndhurst (65).

Well, what do we have here?! Points!! With the passing of renowned zoologist Desmond Morris, I can award 52 points to myself, well done me! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Valerie Lee Shepard, 94, American actress (The Wizard of Oz, Our Gang).  
• Moya Brennan, 73, Irish folk singer (Clannad).  
• Ian Watson, 82, British science fiction author (The Jonah Kit, Chekhov’s Journey, Queenmagic, Kingmagic). 
• Joy Harmon, 85, American actress (Cool Hand Luke, Village of the Giants, Angel in My Pocket), complications from pneumonia. 
• Alexander Morton, 81, Scottish actor (Monarch of the Glen, Take the High Road, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt). 
• Andy Kershaw, 66, English broadcaster and radio DJ (BBC Radio 1), cancer. 
• Don Schlitz, 73, American songwriter (“The Gambler“, “Forever and Ever, Amen“, “When You Say Nothing at All“). 
• Nathalie Baye, 77, French actress (Every Man for Himself, Strange Affair, Catch Me If You Can), complications from Lewy body dementia. 
• Finnian Garbutt, 28, British actor (Hope Street), skin cancer. 
• Desmond Morris, 98, English zoologist (The Naked Ape), ethnologist and surrealist painter. 
• Patrick Muldoon, 57, American actor (Starship Troopers, Melrose Place, Days of Our Lives) and film producer), heart attack. 
• Van Hammer, 66, American professional wrestler (WCW). 

In Other News

With the death of Valerie Lee Shepard, see above, we are now left with one surviving Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz. Priscilla Montgomery Clark played a Munchkin child in The Wizard of Oz when she was nine years old. Now 96, she’s one of two surviving stars from the 1939 film. Along with Caren Marsh Doll — the oldest of the two at 107 years old (she just celebrated her birthday on April 6th, 2026). She served as Judy Garland’s stand-in and was notably the model for the iconic ruby slipper heel-clicking scene. Clark says by far she receives the most fan mail these days for her role as a Munchkin. For Oz, which experienced a deficit of female little people to portray Munchkins, Clark was one of a dozen talented young girls of typical height chosen from the Bud Murray Dance Studio in Los Angeles to fill out the cast of 124. The child actors worked on the set part of the day and were whisked away for their schooling the rest of the day. When the cameras rolled, some of the young girls were relegated to the background, however director Victor Fleming seemingly noticed Clark’s talent and infectious smile and placed her in key shots where she was clearly visible. “I never wanted to be an actress, I always loved dancing and that was a big part of my childhood,” says Clark. “I didn’t have an agent, but I was lucky to be cast in several films that miraculously have survived over time.” It’s not difficult to find her in the crowd, either: In the climax of the Munchkinland scene, when Glinda directs Dorothy to “follow the yellow brick road,” Clark can be seen next to the good witch briefly spiking the lens — a no-no in movie-making where the actor looks directly into the camera. “I never realised I did that until someone pointed it out many years later,” she admits. Today, Clark is a widow who struggles with a few health concerns but keeps a positive attitude and busy “surrounded by the love of my family.”  

Zayn Malik’s release day for his new album Konnakol didn’t exactly go as planned. The singer, 33, revealed that he’s on the mend from a mystery illness by sharing a photo from a hospital bed to his Instagram Stories last Friday, the same day as his album release. “To my fans – Thank you to all of you for your love & support now & always – been a long week and am still unexpectedly recovering,” he wrote atop the photo. “Heartbroken that I can’t see you all this week, I wouldn’t be in the place I am today without you guys and am so thankful for your understanding.” The “Die for Me” singer went on to thank his “incredible” hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, cardiologists and more. “You are all legends! Big big love xx z,” he wrote. Malik did not reveal a diagnosis or reason for his hospitalisation, and it remains unclear just how long he’s been hospitalised. A rep for Malik did not immediately return the Flying Monkeys request for comment. Malik is set to embark on his first solo headline arena tour later this year, which he’ll bring to North America starting in June and running through November. In announcing his new record, Malik described the title as “the act of creating percussive sounds with one’s voice but what it means to me lies somewhere much deeper.” Sounds… amazing?   

Social media influencer Clavicular has been rushed to hospital in Miami for a suspected overdose. No, none of the Flying Monkeys have heard of him either… The controversial streamer had been live-streaming on the site Kick on Tuesday when the broadcast suddenly ended. ‘Fans’ became concerned after video footage, appearing to show the influencer being carried into an ambulance by his security team, began circulating online. The ‘influencer’ confirmed on Wednesday that he had been released from hospital, writing on Twitter: “Just got home, that was brutal. All of the substances are just a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously that isn’t a real solution. The worst part of tonight was my face descending from the life support mask.” He shared the statement alongside a photograph of himself with what appeared to be bloody marks on his face. During the livestream on Tuesday, Clavicular could be seen telling a woman: “Holy shit dude, I’m trying my best, but I’m fucking destroyed right now.” He then sat down in a bar with friends, with one asking him: “When did you last take blue?” as the influencer slumped over. The friend then asked if he wanted an “addy” – referring to the stimulant Adderall. The broadcast cut out shortly after that. Clavicular rose to fame within the manosphere circles as a so-called “looksmaxxer” – a viral trend where boys try to maximise their physical attractiveness. He’s become a popular figure among teenage boys, with Chloe Combi writing in The Independent that he has “a huge and growing Gen A boy following” thanks to his “belief that a young man’s highest priority is to be hot”. Personally I think he’s a cunt, and I will be listing him as a Maverick once James Corden turns 50! 

On This Day

• 1927 – Mae West is sentenced to ten days in jail for obscenity for her play Sex.
• 1943 – Albert Hofmann deliberately doses himself with LSD for the first time, three days after having discovered its effects on April 16th an event commonly known and celebrated as Bicycle Day. 
• 1987 – The Simpsons first appear as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, first starting with “Good Night“. 
• 1993 – The 51-day FBI siege of the Branch Davidian building in Waco, Texas, US, ends when a fire breaks out. Seventy-six Davidians, including 18 children under age 10, died in the fire. 
• 2021 – The Ingenuity helicopter becomes the first aircraft to achieve flight on another planet.

Deaths

• 1824 – Lord Byron, English-Scottish poet and playwright (born 1788). 
• 1881 – Benjamin Disraeli, English politician, Prime Minister of the U.K. (born 1804). 
• 1882 – Charles Darwin, English biologist and theorist (born 1809).  
• 1992 – Frankie Howerd, English actor and screenwriter (born 1917).  
• 2004 – Norris McWhirter, English author co-founded the Guinness World Records (born 1925).

Last Week’s Birthdays

James Franco (48), Kate Hudson (47), Ashley Judd (58), Tim Curry (80), Hayden Christensen (45), Simu Liu (37), David Tennant (55), Rick Moranis (73), James Woods (79), Hayley Mills (80), Conan O’Brien (63), Jennifer Garner (54), Sean Bean (67), Rooney Mara (41), David Bradley (84), Anya Taylor-Joy (30), Sadie Sink (24), Ellen Barkin (72), Claire Foy (42), Emma Watson (36), Seth Rogen (44), Emma Thompson (67), Luke Evans (47), Maisie Williams (29), Sarah Michelle Gellar (49), Adrien Brody (53), Robert Carlyle (65), Anthony Michael Hall (58), Peter Capaldi (68), Peter Davison (75), Edward Fox (89), and Ron Perlman (76).

No  disrespect to any of this weeks ‘notable’ deaths, however, I’ve never heard of any of them. Some bit part actors, barely more than extras, a nut job and a couple of outdoorsy types. One of them doesn’t even have a proper Wiki Page, I just added him to bulk out this weeks edition. Unsurprisingly, no points to award… 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Nick Pope, 60, British journalist and television personality (Ancient Aliens, UFOs Declassified), oesophageal cancer. 
• Michael Patrick, 35, Irish actor and writer (Game of Thrones, My Left Nut), complications from motor neurone disease
• Jim Whittaker, 97, American mountaineer (First American to climb Mount Everest). 
• Doug Allan, 74, Scottish wildlife photographer and cameraman. 
• Afrika Bambaataa, 68, American DJ and rapper (“Planet Rock“, “Looking for the Perfect Beat“, “Renegades of Funk“), prostate cancer. 
• Angela Pleasence, 84, English actress (Hitler: The Last Ten Days, Coronation Street, Doctor Who). 
• John Nolan, 87, British actor (Person of Interest, Terror, Batman Begins). 
• Asha Bhosle, 92, Indian playback singer (“Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko“, “Dum Maro Dum“, “Piya Tu Ab To Aja“), multiple organ failure.

In Other News

GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes is “doing okay given the circumstances” after suffering a stroke, his eldest son Declan has confirmed. Declan Holmes added his father’s medical issue “came as a real shock”, and he thanked those who have sent messages of support, saying: “It means a lot to us as a family.” In a statement on Sunday, his son shared: “What happened came as a real shock, but dad is doing okay given the circumstances and we’re taking it one step at a time. I just wanted to share a quick message to say we hugely appreciate all the messages, it means a lot to us as a family. For now, we’re focused on him and keeping things steady around him. We’d really value a bit of privacy as we navigate it, and what lies ahead, but thank-you again for the support as it means so much to dad and the rest of the family.” GB News announced on Saturday that Holmes, 66, had suffered a stroke last week and was recovering in hospital. A spokesperson said Holmes “was taken ill last week and it was later confirmed he had suffered a stroke”. The statement added: “He is currently responding well to treatment. Eamonn has asked for privacy as he focuses on getting better. His colleagues and everyone at GB News wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to the people’s channel when he is ready to return.” Alex Armstrong will present in his absence this week, the broadcaster added. Holmes, from Northern Ireland, who presents GB News Breakfast with his co-host Ellie Costello, is Britain’s longest-serving breakfast news presenter, with a career spanning more than 40 years. Holmes has long battled health issues after dislodging discs in his back which he said previously impinged on his sciatic nerve and affected the mobility of his right leg. He previously spoke about going through spinal surgery, a double hip replacement, and his struggles walking and using a mobility scooter. Holmes had two falls in May last year which seem to have taken place only weeks apart. The former This Morning host was taken to hospital after a first fall at his home, then fell from his chair live on-air. 

Hacks star Jean Smart has revealed she underwent a triple bypass heart procedure after experiencing chest pressure on set. Smart opened up about the heart procedure, confirming she underwent a triple bypass in 2023, a particularly frightening ordeal for her following the death of her husband, Richard Gilliland, from a heart condition. While filming a Season 3 episode of Hacks, Smart began experiencing pressure in her chest and fatigue, but she attributed it to a lack of exercise, she told the Flying Monkeys. “After several takes, I was like, ‘Did you get it? Was that enough?’ I was feeling a little tired. But I didn’t think anything of it,” Smart, 74, said. “I had gotten used to feeling a little pressure, like if I’d go up a couple of flights of stairs. But it would always just go away. And I would always think, ‘Jean, you’re in such crappy shape.’” Days passed with the Emmy winner still in discomfort. In the interview, she said the fear of leaving her 17-year-old son Forrest and 36-year-old son Connor without either of their parents was motivation to see a doctor. “I thought, ‘You haven’t seen your cardiologist in a long time. Don’t be stupid. Your kids just lost their dad!’” Smart thought she may just need a stress test – which detects how the heart functions during physical stress – but when her doctor returned her phone call, the physician urged her to go to the emergency room. She was in the middle of filming a scene at the time, so she waited until after the shoot to have her driver take her to the hospital. “It was so stressful. Her children had just lost their father, and I think she didn’t want to scare them, so they weren’t there,” Smart consulted three heart surgeons before undergoing the triple bypass. The fear set in after the procedure. “I wasn’t really scared until I woke up the next day, and I’m thinking about what they had to do. You start to feel so fragile,” she said. 

On This Day

• 1606 – The Union Flag is adopted as the flag of English and Scottish ships. 
• 1945 – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office; Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes President upon Roosevelt’s death. 
• 1961 – The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into outer space and perform the first crewed orbital flight on Vostok 1. 
• 1981 – The first launch of a Space Shuttle (Columbia) takes place: The STS-1 mission.

Deaths

• 1945 – Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.S. lawyer, 32nd President of the U.S. (born 1882).
• 2001 – Harvey Ball, American illustrator, created the smiley (born 1921).
• 2009 – Marilyn Chambers, American actress. 
• 2024 – Eleanor Coppola, American filmmaker (born 1936).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Claire Danes (47), Saoirse Ronan (32), Ed O’Neill (80), Milly Alcock (26), Jeremy Clarkson (66), Matt Ryan (45), David Harbour (51), Charlie Hunnam (46), Daisy Ridley (34), Haley Joel Osment (38), Steven Seagal (74), Peter MacNicol (72), Elle Fanning (28), Dennis Quaid (72), Kristen Stewart (36), Cynthia Nixon (60), Patricia Arquette (58), Robin Wright (60), Katee Sackhoff (46), Dean Norris (63), Russell Crowe (62), Jackie Chan (72), Francis Ford Coppola (87), Paul Rudd (57), Zach Braff (51), Michael Rooker (71), John Ratzenberger (79), Gina Yashere (52), and Billy Dee Williams (89).

A quiet week for celebrity deaths, its almost like they’ve all gone on holiday! Unsurprisingly, no points to dish out, but we can all cross our fingers in hope that the White House will blow up with the GoP and the Trump family in attendance. I may have marked myself for assassination…. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Misua, 27, Filipino drag performer. 
• Alex Duong, 42, American comedian and actor (Blue Bloods, Dexter, Death Valley), septic shock. 
• Mary Beth Hurt, 79, American actress (The World According to Garp, The Age of Innocence, Interiors), complications from Alzheimer’s disease. 
• Dash Crofts, 87, American musician (Seals & Crofts) and songwriter (“Summer Breeze“, “Diamond Girl“), complications from heart surgery. 
• Suki Lahav, 74, Israeli violinist (E Street Band), singer, and lyricist

In Other News

The world’s oldest known tortoise, Jonathan, is still alive, contrary to a widely circulated social media post which has been revealed as a hoax. An account on Twitter that had purported to belong to Joe Hollins, a vet who has previously cared for Jonathan, posted that it was “heartbroken to share” that the tortoise had died on the island of St Helena at an estimated age of 193. Media outlets including the BBC, USA Today and Daily Mail published news reports about the post. “Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins has since told USA Today. “I believe the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations, so it’s not even an April Fool joke. It’s a con. To confirm – Jonathan is very much alive”, Nigel Phillips, the governor of St Helena, told the BBC via email. Jonathan’s exact age is unknown, but a photograph taken in 1882 shows that he was fully grown when he was first brought to the island – where he lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor of St Helena. Experts say this suggests he was about 50 years old by that time. Jonathan has lived through the reigns of at least eight British monarchs and met both George VI and the future Elizabeth II during their visit to the island in 1947. The giant tortoise was presented with a Guinness World Record certificate recognising him as the oldest known land animal in the world. 

An undertaker was accidentally crushed to death by a faulty coffin-lifting machine at a funeral parlour, an inquest has concluded. Sally Blundell, 58, was found trapped beneath the scissor lift of a mortuary trolley after it unexpectedly descended at a branch of the East of England Co-op Funeral Services in Swaffham, Norfolk. Ms Blundell had been working alone at the branch on 1st December 2023 when the incident occurred. The grandmother’s body was discovered after a member of the public reported that no staff were present for an 11am appointment to see a deceased relative. She tried to call the celebrant she had been dealing with and a message was passed to another branch, with a colleague from the Dereham branch attending and finding Ms Blundell dead. Jurors at the Norwich inquest returned a conclusion of accidental death. They recorded that Ms Blundell was last seen on CCTV at the funeral parlour at 9.46am and found dead at 12.06pm. The inquest was earlier told that there are no CCTV cameras in sensitive areas of the funeral parlour, where bodies are kept. Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake said that it was unclear why Ms Blundell had “inserted herself” in the device’s frame, though her glasses were found on the floor nearby. The medical cause of death for Ms Blundell, of Great Cressingham, was recorded as “contusion and compression of the chest by an external object”. Ms Blake told jurors that expert evidence presented to the inquest indicated a fault with the hydraulic scissor lift mortuary trolley. She said the fault was that the trolley “descended unexpectedly”. The East of England Co-op confirmed through barrister Dominic Kay that the chain no longer uses this specific type of trolley.  

Australian soap star Alea O’Shea is undergoing treatment for brain cancer. A GoFundMe page launched on Thursday for the 25-year-old “Home and Away” alum revealed that she recently underwent surgery for her diagnosis, which she publicly disclosed in November. “Over the past months, Alea has been bravely facing brain cancer and the many treatments that come with it,” the fundraiser’s description read. The page, which O’Shea’s friends started with her permission “after months of persuasion,” said her cancer journey “has been incredibly challenging” for the actress and her family. “Like many families navigating serious illness, they have discovered that a number of essential cancer treatments, therapy and procedures are not covered by private health insurance, creating a significant and ongoing financial burden.” The description stated that O’Shea has been helping other women facing cancer by starting her own fundraiser “to allow other young women without the funds to purchase high-quality wigs and feel good about themselves. Her generosity of spirit in the midst of such a difficult time has moved so many of us,” O’Shea’s friends shared. The page asked people to donate to “help ease the financial pressure of medical treatments and related expenses” in O’Shea’s cancer battle. The GoFundMe has raised over $82,700 from more than 600 donors as of Monday morning. O’Shea, starred as Darcy Callahan on Home and Away from 2011 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2017.

On This Day

• 1951 – Cold War: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are sentenced to death for spying for the Soviet Union.
• 1974 – Carrie, the first novel by author Stephen King, is published for the first time with a print run of 30,000 copies.
• 1999 – Two Libyans suspected of bringing down Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 are handed over for eventual trial in the Netherlands.

Deaths

• 1923 – George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, English archaeologist (born 1866).
• 1964 – Douglas MacArthur, American general (born 1880).
• 1976 – Howard Hughes, American pilot, engineer, and director (born 1905).
• 1994 – Kurt Cobain, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1967).
• 2006 – Gene Pitney, American singer-songwriter (born 1940).
• 2008 – Charlton Heston, American actor, director, and political activist (born 1923).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Warren Beatty (89), John Astin (96), Céline Dion (58), Eric Clapton (81), Ewan McGregor (55), Christopher Walken (83), Daniel Mays (48), William Daniels (99), Annette O’Toole (74), Mackenzie Davis (39), Asa Butterfield (29), Ali MacGraw (87), Jesse Plemons (38), Pedro Pascal (51), Michael Fassbender (49), Emma Myers (24), Linda Hunt (81), Eddie Murphy 65), Alec Baldwin (68), Paris Jackson (28), Robert Downey Jr. (61), Hugo Weaving (66), Natasha Lyonne (47), Graham Norton (63), Lily James (37), Hayley Atwell (44), and Mitch Pileggi (74). 

A few familiar faces among the dead this week, no points though, so perhaps the Flying Monkeys need to be released….  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Daphne Selfe, 97, British model.  
• Valerie Perrine, 82, American actress (Slaughterhouse-Five, Lenny, Superman), complications from Parkinson’s disease.  
• Ben Keaton, 69, Irish actor (Emmerdale, Casualty, Father Ted).
• Chip Taylor, 86, American singer and songwriter (“Angel of the Morning“, “Wild Thing“), cancer. 
• Leonid Radvinsky, 43, Ukrainian-American businessman (OnlyFans, MyFreeCams), cancer
• Mel Schilling, 53, Australian television presenter (Married at First Sight), colon cancer. 
• James Tolkan, 94, American actor (Back to the Future, Top Gun). 
• Mary Rand, 86, British track and field athlete, Olympic champion (1964). 
• Trevor Oakes, 79, British guitarist and songwriter, (Showaddywaddy). 

In Other News

Perez Hilton has revealed the mystery illness that sent him to the hospital for three weeks. On Monday, the 47-year-old blogger took to social media to share the news with his fans. ‘My stupidity landed me in the hospital for 21 days… It was the worst and best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ he began. Perez said he had the flu for a week and took his medication, but did not take the medication with food. ‘Because I have been taking all of this medication without food for a week, I developed an ulcer then a perforation and then Sepsis. People die of Sepsis.’ He also said he had intense stomach pain then could not walk causing him to have to be taken to the emergency room by ambulance. Hilton thanked the hospital that took care of him as he added he had ultrasounds before they could figure out the problem. ‘Finally after five days I ended up having laparoscopic surgery,’ he added. He also said the infection was very serious and he had fluid in his lungs which led to another major procedure. At that point he developed a heart problem. But the surgery was complicated as he developed another infection in the hospital, which he said was common. The star broke down in tears several times as he detailed he had many accidents after he started eating food following weeks on a feeding tube. And the worst part was a tube that was placed in him to suck up the infection and a Foley catheter. ‘That was intense,’ he added, as he said he lost ‘a lot of weight.’ ‘Now that I am home, I am not 100 percent,’ he also shared as he showed a pick line into his arm. ‘It’s like a scary IV with two lines, and one goes to my heart.’  

Barry Manilow is officially cancer-free months after revealing his diagnosis. “You just don’t even think about how fragile life is. And suddenly, you have lung cancer. But I’m still here,” Manilow, 82, told the Flying Monkeys on Tuesday, while detailing his health battle and recovery. He continued: “I’m still here. I’m not all here, there’s part of me that isn’t here,  they took out a part of me, and now I’ve got to figure out, ‘What do I do?’” Manilow originally announced in December 2025 that he was diagnosed with lung cancer and needed to undergo surgery to remove “a cancerous spot” on his left lung. He elaborated on Tuesday about how having an MRI for a separate issue with his hips led to his cancer being discovered. “If he hadn’t done that, man,” he said. “That doctor saved my life, because there’s no symptoms for what I had. I could go on, nothing hurt but they found the dot in my lung. They called me and said, ‘Could be cancer.’ That’s a bad word. ‘Not me. Fuck you. I can’t have cancer.’” Manilow recalled the moment he was told he had Stage I Lung Cancer. “They don’t even know how long I had this thing sitting on me. It could have been years,” he continued. “If it had gone any further, then I would be up shit’s creek. It just so happened that it hadn’t spread, and boy, oh boy, I thought I might be dying.” After his lobectomy, a procedure which removed part of his lung, Manilow spent seven days in the ICU. “I don’t remember it, thank goodness, because it was a nightmare,” Manilow shared of his hospital stay. “I’m one of the lucky ones. I don’t have to have chemo, radiation and all that stuff.” Manilow was forced to postpone concert dates while on the mend, noting that the experience has “really rocked him.” “But I’m getting stronger. It has really, really made me take stock of my life. This made me stop and think about: Have I done what I wanted to do, and have I made people happy? Have I been a good friend?” he concluded. “All of those cornball things that I’ve read for all of my life, I started to think about that, too. It really did stop me in my tracks. And the answers are yes. And as a matter of fact, there are more yeses than I ever thought.”  

Princess Michael of Kent, 81, is “bedridden” after suffering a stroke, according to the Flying Monkeys. Princess Michael, who is married to Prince Michael of Kent, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth, has dealt with a number of health issues in recent years. After undergoing heart surgery in 2023, she broke both of her wrists in a fall down the stairs of her home at Kensington Palace. She was carrying an armful of overcoats at the time when the accident happened. Luckily, she fell into the coats, but broke multiple small bones. About her fall, she previously stated: “So many things that you rely on being able to do, like cleaning your teeth, are impossible.” “I can type with one finger on a mobile, but I can’t use a laptop. I am told that, after an accident like this, if you do one wrong movement on top of the unhealed bones, you are back where you started.” It’s been a difficult few years for the family, Princess Michael’s son-in-law, Thomas Kingston, took his own life at the age of 45 in February 2024. He died from a “catastrophic head injury” and a gun was found near his body at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.

On This Day

• 1968 – The funeral of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, started in Moscow, with thousands of people in attendance. 
• 1974 – Terracotta Army was discovered in Shaanxi province, China.
• 2014 – The first same-sex marriages in England and Wales are performed.
• 2017 – Prime Minister Theresa May invokes Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, formally beginning the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Deaths

• 1891 – Georges Seurat, French painter (born 1859). 
• 1912 – Robert Falcon Scott, English lieutenant and explorer (born 1868).
• 1982 – Carl Orff, German composer and educator (born 1895). 
• 2016 – Patty Duke, American actress (born 1946). 
• 2024 – Louis Gossett Jr., American actor (born 1936).
• 2025 – Richard Chamberlain, American actor (born 1934).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Brendan Gleeson (71), Lucy Lawless (58), Ed Skrein (43), Christopher Lambert (69), Marina Sirtis (71), Thaddea Graham (29), Eric Idle (83), Elle Macpherson (62), Nick Frost (54), Vince Vaughn (56), Julia Stiles (45), Dianne Wiest (78), Lady Gaga (40), Chris Barrie (66), Quentin Tarantino (63), Nathan Fillion (55), Julian Glover (91), Mariah Carey (57), Keira Knightley (41), Jennifer Grey (66), Martin Short (76), Jess Bush (34), Diana Ross (82), Lee Pace (47), Sarah Jessica Parker (61), Richard O’Brien (84), Elton John (79), Jessica Chastain (49), Alyson Hannigan (52), Tig Notaro (55), Jim Parsons (53), Lara Flynn Boyle (56), Kelly LeBrock 66), Michelle Monaghan (50), Amanda Plummer (69), and Joanna Page (49).