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Dead Pool 21st September 2025

As we mourn the death of free speech in the US, perhaps we should start listing American  journalists next year? After all, I’m pretty sure we’re only a few months away from a second Night of the Long Knives…

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Steve Martin has canceled two comedy tour stops over the weekend after contracting COVID, the Only Murders in the Building star shared on Instagram. He and co-star Martin Short were set to continue The Dukes of Funnytown! Tour. “Dear Virginia Beach and Richmond. Sadly, I have come down with Covid. I can’t possibly do the shows that you deserve. So Marty and I must cancel tonight & tomorrow. But we will return under better circumstances.,” Martin wrote on Instagram yesterday alongside a photo of his pup looking weary. In a separate joke. Martin and Short were recently at the Emmys this past Sunday, after which they attended The Walt Disney Company’s Emmys bash. This is now the second time one of the veteran comics’ contraction of COVID has forced a tour cancellation or rescheduling. Earlier this year, it was Short who contracted COVID after attending the star-studded weekend-long celebration that was SNL50. “Maya Rudolph]had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why? The SNL 50th Covid curse is real,” Martin wrote on Instagram in February. As a result, The Dukes of Funnytown! moved its Tennessee and North Carolina stops to mid-October.  

Morrissey has cancelled two shows in the US after receiving a death threat ahead of a concert in Ottawa, Canada. A 26-year-old Ottawa man was released on bail after allegedly uttering a threat to kill the singer, whose real name is Steven Morrissey, ahead of his performance at a music festival last week. The event went on as planned, but the singer later cancelled two shows in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Morrissey was the front man of the rock band The Smiths, but left the band in 1987 to pursue a solo career. He is known for being outspoken on issues such as animal welfare and politics. In 2006, he refused to tour in Canada in protest at the annual seal hunt. After the threat against his life in Ottawa last week, he cancelled Friday’s show in Connecticut and one in Boston. “In recent days, there has been a credible threat on Morrissey’s life,” said a statement from the Boston venue on Instagram. “Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of both the artist and the band, tomorrow’s engagement at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway has been canceled.” 

Springwatch icon Bill Oddie has confessed to struggling with his health in recent years after an “almost fatal” ordeal that left him “very ill”. The Goodies star, now 84, was diagnosed with lithium toxicity in 2020 which left him “very confused”, admitting he “didn’t know” if he would ever return to his former self. The BBC presenter said “Just so you know, I have been very ill most of this summer. Lithium toxicity. Almost fatal! I am still here but very confused about most things! But then aren’t many of us. It fuddles my brain. Confusion. Will I return? I really dunno. I hope so. Please wish me luck.” According to the NHS, too much lithium in the blood can cause serious side effects – causing confusion, drowsiness, blackouts and blurred vision. Used as a mood stabiliser, he was prescribed lithium after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bill plunged into a spiral of depression after being axed from Springwatch in 2008, and attempted suicide twice. He explained it took “10 years” to get a diagnosis of bipolar disorder after years of mood swings – excessive energy and over-confidence followed by sudden dark periods. He explained: “It happened to me. It’s happening to others right now. “It could be fatal. You don’t know what to do except sleep. So you take a couple of sleeping pills, and then you take another until they’re all gone,” he said in 2017. The star added: “A producer said, ‘People are scared of you. You’re abrasive’. If I knew then what I know now, I’d have accepted that I was going through a manic phase. When my GP watched The Goodies he recognised I was bipolar.” Oddie was “in and out of hospital” in 2009, branding it his “lost year”. He was admitted to a private clinic in London – the same one that treated Amy Winehouse – but said it was “like being medicated in a hotel”. He told the Flying Monkeys: “I really was suicidal. I took too many sleeping pills, twice. I can only say the feeling wasn’t, ‘I want to kill myself’. It was, ‘I want to go to sleep and just blank out’. But I did take risks, a couple of times.” Bill also suffers from musical hallucination, a form of tinnitus where instead of a ringing or buzzing noise, sufferers hear music that isn’t really there. He explained that the music is “only in his right ear”, explaining: “At first, I thought it must be outside but when I closed the windows, the volume stayed the same. I started moving from room to room, looking to see if there was a radio on somewhere, but there wasn’t. It really was quite confounding.”

On This Day

  • 1921 – A storage silo in Oppau, Germany, explodes, killing 500–600 people. 
  • 1934 – A large typhoon hits western Honshū, Japan, killing more than 3,000 people.
  • 1937 – J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is published for the first time.

Deaths

When The King Met Ethel

King Charles paid a special visit to the world’s oldest person, Ethel Caterham, who entertained him with her memories of how “all the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you”. 

The monarch travelled to see 116-year-old Mrs Caterham at her care home in Lightwater, Surrey, on Thursday, shortly after bidding a formal farewell to US Dickhead in Charge Donald Trump at Windsor. 

Mrs Caterham became the oldest living person in April after the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas at 116. 

She chose to celebrate her latest birthday in August quietly with just her family – but it was revealed at the time that she would have made a concession for the King. The monarch duly obliged just a few weeks later by travelling to see her in person. 

Charles held Mrs Caterham’s hand at the start as he introduced himself. Then, sitting in an armchair next to Mrs Caterham, who was wearing gold fur-lined sequinned slippers, a patterned sage dress and a pale pink shawl, the King listened intently as she told him: “I remember when your mother crowned you in Caernarfon Castle.” 

The King expressed delight at her recollection of his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales when he was 21, saying “oh yes” and adding to others in the room: “You see, fascinating.” Mrs Caterham continued: “And all the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you.” 

The remark prompted a hearty laugh from the King and a raise of his eyebrows. 

One of Mrs Caterham’s granddaughters, Kate Henderson, added: “You were saying that the other day, weren’t you? “You said ‘Prince Charles was so handsome. All the girls were in love with him’. A true prince – and now the King.” 

Charles, who responded with a playful grimace, quipped: “Yes well, all that’s left of him anyway.” 

The pair also spoke about Mrs Caterham’s fond memories of a Buckingham Palace garden party she attended in the 1960’s. 

On the table between the chairs was a previous birthday card from Charles and Camilla, one from the late Queen Elizabeth II, and a framed, signed letter from the King congratulating Mrs Caterham on her 116th birthday and becoming the world’s oldest living person. The cards were just some of the 17 she has received from both the King and the late Queen Elizabeth II to mark her birthdays since turning 100, including the one marking her centenary. 

In 2023, Mrs Caterham featured on the monarchy’s official Instagram when she was filmed receiving a card from the King in the post to mark her 114th birthday. She was joined by three granddaughters, Kate, Julia Pauling and Lucy Robinson. 

Mrs Caterham was born on August 21st in 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, five years before the start of the First World War, as the second youngest of eight siblings. 

She is the last surviving subject of Edward VII, who died in May 1910. 

In 1927, aged 18 she travelled to India and worked as an au pair to a military family until she was 21. 

She met her husband, Norman, who was a lieutenant colonel in the British Army who died in 1976, at a dinner party in the UK in 1931. They lived in Salisbury before being stationed in Gibraltar and Hong Kong and Mrs Caterham set up a nursery school while in Hong Kong and raised two daughters, both of whom died before her. 

One of her sisters, Gladys, lived to be 104. 

Mrs Caterham drove until she was 97 and enjoyed playing contract bridge in her centenarian years. 

She survived Covid in 2020 aged 110. 

The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Bill Murray (75), Stephen King (78), David Wenham (60), Alfonso Ribeiro (54), Ricki Lake (57), Jon Bernthal (49), Sophia Loren (91), Moon Bloodgood (50), George R.R. Martin (77), Twiggy (76), Jimmy Fallon (51), Danielle Panabaker (38), Jeremy Irons (77), Christina Chong (42), Patrick Schwarzenegger (32), James Marsden (52), Jason Sudeikis (50), Keeley Hazell (39), Babs Olusanmokun (41), Jada Pinkett Smith (54), Tim McInnerny (69), Danielle Brooks (36), Ella Purnell (29), Cassandra Peterson (74), Bruce Spence (80), Mickey Rourke (73), Madeline Zima (40), Jennifer Tilly (67), Amy Poehler (54), Nick Jonas (33), Danny John-Jules (65), Tom Hardy (48), Tommy Lee Jones (79), John Bradley (37), and Jimmy Carr (53).

21st September 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 14the September 2025

Bit of a deadly week for drummers. No points though, so I best leave those Flying Monkeys out for another week. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

A Japanese racehorse who became famous for having never won a single race has died, Haru Urara, who was the inspiration for a popular mobile game character, passed away in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 29. She was surrounded by her keepers at Martha Farm in Chiba prefecture, in eastern Japan, according to the Flying Monkeys. The thoroughbred mare, known for donning a pink Hello Kitty face mask while racing, was once dubbed “the shining star of losers everywhere.” “Haru Urara was 29 years old, which would be nearly 90 years old in human terms, but she was in great health until yesterday,” her caretaker, Yuko Miyahara, said. “Recently, more and more people, not only from Japan but also from overseas, have been coming to see Haru Urara. So it’s really unfortunate.” The horse was still receiving visits from fans and was reportedly still in good health the weekend before her death. Haru Urara, whose name means “glorious spring” was born in the northern island of Hokkaido in 1996. She suffered her first loss at the Kochi Racecourse in southwestern Japan in November 1998. However it was not until 2003 when she first found fame when local media in Japan reported on her 80th racing loss in a row, postponing her planned retirement. She continued the impressive streak until her retirement in 2004 – having lost 113 races – and later became a national symbol of perseverance and tenacity. The horse’s fame also took a bump recently in July, following the launch of the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby mobile game, where she appeared as a pink-haired anime character.  

John Lennon’s killer Mark David Chapman has received a decision in his 14th parole hearing last week. The 70-year-old attended a parole board interview to learn whether or not he’d be sprung from the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, New York. Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life back in 1981 for killing the music legend. Online records updated by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision reveal Chapman’s request for parole was denied. While it’s not yet publicly known what Chapman said during his most recent parole hearing, he has shown remorse in the past for his actions, even stating he only went after Lennon because of The Beatles’ legend’s level of fame. Chapman has reportedly stated, “I assassinated him…because he was very famous. That is the only reason and I was very, very, very much seeking self-glory.” He’s also said, “I’m sorry for the pain that I caused to his wife, to his son. I think about it all of the time.” Chapman has also admitted he feels he should spend the rest of his days locked up, adding, “I deserve zero, nothing. I should be in prison for the rest of my life.” Following the shooting, Ono released a statement which read, in part, “John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him.” Paul McCartney received some criticism for his comments after Lennon’s death when he said “It’s a drag,” but later went on to clarify he was in a state of shock. Chapman’s next parole hearing is scheduled for 2027. 

Longtime Dead Pool favourite, Charlie Sheen has candidly revealed he would die if he touches drugs again after past, public battles with addictions. The Hollywood star is eight years sober and has admitted the scary outcome as he updates fans on his health. The Two and a Half Men star, 60, is telling his story in his new memoir as well as a two-part Netflix documentary. In it, he opens up on his on his past behaviour and admits, he never thought he’d see his current milestone age, nor did we Charlie, nor did we! He admits he is currently feeling “pretty good” as he revealed he has a rigid fitness regime that he follows. He explained the new memoir is simply him telling the stories the way they actually happened. That included several trips to rehab, and he claims it was a miracle had only had one overdose and close brush with death in his heaviest partying days. “I keep a mental list of the worst, most shameful things I’ve done, and I can look at that in my head if I feel like having a drink,” he said before admitting he has no interest in returning to his drug-taking self. However, he also candidly claimed: “Whether it’s true or not, I like to think the next hit would kill me.” He said that during the height of his fame, where he was earning $1.8m per episode of his hit sitcom, he became erratic. And he previously boasted of “banging seven gram rocks” of cocaine and claiming to have “tiger blood” running through his veins. Charlie said that he is still evolving as he tries to forgive his former ways and actions. He said there are sometimes moments that give him the “shame shivers”. But he said thankfully those times are getting further apart, labelling it “progress”.

On This Day

  • 1752 – The British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar, skipping eleven days (the previous day was September 2).
  • 1901 – U.S. president William McKinley dies after being mortally wounded on September 6 by anarchist Leon Czolgosz and is succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.
  • 2022 – Death of Queen Elizabeth II: The Queen’s coffin is taken from Buckingham Palace, placed on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and moved in a procession to Westminster Hall for her lying in state over the next four days with the queue of mourners stretching for miles along the River Thames.

Deaths

  • 1715 – Dom Pérignon, French monk and priest (born 1638).
  • 1852 – Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Irish-English field marshal & politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1769).
  • 1982  – Grace Kelly, American-Monegasque actress; Princess of Monaco (born 1929).
  • 2009 – Keith Floyd, English chef and author (born 1943).
  • 2009 – Patrick Swayze, American actor, singer, and dancer (born 1952).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Sam Neill (78), Andrew Lincoln (52), Walter Koenig (89), Sydney Sweeney (28), Alfie Allen (39), Hans Zimmer (68), Linda Gray (85), Virginia Madsen (64), Tyler Hoechlin (38), Elizabeth Henstridge (38), Johnny Vegas (54), Colin Firth (65), Matt Rife (30), Adam Sandler (59), Hugh Grant (65), Eric Stonestreet (54), Jeffrey Combs (71), Martin Freeman (54), Heather Thomas (68), Miles Jupp (46), and P!nk (46).

14th September 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 7th September 2025

Let’s begin this week’s newsletter by awarding some points! With the passing of Joe Bugner, Mark W. Scores 75 points! Well done that man! The Flying Monkeys were quite successful this week, I think we shall leave them out for another week. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former US President Joe Biden recently underwent skin cancer surgery, his spokeswoman said. Biden had Mohs surgery, she told the Flying Monkeys, but did not immediately provide further details. The procedure is used to cut away skin until no evidence of cancer remains. The 82-year-old had been spotted with a wound on the right side of his head in recent days. In 2023, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest during a routine health screening. In May, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. “Cancer touches us all,” Biden wrote on social media at the time. “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Biden also had several non-melanoma skin cancers removed in the past, before he became president. He has largely retreated from the public eye since leaving the White House in January and has made few public appearances. The Bidens have long been strong advocates for fighting and curing cancer. Their adult son, Beau, died in 2015 from brain cancer.  

It has been a decade since legendary actor Alan Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and to his credit he is still acting after it at 90. And recently, the iconic “M*A*S*H” star revealed what really fuels him in an interview with the Flying Monkeys. “I think the main thing that keeps me alive is laughing,” Alda said. “When something goes wrong, I often see it as funny. Take my Parkinson’s. (Please). The night I accidentally fell into the dishwasher, I reassured our dinner guests by telling them, ‘I’m fine. It was only on rinse cycle.’ Fortunately, when you’re old, pretty much any bizarre thing you say gets a laugh.” And true to that form, Alda recently updated how he was doing in his health battle, telling the Flying Monkeys that he was “making progress.” “I didn’t say in which direction,” he joked. Alda also has prosopagnosia, a condition which is known as face blindness. The outlet said it makes it hard for Alda to recognise people. Alda said the issues cause him to face new puzzles that he has to solve each day. “It’s a little like a game,” he said. “I’ve found whatever the little problem is, if I keep at it, I can eventually solve it, and then I feel like a million bucks. It’s a way to have a good time under poor circumstances.” Sadly, he said that dealing with Parkinson’s has gone from a part-time job to a full-time one. “But it keeps me always looking for the funny side,” he said. Along with laughing, Alda has also found things he is passionate in, such as his current podcast. “To go a little deeper with your question about being productive while being old, I think a few embers still have to be glowing,” he said. “A passionate interest in something you haven’t yet followed up on. I’ve always been interested in how many people relate and communicate,” he added. “And now I’m spending most of my time exploring that on my podcast. But I think it’s important to follow a passion even if it doesn’t deliver the same status hits you’ve had in the past.”  

President Donald Trump put to rest rumours he was dying or near death with a post on Truth Social last Sunday. Trump, 79,  replied to another user by writing, “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE! President DJT.” The original post called out the alleged hypocrisy of covering former President Joe Biden and Trump, saying it was a “comical double standard.” “Joe Biden would go multiple days at a time without any public appearances and the media would say he’s “sharp” and ‘top of his game,’” the user wrote. “Meanwhile he was wearing diapers and napping. President Trump puts in more public work hours than any other POTUS in US history and media freaks out if he disappears for 24 hours,” the poster added. “Comical double standard.” Speculation surrounding Trump’s health started around the time journalist Laura Rozen wrote about Trump’s weekend schedule. “Trump has no public events scheduled all weekend. Don’t believe he was seen today either,” Rozen wrote. She also posted the official White House schedule that said “no public events scheduled” for the extended weekend period. Rozen later wrote, “An observation that he has not been seen publicly since Tuesday and has no public events on his public schedule thru the long weekend has set off a deluge. but that was not my intention.” On Friday, Trump gave an interview with “Daily Caller” White House correspondent Reagan Reese. Reese was surprised by the rumours of Trump’s health. “I wake up to see people freaking out that Trump’s sick or dead or something because he hasn’t been seen in a few days,” Reese said. “I was with the president yesterday afternoon. I interviewed him for an hour. More details on our conversation to come today and through the weekend. We talked about everything. He was lively and chatty. It’s a great interview.” Concerns over Trump’s health do have some merit as he has been seen with bruising on his hand.  The White House said last month that Trump suffered from “chronic venous insufficiency,” which also caused swelling in his ankles. However,  press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the bruising was a result of vigorous hand-shaking. “Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” she added about when Trump was checked by his doctor. Some medical professionals and cable pundits have speculated that there is an issue with Trump’s health — including possible congestive heart failure. Vice President JD Vance spoke of his preparedness if he were to become president.  “Yes, things can always happen. Yes, terrible tragedies happen,” Vance said. “But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is gonna serve out the remainder of his term, and do great things for the American people, and if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.”

On This Day

  • 1909 – Eugène Lefebvre crashes a new biplane during a test flight at Port-Aviation, south of Paris, becoming the first aviator in the world to lose his life piloting a powered heavier-than-air craft.
  • 1936 – The last thylacine, a carnivorous marsupial, dies alone in its cage at the Hobart Zoo in Tasmania.
  • 1978 – While walking across Waterloo Bridge in London, Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is assassinated by Bulgarian secret police agent Francesco Gullino by means of a ricin pellet fired from a specially designed umbrella.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Evan Rachel Wood (38), Toby Jones (59), Julie Kavner (75), Doug Bradley (71), Idris Elba(53), Mathew Horne (47), Michael Keaton (74), Paddy Considine (52), Carice van Houten (49), Rose McGowan (52), George Lazenby (86), Michael Berryman (77), Beyoncé (44), Charlie Sheen (60), Pauline Collins (85), Keanu Reeves (61), Salma Hayek (59), Zendaya (29), Burn Gorman (51), Steve Pemberton (58), Lily Tomlin (86), and Gloria Estefan (68).

7th September 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 31st August 2025

A  very quiet week for celebrity deaths, we will have to release the flying monkeys! 

In Other News

Gordon Ramsay has revealed he has undergone surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma, a type of non-melanoma skin cancer. The 58-year-old TV chef shared pictures of a stitched-up area below his ear on Instagram on Saturday, telling his followers he was “grateful and so appreciative” of his medical team for their “fast reactive work”. He wrote: “Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma thank you!” The chef reminded fans: “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend,” adding that the stitches were not from any cosmetic procedures. “I promise you it’s not a face lift! I’d need a refund,” he quipped. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer that starts in the top layer of skin, and can often be easily treated. According to the NHS, the main cause is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sun-beds. Risk can be increased by age, having pale skin and having had a history of skin cancer in the past. Basal cell carcinomas can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly grow in areas that are exposed to the sun, including the face, head, neck, and ears. It can be removed surgically before a biopsy is performed for the results to be examined. 

Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has undergone “successful” surgery after a serious training accident in France that left him with a fractured  vertebrae, collapsed lung and five broken ribs. Froome, 40, crashed while on a training ride on Wednesday and was airlifted to hospital in Toulon, around 100 miles from his home in Monaco. A statement from his Israel Premier-Tech team said: “We can confirm that Chris has successfully undergone surgery following his recent injuries. The procedures went as planned, and Chris is currently recovering in hospital under the care of his medical team. “He is in good spirits and grateful for the excellent medical support he has received. Chris and his family would like to thank fans, friends, and the cycling community for their concern and kind messages during this time.” Froome’s injuries will end his season and could therefore mean the end of one of the most successful Grand Tour careers in cycling’s history, with Froome in the final months of the five-year contract he signed when he left the Ineos Grenadiers to join Israel Premier-Tech ahead of the 2021 campaign. Froome won the Tour de France in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, also winning the Giro d’Italia in 2018 and the Vuelta a Espana in both 2011 and 2017 – all with Team Sky. However, Froome has never recovered the form he enjoyed before a serious crash he suffered during the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine, which left him in intensive care with a fractured femur, elbow, ribs and pelvis.  

Madness star Chris Foreman has revealed he has incurable cancer in a heartbreaking post to fans. The ’80s pop legend wrote about his shock diagnosis on the Madness Facebook page. The 69-year-old guitarist and backing vocalist said his first symptom was “severe pain” across his upper back and shoulders that became “unbearable”. He went for checks in June and was told he had myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. Known to Madness fans as Chrissy Boy, explained they found a tumour on his spine, writing: “Earlier this year I had severe pain in my upper back and shoulders. On the 28th of June we played a show in France and it had become unbearable. I had an MRI scan at the end of June and they found a tumour on my spine. On the 4th of July I went to the Royal Sussex and had all sorts of stuff done to me. I had radiotherapy which blasted it and stopped the pain. I actually had a Spinal Tap too – rock n roll! I wasn’t in good shape, to say the least. My kidneys were only at 14% function, which has greatly improved since then.” Despite the diagnosis, he ended on a positive note, telling fans: “What I’ve got is a form of cancer called myeloma. It’s treatable but not curable. When I get it into remission (I will!) I should be able to get back to normal life.” He’s hoping to be well enough to perform again next year, and thanked his tour crew and family for their unwavering support.  He’s also adopted a healthier lifestyle – ditching booze in favour of non alcoholic Margaritas. He added: “Some people have had this for 20 years or more. I have a long way to go before I get back onstage but I aim to be back next year. The band, my family, my road crew family and my management team have all been very loving and supportive. One of the worst side effects is that I can’t drink alcohol but I’ve mastered a non alcoholic Margarita and those Zero alcohol beers ain’t too bad these days.”

On This Day

Deaths

  • 1422 – Henry V of England (born 1386).
  • 1869 – Mary Ward, Irish astronomer and entomologist (born 1827).
  • 1969 – Rocky Marciano, American boxer (born 1923).
  • 1973 – John Ford, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1894).
  • 1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales (born 1961).
  • 1997 – Dodi Fayed, Egyptian film producer (born 1955).
  • 2012 – Max Bygraves, English actor (born 1922).
  • 2013  – David Frost, English journalist and game show host (born 1939).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Richard Gere (76), Chris Tucker (54), Cameron Diaz (53), Julian Richings (69), Carla Gugino (54), Elliott Gould (87), Rebecca De Mornay (66), Lenny Henry (67), Luis Guzmán (69), Jack Black (56), Billy Boyd (57), Brian Thompson (66), Barbara Bach (79), Shania Twain (60), Peter Stormare (72), Reece Shearsmith (56), Aaron Paul (46), Chris Pine (45), Melissa McCarthy (55), Macaulay Culkin (45), Tim Burton (67), Alexander Skarsgård (49), Blake Lively (38), Tom Skerritt (92), Gene Simmons (76), and Billy Ray Cyrus (64).

31st August 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 24th August 2025

A fairly quiet week, no points to award but a couple of interesting stories to read. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

The world’s oldest living person is celebrating turning 116. Ethel Caterham, who lives in a care home in Lightwater, Surrey, became the oldest living person in April following the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canbarro Lucas aged 116. Born on 21st August 1909, she is the last surviving subject of Edward VII. His great-great-grandson Charles III sent Mrs Caterham a card to mark her 115th birthday in 2024. Mrs Caterham was born three years before the Titanic disaster, eight years before the Russian Revolution and lived through two world wars. Born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, the second youngest of eight children, she was raised in Tidworth in Wiltshire. As a teenager she worked as an au pair in India, and later lived in Hong Kong and Gibraltar with her husband Norman, a lieutenant colonel in the army. A statement released by her care home said: “Ethel and her family are so grateful for all of the kind messages and interest shown to her as she celebrates her 116th birthday this year. “Ethel will spend the day quietly with her family so that she can enjoy it at her own pace. Thank you again for your kind wishes on this special day. “The oldest person who ever lived, whose age could be verified, was Frenchwoman Jean Louise Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.    

A bizarre video of Kirstie Alley revealing the wild outfits her  parents were wearing during a fatal car crash has gone viral. The clip of the late star resurfaced this week on Twitter, as she discussed the tragic incident that saw a drunk driver kill her mother and seriously injure her father during a collision in 1981. The couple had been on their way to a Halloween party at the time and viewers were left stunned when Kirstie revealed their outfits of choice. The clip was uploaded alongside a caption that read: ‘I could give you 1,000 tries to guess and you wouldn’t get it right.’ In the clip, Kirstie can be seen mid interview with Barbara Walters as she discusses arriving at the hospital following the tragic crash. ‘We were all sitting in this waiting room and we were sobbing and as I’m crying my sister was there and I wasn’t looking at her but I said, “Where were they going?” ‘And she said, “To a Halloween party.” “And I said: ‘What were they dressed as?’ — why would you ask this! — and she said: ‘The Odd Couple,’” Kirstie continues, referencing a 1968 movie. “And I said: ‘Oh,’ and I’m thinking: What Odd Couple? Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon?” “‘Well, what were their costumes exactly?’ and she said: ‘Mom was a Black girl and Dad was a Ku Klux Klan member,”’ The famed actress chuckled and put her hands to her head as she continued: ‘We started laughing and the whole family I guess had heard this conversation and we all started laughing. ‘And it was the greatest tribute that you could give my mother.’ Kirstie previously recalled this story in her 2005 memoir, How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life, where she also added: “I wish sometimes that the woman that killed my mother that night…had known about my mother’s costume, because maybe she, too, would know that my mother was a pretty funny person.”  

Thailand’s royal family has shared a rare health update on Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The princess, known as “Princess Bha,” 45, has been hospitalised in a coma since December 2022 after collapsing as a result of a heart condition. n a statement released last week, the Thai royal family revealed the princess’s medical team at the Chulalongkorn Red Cross Hospital in Bangkok detected a severe infection in the bloodstream, leading them to administer antibiotics and medication to stimulate blood pressure in order to maintain stable levels. The doctors have reported that the Princess’ lungs and kidneys have been functioning with support from medical devices and medication,” the statement added. The princess’s care regimen includes “broad-spectrum antibiotics and dialysis sessions to replace her deteriorating kidney function.” The Thai royal family has kept the princess’s condition largely private, releasing only four statements in the nearly three years that she has been hospitalised. Princess Bha is the eldest daughter of the King, 71, and his only child by his first wife, Soamsawali Kitiyakara. Prior to falling ill, she earned degrees in law and international relations in both Thailand and the United States, worked for the United Nations and served as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria. The King, known as Rama X, has yet to officially announce a successor. Before her hospitalisation, Princess Bha was considered a frontrunner, even though Thai tradition favours a male heir. 

On This Day

  • 1941 – Adolf Hitler orders the cessation of Nazi Germany’s systematic T4 euthanasia program of the mentally ill and the handicapped due to protests, although killings continue for the remainder of the war.
  • 1981 – Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murdering John Lennon.
  • 1995 – Microsoft releases Windows 95 to the public.
  • 2006 – The International Astronomical Union redefines the term “planet” such that Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet.
  • 2016 – Proxima Centauri b, the closest exoplanet to Earth, is discovered by the European Southern Observatory.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Jared Harris (62), Steve Guttenberg (67), Rupert Grint (37), Stephen Fry (68), Joanne Froggatt (45), Charley Boorman (59), Kristen Wiig (52), Richard Armitage (54), Ty Burrell (58), Mark Williams (66), James the Cunt Corden (47), Dua Lipa (30), Kim Cattrall (69), Hayden Panettiere (36), Alicia Witt (50), Carrie-Anne Moss (58), Amy Adams (51), Andrew Garfield (42), Ben Barnes (44), Ke Huy Quan (55), Demi Lovato (33), Misha Collins (51), Ray Wise (78), James Marsters (63), John Noble (77), Sylvester McCoy (82), David Walliams (54), Jonathan Frakes (73), Diana Muldaur (87), Jim Carter (77), Ian McElhinney (77), Simon Bird (41), Edward Norton (56), Christian Slater (56), Robert Redford (89), Roman Polanski (92), and Denis Leary (68).

24th August 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 17th August 2025

Another week flies by, and I found there is a sub-culture of fetishists out there who like to be squashed by large women. I’ll advise you now not to search for images of ‘large women squashing small men.’ You’ll see why I Googled this shortly… 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

A man in Portugal has died after his partner lost her balance and fell on top of him. The man, 59, was described locally as being slight in build and was reportedly smothered to death by his common-law wife, who was a year older and weighed more than 100kg (15st). It is believed she stumbled as she got out of bed to go over to her partner, who was lying on the floor next to her. The woman’s horrified screams alerted neighbours as she became trapped between the bed and the wall of the couple’s home. They went to her aid during the incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning. They managed to lift her off him but he was already unconscious by the time firefighters and paramedics arrived and the efforts of medical responders to revive him after he went into cardiac arrest proved unsuccessful. The woman’s weight reportedly played a key factor in her inability to get up after she became trapped. It is not clear exactly how much she weighs but she has been described locally as “obese.” The Flying Monkeys said five men had to lift her off her partner. The freak tragedy happened in the residential district of Campanha on the outskirts of Porto. PSP police officers have investigated but have ruled out foul play and decided it was a freak accident.  

Comedian Milton Jones has revealed he is cancer free after being treated for prostate cancer. In April, the 61-year-old, who is known for his appearances on Mock The Week, announced he was cancelling a number of UK tour dates to undergo surgery. Jones said in a statement: “A few months ago, I had to stop my tour HA!MILTON because I needed treatment for prostate cancer. I’m glad to say I’ve had that treatment and am now cancer-free! So, many thanks to all the doctors and nurses who helped me get better – I couldn’t do their job (I tried, but apparently you have to be qualified).” Thanking his family, friends and fans, he went on to joke: “I have to admit there were a few dark moments when I wondered if anyone would ever see me again, but then I realised that I was leaning against the light switch. Thankfully, I’m now in a completely different place, and if you look at my website, you’ll see that very soon I’ll be in lots of other different places on tour too”. Jones picks up his tour on 15th September in Stafford, touring until the end of November 2025. The Richmond-born comedian has been hailed as the king of the one-liner, basing his jokes on clever wordplay and surreal humour.  

Michael Barrymore has posted a heartbreaking health announcement on social media and is reaching out to his fans for support. The comedian, 73, has revealed he has been diagnosed with epilepsy, which was caused by a mini stroke. In a TikTok video, the TV star uploaded a series of photos of himself in hospital. He wrote: “I developed epilepsy at 73…a mini stroke caused me to develop epilepsy where I have uncontrollable seizures. I suffer from cluster seizures, which affects a quarter of people with epilepsy. It means I have more than one, usually three individual seizures in a short period of time.” He added: “It’s scary because there’s a 40% chance of going into epilepticus which causes brain damage and death without prompt medical attention. I’ve had several attacks this year and have emergency medication at home if I go into a seizure. It doesn’t really affect my life otherwise, but it would be nice to talk with other sufferers on here about it.” Michael is best known for his successful career as a television entertainer during the 1980’s and 90’s. He fronted popular shows like Strike It Lucky and My Kind of People. However, more recently, he has gained attention for his resurgence as a TikTok star. Many of his fans have flooded him with support after he posted his heartbreaking announcement. 

On This Day

  • 1896 – Bridget Driscoll became the first recorded case of a pedestrian killed in a collision with a motor car in the United Kingdom. 
  • 1976 – A magnitude 7.9 earthquake hits off the coast of Mindanao, Philippines, triggering a destructive tsunami, killing between 5,000 and 8,000 people and leaving more than 90,000 homeless.
  • 1998 – US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an “improper physical relationship” with White House intern Monica Lewinsky; later that same day he admits before the nation that he “misled people” about the relationship.

Deaths

  • 1983 – Ira Gershwin, American songwriter (born 1896).
  • 1987 – Rudolf Hess, German soldier and politician (born 1894).
  • 2015 – Yvonne Craig, American ballet dancer and actress (born 1937).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Robert De Niro (82), Austin Butler (34), Sean Penn (65), James Cameron (71), Steve Carell (63), Taika Waititi (50), Julie Newmar (92), Madonna (67), Jennifer Lawrence (35), Ben Affleck (53), Natasha Henstridge (51), Tony Robinson (79), Jim Dale (90), Steve Martin (80), Mila Kunis (42), Halle Berry (59), Sebastian Stan (43), Cara Delevingne (33), Jim Beaver (75), Chris Hemsworth (42), Viola Davis (60), Anna Gunn (57), and Ian McDiarmid (81).

17th August 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 10th August 2025

What a week!! With the passing of James Whale, I can award 76 points to Julia, Dave J & Abi and 176 points to Ian & Debbie as they both had him listed as a Cert. But not only that, I can award 53 points to Fiona for correctly guessing that Jim Lovell would die this year. Well done everyone! We now have a new points leader! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

A driver going 283 mph trying to set a land speed record during a racing event at Utah’s famed Bonneville Salt Flats died last Sunday after he lost control of his rocket-like vehicle called the Speed Demon, organisers said. Driver Chris Raschke lost control about two and a half miles into a run and was treated by medical professionals at the scene, but died from his injuries, according to the Southern California Timing Association, which has organised the popular land-speed racing event known as Speed Week since the late 1940s. For decades, the flat, glasslike white surface of Bonneville has drawn drivers from all over seeking to set new land speed world records and motorcycle and car fans to watch. A remnant of a prehistoric lake-bed, the salt flats that are about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City have also been a backdrop for movies such as Independence Day and The World’s Fastest Indian. “Motorsports is inherently a dangerous sport,” said Dennis Sullivan, a car builder and racer who set a land speed record in his 1927 Model T street roadster and serves as president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. “People get hurt. People get killed. That’s just the nature of the sport. It doesn’t happen a lot.” The last racing death Sullivan recalled at the flats came in 2016 when Sam Wheeler, a renowned land speed motorcycle racer, crashed at 200 mph when the high-performance bike he was testing fish-tailed and went airborne. Raschke, 60, was the driver of a streamliner – a long, narrow, aerodynamic car made to run at high speeds – known as the Speed Demon. He had worked in motor sports for more than four decades.  

An American big game hunter was gored to death by a buffalo he was stalking in South Africa. Millionaire ranch trader Asher Watkins, 52, was on safari last Sunday with a tracker when he was killed. The 1.3 tonne animal charged out of the brush and hit Mr Watkins, killing him almost instantly. Watkins was a keen hunter who posted regularly on social media showing his kills. Hunter Hans Vermaak on behalf of CV Safaris, who organised the expedition, said: “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the USA. “On Sunday, while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo. He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers. This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones. We are doing everything we can to support the family members who are here with us and those back in the United States as they navigate this tragic loss.” CV Safaris said he was killed on his second day hunting by an unpredictable and aggressive bull. The firm warns people on its website: “No species on the planet has a more fearsome reputation than a Cape Buffalo. Responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year. Cape Buffalo can weigh up to 1.5 tons, they are up to 11 feet long and 5ft 6in tall, and their horns are joined by a solid lump of bone across the forehead. They are unpredictable and aggressive, and their only predators are humans and lions.  

A raging camel attacked its owner before brutally biting his head off. Sohanram Nayak was desperately attempting to recapture his camel, after it had escaped from its pen, when the animal snapped and turned on him. The Flying Monkeys reported the camel picked its owner up by his neck and slammed him on the ground before “chewing his head” off. The horrifying incident occurred in February close to the village of Bikaner in Rajasthan, India. Authorities said the camel broke free from where it was tied up after spotting another camel passing by, becoming agitated. After the decapitation, Nayak’s family members and locals from the village set about exacting their revenge on the camel. The mob got it under control before reportedly tying it to a tree and hitting it with sticks. A grim video of the animal being beaten went viral on social media. The beating resulted in the camel’s death. Officials in Rajasthan actually made camels one of their official state animals in 2014 as part of a wider bid to protect them, with their numbers dwindling. A Camel Bill was also introduced in 2015, making the killing of camels punishable with up to five years in prison. 

On This Day

  • 1969 – A day after murdering Sharon Tate and four others, members of Charles Manson’s cult kill Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.
  • 1977 – In Yonkers, New York, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz (“Son of Sam”) is arrested for a series of killings in the New York City area over the period of one year.
  • 2018 – Horizon Air employee Richard Russell hijacks and performs an unauthorised takeoff on a Horizon Air Bombardier Dash plane at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in Washington, flying it for more than an hour before crashing the plane and killing himself.

Deaths

  • 1932 – Rin Tin Tin, American acting dog (born 1918).
  • 2008 – Isaac Hayes, American singer-songwriter, pianist, producer, and actor (born 1942).
  • 2019 – Jeffrey Epstein, American financier (born 1953).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Antonio Banderas (65), Rosanna Arquette (66), Eric Bana (57), Bill Skarsgård (35), Anna Kendrick (40), Sam Elliott (81), Gillian Anderson (57), Rhona Mitra (49), Melanie Griffith (68), Audrey Tautou (49), Dustin Hoffman (88), Charlize Theron (50), Michael Shannon (51), Harold Perrineau (62), Sasha Calle (30), David Duchovny (65), Tobin Bell (83), M. Night Shyamalan (55), Michelle Yeoh (63), Geri Horner (53), Mark Strong (62), Billy Bob Thornton (70), Meghan Markle (44), Lee Mack (57), and Barack Obama (64).

10th August 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 3rd August 2025

Another week flies by, more vaguely famous die. No points this week, so I best send out the monkeys.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Phil Collins has been hospitalised – but not for a terminal illness. Despite swirling rumours online that sparked concern among fans, the legendary Genesis frontman, 74, is currently recovering from knee surgery and is not in hospice care, his representative told the Flying Monkeys. Any speculation that Collins is in hospice is “completely incorrect,” his rep clarified. The rumours of Collins being admitted to hospice care come after he opened up about his health challenges earlier this year. In February, Collins shared in an interview that he isn’t “hungry” to make new music due to his ongoing health issues – in 2022, the legendary musician revealed he could no longer play the drums because it was too difficult to pick up his drumsticks. “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick,” Collins said. Collins was forced to step back from drumming back in 2007 when he suffered a serious spinal injury that led to lasting nerve damage. “My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in,” Collins said in 2009. 

Jessie J has revealed she has been in hospital with an infection, six weeks after she underwent surgery to treat breast cancer. The 37-year-old musician shared her  early-stage cancer diagnosis in April this year and had a mastectomy to remove the disease, followed by breast reconstruction surgery. However, in an update to her followers on Sunday morning she explained she had fallen ill unexpectedly and had spent time hospitalised in the same ward in which she had recovered just weeks earlier. “How I spent the last 24 hours,” she wrote in a caption, alongside a picture of a cannula inserted into her arm. “Six weeks post surgery and I was back in the same ward I was after my surgery,” she said. “Not expected or planned.” She explained: “I had and still have symptoms that pointed towards a blood clot on the lung. IT IS NOT A BLOOD CLOT THANK GOD. But they ran a lot tests, which ended up showing I have an infection (still trying to figure out what) and a little fluid on my lungs.” The “Bang Bang” singer, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, said she is still unwell, but has discharged herself from hospital. “Finding it hard to breathe in, but I discharged myself last night (I hate being in hospital) and will continue the investigation as an outpatient,” she explained. “I know many people who will have gone through this or similar may or may not agree with me on this or not, and that’s OK. But I know for me, the true hard journey of this whole thing physically was the day I went into surgery.” Reflecting on the impact of the recovery process, the musician explained how the illness had impacted her personal life, parenting, and career, in a follow-up post. “The recovering physically is far from quick or easy, and mentally it’s been the most challenging time for me,” she continued. “Especially as a Mum with a toddler and being unable to be the mother I usually am. And having to change the plans for my career for this year has been frustrating after working so hard to get to the point and excited to do it all. But it’s life. I know that. “And don’t get me wrong, getting the all clear was an is incredible, but that result didn’t speed up or make the recovery from the surgery any easier physically.” In her final post she said the emergency had reminded her to “slow down” in future.  

President Trump’s mysterious hand bruise has reappeared, but this time, it appeared to be caked in even more makeup. The commander in chief, 79, was snapped by the media while boarding Marine One at the White House ahead of his trip to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, when his off-color hand was noticed. A zoomed-in shot of Trump’s hand appeared to be flaking with a layer of makeup – a shade that did not match his tangerine skin, plastered over the top. One area of his hand buried beneath the concealer looked like an incision or scar of some kind. The mark on his right hand was first noticed months earlier, in February, during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. At the time, his right hand appeared yellow and bruised, and it seemed to be covered in concealer. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed a statement she gave to the Flying Monkeys in February: “President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. “His commitment is unwavering, and he proves that every single day.” Dr Stuart Fischer, an internal medicine physician in New York, told the Flying Monkeys in February that the bruises were concerning. He said that while an “aggressive handshake” may contribute, the president’s age, which naturally weakens his blood vessels, can make bruising more severe. Fischer noted that the president is the second-oldest in US history. Equally, Osteoarthritis – a degenerative joint disease – could also be a cause, the doctor speculated. Ultimately, “I think it’s probably all of those things together,” he said. Plus we have to remember the last few days of The Queen, her hands looked very bruised, but we probably have to put that down to Liz Truss clawing at her before she died. 

On This Day

  • 1936 – A fire wipes out Kursha-2 in the Meshchera Lowlands, Ryazan Oblast, Russia, killing 1,200 and leaving only 20 survivors.
  • 1958 – The world’s first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus, becomes the first vessel to complete a submerged transit of the geographical North Pole.
  • 1977 – Tandy Corporation announces the TRS-80, one of the world’s first mass-produced personal computers.

Deaths

  • 1966 – Lenny Bruce, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1925).
  • 2011 – Bubba Smith, American football player and actor (born 1945).
  • 2023 – Mark Margolis, American actor (born 1939).

Last Meals

Edward James Zakrzewski II, a Technical Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force first met his South Korean wife Pun Im in 1986 when he was stationed in Montana. After Im became pregnant, Zakrzewski married her, who then adopted the American name Sylvia. The couple went on to have two children together: Kim and Anna. Subsequently, Zakrzewski was stationed in South Korea for three years between 1989 and 1992, and later transferred to the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and his family relocated to Mary Esther in Florida’s Okaloosa County.

According to court documents, Sylvia faced discrimination while in South Korea for being married to an American and having a mixed-race child, and her relationship with her husband was also strained after she moved to the U.S. with him and their children.

By 1994, due to various marital issues, Sylvia planned to divorce her husband, and also wanted to take custody of her two children and take them back to South Korea with her, a matter that she deliberated for some time. Kim informed his father by telephone about this plan while Zakrzewski was in the midst of his work. Purportedly, due to his wife’s intention to divorce him, Zakrzewski was angered, and during his lunch break, he purchased a machete from a local store and took it home. There, he also gathered up a crowbar and rope, hiding the weapons in the bathroom.

During that evening, upon the arrival of his wife and children back home, Zakrzewski first attacked his wife. He struck Sylvia multiple times with the crowbar, then used the rope to strangle her. Afterwards, Zakrzewski targeted his children, and firstly, he called Kim into the bathroom to brush his teeth, before he struck the  seven-year-old boy repeatedly with the machete. Next, he summoned his five-year-old daughter, Anna, to brush her teeth and killed her in similar fashion.

Autopsy results showed that both the children had wounds on their arms and hands, which were consistent with defensive wounds; Kim died from severe head, neck, and back injuries while Anna sustained fatal machete wounds as well. Zakrzewski later dragged Sylvia’s body into the bathroom, where he further mutilated her with the machete to ensure she was dead. Sylvia also died from both sharp-force and blunt-force injuries. Furthermore, the medical examiner, Dr. Edward Harvard, found that when Sylvia was strangled with the rope, she was still alive despite sustaining a fractured skull and at least eight machete blows to her back. 

After murdering his family, Zakrzewski drove to Orlando and flew to Hawaii, changed his name to Michael Green, and lived with the family of a minister who ran a religious commune; the minister allowed Zakrzewski to stay in a shack in return for performing maintenance work. Meanwhile, during his time on the run, the police discovered the murders, and had charged Zakrzewski in absentia with the murders of his children and wife, after they named him a suspect in the case (as a result of Zakrzewski being listed as AWOL).

Four months later, the Zakrzewski family murders were publicised by American crime documentary series Unsolved Mysteries, and Zakrzewski was also featured on the show, with the authorities seeking information of his whereabouts from the public. Reportedly, the minister recognised Zakrzewski as the alleged killer wanted by the police, and commented to Zakrzewski that the killer resembled him. A day later, Zakrzewski surrendered himself to the police.

Zakrzewski was extradited from Hawaii to Florida to face charges for killing his family. While he was pending trial for murder, Zakrzewski and another inmate attempted to escape from the Okaloosa County Jail in August 1995, but their attempt ultimately failed after the  guards caught them trying to get through the prison fence. 

On March 19th 1996, before he could officially claim trial, Zakrzewski pleaded guilty to all three counts of murdering his wife and two children in the first degree.

A sentencing trial was subsequently conducted before an Okaloosa County jury, and the prosecution sought the maximum sentence of death for all three counts of first-degree murder, citing that the murders were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, while the defence sought life imprisonment on the basis that due to Zakrzewski’s choice of weapons, the family died painlessly and quickly during the attack. 

The jury returned with their verdict on sentence, recommending the death penalty twice for Zakrzewski on charges of killing his wife and son, while they settled on a life sentence for the murder of Zakrzewski’s daughter. 

On July 1st 2025, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Edward Zakrzewski, scheduling his execution to be carried out by the end of the month. 

After losing his final appeal, Zakrzewski was executed via lethal injection at 6:12 p.m. in Florida State Prison on July 31st 2025. He was the ninth person to be executed in Florida in 2025, which thus marked a record year for executions in Florida; the previous highest number was eight in 2014. For his last meal, Zakrzewski ordered fried pork chops, fried onions, potatoes, bacon, toast, root beer, ice cream, pie and coffee. He had one visitor, who was not identified, and did not take advantage of meeting with a spiritual advisor. 

In his final statement, Zakrzewski said, “I want to thank the good people of the Sunshine State for killing me in the most cold, calculated, clean, humane, efficient way possible. I have no complaint.” 

Last Week’s Birthdays

Mamie Gummer (42), Stephen Graham (52), Evangeline Lilly (46), John C. McGinley (66), Martin Sheen (85), Steven Berkoff (88), Sam Worthington (49), John Carroll Lynch (62), Jason Momoa (46), Daisy May Cooper (39), Dean Cain (59), Michael Biehn (69), Wesley Snipes (63), J.K. Rowling (60), Christopher Nolan (55), Arnold Schwarzenegger (78), Laurence Fishburne (64), Hilary Swank (51), Lisa Kudrow (62), Jean Reno (77), Terry Crews (57), Carel Struycken (77), Frances de la Tour (81), Sian Gibson (49), Wil Wheaton (53), Hannah Waddingham (51), Elizabeth Berkley (53), and Anya Chalotra (30).

3rd August 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 27th July 2025

Points! And lots of them! Let’s begin with awarding Dave 53 points for correctly guessing  that Cleo Laine would die this year. Then on to the big one, with the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, I can award 74 points to Emma, Lee A, Archie, Debbie, Martin, Laura, Iwan, Lee U, and Vic. Well done everyone! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Erik Menendez has been diagnosed with a “serious medical condition”, his lawyer has told the Flying Monkeys. The news comes weeks before he and his brother, Lyle, are set to appear at a parole hearing after spending decades in prison for the murders of their parents. The lawyer did not provide further details about the medical condition. The Flying Monkeys reckon that Menendez has a kidney issue, although this has not been publicly confirmed. Menendez was taken from a San Diego prison, in which he has been held for years, to an outside medical facility on Friday. The California state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told the Flying Monkeys that Menendez was in a “fair condition”, but that it could not give further details. The brothers, who have been behind bars for 35 years, were resentenced in May to 50 years to life in prison for the killings of Kitty and José Menendez, in 1989. They were previously serving life without the possibility of parole. But earlier this year, a Los Angeles judge determined Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, did not pose an “unreasonable risk” if they were released. The judge added that the brothers had “done enough” while in prison to merit a change of sentence. The pair’s new sentence made them eligible for parole consideration due to their young ages when their crimes were committed. The brothers’ lawyer Mark Geragos called for Erik Menendez’s release, making reference to his client’s health. “I just think he should be parole furloughed, I think is the proper term, and he could be medically furloughed in advance of the hearing so that he can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot,” Mr Geragos said. “I think that it’s the only fair and equitable thing to do.” They have claimed the murders were in self-defence. Prosecutors contended that the brothers were spoilt young men who killed their parents for financial gain.  

A Texan father who uprooted his family to Russia in a bid to escape ‘woke America’ has reportedly been sent to the front lines of the brutal war in Ukraine to fight for Putin. Derek Huffman, 46, moved with his wife DeAnna, their three daughters and the family husky to the small town of Istra, near Moscow, earlier this year after claiming the US had become overrun by ‘woke ideology’. The family took advantage of a Kremlin-backed visa programme aimed at attracting Westerners who reject liberal ideals – something Mr Huffman called ‘a fresh start in a country that respects family values’. But the American expat’s dream of a quieter life in Russia has taken a dramatic turn. Initially promised a non-combat role in the Russian military – first as a welder, then a war correspondent – Mr Huffman now finds himself alarmingly close to the battlefield, according to his wife. DeAnna Huffman said her husband felt he was being ‘thrown to the wolves’ given that he had only received a limited amount of training, and that it was in Russian.  She added that her husband, who only had minimal instruction before being deployed, is ‘leaning on faith’ to survive, as the family awaits news in fear. The last message they received from him came on Father’s Day in June. In a video clip, Mr Huffman appears in full camouflage, speaking directly to his children. Since then, there’s been silence. The family insists he is ‘doing fine’, but a now-deleted link on their YouTube channel directed followers to a Telegram group titled Save that Little Girls where an emotional photo of DeAnna and her daughters crying in the street was posted alongside a plea – ‘We are asking the United States government to save this family.’ The Huffmans’ controversial decision to flee America came after growing frustration with progressive teachings in schools. After a move from Arizona to Texas, Mr Huffman said he was horrified when his daughter Sophia was expected to discuss lesbian relationships at school – a moment he called the ‘final straw’.  

Billy Joel has opened up about his health following the revelation that he’s been diagnosed with a brain related condition. The 76 year old singer-songwriter provided an update during a recent podcast appearance, where he discussed one of the symptoms he’s currently experiencing. Earlier this year, Billy revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. According to the NHS, it’s considered ‘uncommon’ and typically impacts people over the age of 60 and symptoms can include issues with mobility and signs of dementia. Billy has given an update on his health in a newly released podcast episode. Appearing as a guest on the latest instalment of the Club Random podcast, Billy told host Bill Maher that he’s feeling “fine”. He said: “I learned so much about you. First of all, your health. I mean, all your fans want to know … you had something. Did we fix it?” Addressing the question, Billy stated: “It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on.” After the host remarked that he “looks good” and “sounds good,” Billy responded about his condition: “I feel fine. My balance sucks – it’s like being on a boat.” Billy said that his condition, normal pressure hydrocephalus, was once known as “water on the brain.” When asked what causes it, he said: “Nobody knows. They don’t know.” He added: “I thought it must be from drinking.” Billy then revealed that he doesn’t drink “anymore,” adding: “But I used to, like a fish.” He continued: “I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling, y’know.”

On This Day

  • 1890 – Vincent van Gogh shoots himself and dies two days later.
  • 1940 – The animated short A Wild Hare is released, introducing the character of Bugs Bunny.
  • 2002 – A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an air show at Lviv, Ukraine killing 77 and injuring more than 500 others, making it the deadliest air show disaster in history.

Deaths

  • 1984 – James Mason, English actor (born 1909).
  • 2003 – Bob Hope, English-American actor, comedian, television personality (born 1903).
  • 2012 – Geoffrey Hughes, English actor (born 1944).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Taylor Schilling (41), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (55), Donnie Yen (62), Jason Statham (58), Sandra Bullock (61), Helen Mirren (80), Kate Beckinsale (52), Kevin Spacey (66), Nana Visitor (68), Eve Myles (47), Mick Jagger (82), Matt LeBlanc (58), Elisabeth Moss (43), Anna Paquin (43), Jennifer Lopez (56), Summer Glau (44), Danny Dyer (48), Lynda Carter (74), Woody Harrelson (64), Daniel Radcliffe (36), Kathryn Hahn (52), Ronny Cox (87), Willem Dafoe (70), Terence Stamp (87), Selena Gomez (33), Rhys Ifans (58), Danny Glover (79), Bonnie Langford (61), and Josh Hartnett (47).

27th July 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 20th July 2025

Alas no points this week, but plenty to read, in fact I had to drop a few interesting stories as this newsletter was getting a bit too long. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

A once popular adult star has reportedly gone mysteriously missing after taking a ‘wrong’ life path, it has been claimed. Faye Reagan, real name Jillian Faye Henning, has been declared missing by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Missing Persons Detail since 7th May. A missing persons bulletin filed by the authorities asked for the public’s assistance in locating the 36-year-old, who once dominated the adult scene after joining the industry at the age of 19. The missing persons report says Faye is 5ft6, weighs 115lbs and has red/brown hair – a memorable characteristic from her past career. She also has brown eyes. It also says that she was last spotted wearing a black top, green sweatpants and carrying a dark coloured backpack. The report states that she was seen at 3800 block of East Charleston, Las Vegas, Nevada. In a bid to locate the woman, the report asks hospitals to check their registries for the missing person and “notify police immediately.” A screenshot of the report is currently being circulated on Reddit forums, with fans expressing their concerns and well-wishes for the star. Fans were shocked when she left the career abruptly, and are now equally as shocked to learn the star has gone missing. Some claim that Faye turned to an unsavoury lifestyle after her adult star fame, with some alleging that she had been spotted looking “dishevelled” in Las Vegas. In the missing persons poster, Faye appears to be looking unkempt – which seems to be in a mug shot-style photograph, further feeding the concerns about her lifestyle. The stunning risqué actress, memorable for her natural ginger locks and freckles, became a huge star when she started her career in her late teens. She shot to fame after shooting five sex scenes in just one day for a hardcore film titled ‘The Gauntlet 3′. The actress would be later nominated for fifteen AVN Awards. 

General Hospital legend Tristan Rogers revealed he is  battling cancer. On Thursday, the veteran actor’s friend and publicist, Anthony Turk, announced the news in a press release. ‘Beloved Emmy-winning actor Tristan Rogers, best known for his role as Robert Scorpio on the daytime drama, General Hospital, is sharing with fans that he has been diagnosed with cancer,’ Turk began. He continued: ‘While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family.’ The star’s rep kindly requested ‘privacy and understanding’ as Rogers and his family face ‘the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family. Tristan sends his love to his fans and wants them to know how much he appreciates their loyalty and encouragement over the years,’ Turk concluded. ‘This support means more to him now than ever.’ Rogers is best known to daytime audiences as international spy-turned-Port Charles D.A. Robert Scorpio on General Hospital. He has portrayed the character since 1980, and most recently, reprised his role on the series last year.  

Jaws star Richard Dreyfuss dropped out of SharkCon over the weekend after being diagnosed with bronchitis. The actor, 77, shared the news in a clip, filmed from a hospital bed, which was posted by the event’s official Instagram account. Richard, who portrayed Matt Hopper in Jaws fifty years ago, was due to speak at the two-day annual event that took place at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall Grounds this weekend. However, he said he wasn’t able to attend it because of his diagnosis. He said in his video, “Hello fellow cons. I am very, very sorry to tell you that I’ve been diagnosed with, viral, er…What is it?” His wife, Svetlana Erokhin, then answered off-camera, “Bronchitis.” Richard, covered by a Jaws blanket, added, “I’ve been told by my doctors I cannot fly and I would have to fly five hours to get there. “I’m terribly sorry because I had planned to be there and I had been looking forward to it, but I am unable to do so.” He added, “I don’t want to get anyone else sick and I don’t want to get sicker myself.” He continued, “I feel terrible about not showing up and I feel worse about exposing you to this apparently very viral illness. But there will be other times and I will make it my business to show up.” Richard added, “I want you all to feel very sorry for me, and very sorry for yourselves. I’m in a lot of pain and that has to come first, my health. I feel very good about having the time and enough health.” His wife added, “And such great fans!” Richard agreed, saying, “And such great fans.”  

An American Idol executive and her husband have been found murdered inside their $5 million Los Angeles mansion. Robin Kaye, an award-winning music supervisor for the hit show, and Thomas Deluca, both 70, were discovered brutally shot to death at their home in Encino on Monday around 2.33pm. Officers were called to the six-bedroom home for a ‘welfare check,’ but when they entered, they discovered Kaye and Deluca both shot in the head. Authorities witnessed blood at the front entrance of the couple’s home before breaking through a window to enter the property, a source told the flying monkeys. Their sudden deaths are being investigated as a double homicide. The motive is unknown, police said. Police were previously called to their home on Thursday after a suspect was allegedly trying to break in, the outlet reported. According to neighbours, a person, who may have been armed, was spotted hopping a fence on the tree-lined street in the ritzy California neighbourhood. Police officers were called to the home to conduct a welfare check after neighbours and family had not heard from them in four days.

A man has died after being pulled into an MRI machine in New York while wearing a heavy metal necklace. The 61-year-old, who has not been named, was pulled by the machine’s strong magnetic force after he entered a room at the Nassau Open MRI clinic while a scan was under way, Nassau County Police said. It is unknown why the man entered the room or if he was a patient at the clinic. Police added that the accident on Wednesday afternoon “resulted in a medical episode” and left the man in a critical condition in hospital. He was later pronounced dead. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The machines use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body. Due to the magnetic fields, “very powerful forces” are exerted on objects made of iron, some steels, and other magnetic materials, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering says. It says the forces are “strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room”.

On This Day

  • 1944 – Adolf Hitler survives an assassination attempt led by German Army Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.
  • 1969 – Apollo 11’s crew successfully makes the first human landing on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the Moon six and a half hours later.
  • 1982 – The Provisional IRA detonates two bombs in Hyde Park and Regent’s Park in central London, killing eight soldiers, wounding forty-seven people, and leading to the deaths of seven horses.

Deaths

  • 1973 – Bruce Lee, American actor and martial artist (born 1940).
  • 2005 – James Doohan, Canadian-American actor (born 1920). 
  • 2011 – Lucian Freud, German-English painter and illustrator (born 1922).
  • 2017 – Chester Bennington, American singer (born 1976).

Last Week’s Birthdays

John Francis Daley (40), Sandra Oh (54), Gisele Bündchen (45), Benedict Cumberbatch (49), Jared Padalecki (43), Ramin Djawadi (51), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (43), Vin Diesel (58), Kristen Bell (45), Eric Winter (49), Brett Goldstein (45), David Hasselhoff (73), Alex Winter (60), Will Ferrell (58), Corey Feldman (54), Phoebe Cates (62), Travis Fimmel (46), Diane Kruger (49), Forest Whitaker (64), Brigitte Nielsen (62), Jesse Ventura (74), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (40), Jackie Earle Haley (64), Kyle Gass (65), and David Mitchell (51).

20th July 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 13th July 2025

I think the word we all need today is claggy. But the stifling heat will not stop the rollercoaster that is the Dead Pool. This week we can award some points! With the death of Norman Tebbit I can deal out 56 points to Shân, well done her! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Grange Hill star Lee MacDonald has put all his energy into campaigning after experiencing two terrifying cancer scares in 18 months. The Zammo McGuire actor had his first cancer scare last year after a “little black spot” appeared on his eye, which he initially brushed off as a mole. He was more ‘annoyed’ by it due to its close proximity to his eye but, after it started ‘weeping’, his wife encouraged him to see a doctor, which still didn’t cause Lee to worry. “Cancer didn’t even cross my mind going into the doctor’s. I went there purely because it was annoying me, and it was there, and I wanted to get rid of it,” he recalled of the doctor’s visit as he explained how he thought it would turn out to be a harmless mole or pimple. “So I thought, a bit of cream and it’ll go.” However, his world soon turned upside down when the doctor told him the black spot looked like cancer. Lee returned to the doctor’s for another biopsy and learned the spot wasn’t cancerous, despite the doctor’s initial fears. Although it was the positive news he wanted to hear, he gained a new perspective on his health as he teamed up with O2’s campaign in partnership with The British Skin Foundation to highlight the importance of sun safety. Earlier this month, Lee found a rash on his face that he first assumed was from shaving. “Because I was shaving every other day and it would bleed, I just thought it’s a rash where I’m shaving on it, I’m just aggravating it, so it’s never going to clear up.” Lee stopped shaving around it to see if the problem would stop persisting, but nothing changed. He quickly booked an appointment with the doctor for a check-up and learned it was actually keratosis, a rash with pre-cancerous cells. When he was told of the diagnosis, his first thought was: “Oh, not again.” The EastEnders star will soon be getting the rash burnt off, which will ‘hopefully get rid of it’. “So hopefully, you know, it will get rid of it. But again, quite scary. So that’s two scares in 18 months.”   

Jeff Lynne has been forced to cancel his planned BFT Hyde Park concert this weekend after falling ill. The team working with the 77-year-old music star had previously revealed he was suffering from ill health. A statement issued on Saturday confirmed the news, announcing: “Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show. “Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today — and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.” The news comes after the band cancelled their Thursday night performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live due to “illness”. A fan who was at the ELO gig a day before the cancelled explained to the Flying Monkeys: “At the start of the set he came on and couldn’t play the guitar because he has injured his hand. He sounded shaky to begin with but his singing and energy picked up and was great until the last 10 minutes of the show.” A chair was brought onto the stage and he had to sit down to sing the last few songs, he appeared to be unsteady on his feet at the end and was helped off the stage by staff. “He really wasn’t well, it was obvious to fans at the gig he wasn’t himself and it is sad to see.” Jeff had previously battled with a broken hand whilst performing with the group on his farewell concert.  

Jessie J has received the “all clear” from her doctor after undergoing surgery following her breast cancer diagnosis. Jessie J, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, was relieved to hear the news. At the time, she recorded a video of herself to capture her reaction — and then she shared that video with her fans. “A video I took of myself after I got the all clear. When a friend asked ‘How do you feel?’ this explained it better than words,” Jessie J, 37, captioned an Instagram video. Fans could see the singer have a huge weight lifted off her chest as she took a deep breath. “I pray that anyone going through something hard and scary with their health, including everyone around them who are mentally effected and loves them gets to experience this feeling,” she added. 

On This Day

  • 1985 – The Live Aid benefit concert takes place in London and Philadelphia, as well as other venues such as Moscow and Sydney.
  • 1990 – Lenin Peak disaster: a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan triggers an avalanche on Lenin Peak, killing 43 climbers in the deadliest mountaineering disaster in history.
  • 2016 – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron resigns, leaving a fucking egotistical mess that we’re still trying to work out. 
  • 2024 – Donald Trump is injured in an assassination attempt while speaking at an election campaign rally, destroying the belief that Americans can shoot straight.

Deaths

  • 2020 – Grant Imahara, American engineer, roboticist, and television host (born 1970).
  • 2024 – Shannen Doherty, American actress (born 1971). 
  • 2024 – Richard Simmons, American fitness personality and public figure (born 1948).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Harrison Ford (83), Ken Jeong (56), Patrick Stewart (85), Melissa O’Neil (37), Michelle Rodriguez (47), Cheryl Ladd (74), Bill Cosby (88), Tamsin Greig (59), Stephen Lang (73),  Craig Charles (61), Chiwetel Ejiofor (48), Wyatt Russell (39), Fiona Shaw (67), Peter Serafinowicz (53), Sofía Vergara (53), Tom Hanks (69), Pamela Adlon (59), Jimmy Smits (70), Scott Grimes (54), Courtney Love (61), Richard Wilson (89), David Corenswet (32), Kevin Bacon (67), Anjelica Huston (74), Maya Hawke (27), Jaden Smith (27), Pauline Quirke (66), Jack Whitehall (37), and Ringo Starr (85).

13th July 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 6th July 2025

With the death of Sandy Gall, I can award myself 53 points!! Go me!  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, turned 90 today after a week of celebrations. Thousands of worshippers from around the world have travelled to Dharamshala, the small Indian town in the foothills of the Himalayas where the Dalai Lama lives, to mark the occasion. This includes long-time follower and Hollywood star Richard Gere, who is set to speak during the celebrations for the Nobel laureate, who is regarded as one of the world’s most influential religious leaders and worshipped by millions of Tibetan Buddhists as the living manifestation of Chenrezig, the Buddhist god of compassion. On Saturday, the Dalai Lama said he hoped to live for decades more, until the age of 130, so listing him for the next 39 years is probably going to be a late of time. Tenzin Gyatso, who became the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1940, fled his native Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule and took shelter in India, along with hundreds of thousands of Tibetans. According to Tibetan tradition, Dalai Lamas are “reincarnated” after they die. China annexed Tibet in 1950 and the current Dalai Lama lives in exile in India, making succession a highly contentious issue. Beijing rejected the statement, saying his successor would be from inside China and must be approved by the government.  

Rock star David Roach has been left devastated after being diagnosed with a “very aggressive” form of cancer. The Junkyard rocker, who has fronted American heavy metal band Junkyard since 1987, shared a photo on Instagram from his hospital bed, flashing a peace sign with one hand and a defiant middle finger with the other, as fans rallied around him. David, who has led vocals for the heavy metal band, fell ill with what he thought was just a “fever and cough”, but was rushed to the ER, where doctors gave him the shock diagnosis. He is now battling squamous cell carcinoma affecting his head, neck, and throat, a fast-spreading cancer that has forced his fiancée Jennifer to give up her job to care for him full-time. The band has launched a GoFundMe to help cover medical costs, and Jennifer shared an emotional message with fans on Instagram. “We wish we could respond to each of you, but honestly, there are no words right now. We’re still struggling to process the news we received on Tuesday.” she wrote. At the time of publication, nearly $28,000 had already been raised. Country singer Nicholas Mich even hosted a Benefit Live Stream Concert to help support the fund.  

Former James Bond actor George Lazenby has been diagnosed with early dementia, his ex-wife has revealed. Pam Shriver, has spoken candidly about supporting the former 007 actor as he navigates life with dementia. Lazenby, now 85, made history as the shortest-tenured Bond, appearing only once in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, after taking over the iconic role from Sean Connery. Despite his brief time as 007, the Australian actor remains a beloved figure among Bond fans. Shriver, a former US tennis star, met Lazenby in 2000 at Wimbledon when she was 37. The pair married, had three children – Kait, Sam, and George – and later divorced in 2008. However, Shriver has remained a close presence in Lazenby’s life. In an interview with The Flying Monkeys, Shriver revealed that Lazenby is in the “early stages of dementia,” but stressed that his personality still shines through. “He has dementia, but he is still very much himself,” she shared. “A softer version of himself, perhaps – and this is the key.” Lazenby had been living in a sheltered housing facility in Pacific Palisades until earlier this year, when wildfires ripped through the Los Angeles area and forced an evacuation. Following the incident, Lazenby was relocated to an assisted living facility in Santa Monica, where he continues to receive care. “We go for walks together, chatting about the kids and all the little anxieties which anyone with an older relative will recognise,” Shriver said. “His dementia affects his short-term memory but he tells stories about his younger days.” Shriver also shared that the pair had discussed legal matters years ago and agreed she would hold “power of attorney” should he ever lose mental capacity.

On This Day

  • 1885 – Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.
  • 1942 – Anne Frank and her family go into hiding in the “Secret Annexe” above her father’s office in an Amsterdam warehouse.
  • 1944 – The Hartford circus fire, one of America’s worst fire disasters, kills approximately 168 people and injures over 700.
  • 1947 – The AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.
  • 1988 – The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world’s worst offshore oil disaster in terms of direct loss of life.

Deaths

  • 1932 – Kenneth Grahame, Scottish-English author (born 1859).
  • 1960 – Aneurin Bevan, Welsh politician, Secretary of State for Health (born 1897).
  • 1971 – Louis Armstrong, American singer and trumpet player (born 1901).
  • 1998 – Roy Rogers, American cowboy, actor, and singer (born 1911).
  • 2020 – Charlie Daniels, American singer-songwriter, and fiddle-player (born 1936).
  • 2020 – Ennio Morricone, Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor (born 1928).
  • 2022 – James Caan, American actor (born 1940).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Sylvester Stallone (79), Eva Green (45), Kevin Hart (46), Geoffrey Rush (74), Jennifer Saunders (67), Burt Ward (80), Neil Morrissey (63), Post Malone (30), Tom Cruise (63), Patrick Wilson (52), Kurtwood Smith (82), Yeardley Smith (61), Bolo Yeung (79), Margot Robbie (35), Lindsay Lohan (39), Larry David (78), Jerry Hall (69), Liv Tyler (48), Pamela Anderson (58), Dan Aykroyd (73), Debbie Harry (80), Vincent D’Onofrio (66), Katherine Ryan (42), and Mike Tyson (59).

6th July 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 29th June 2025

Some vaguely familiar faces this week but no points to award. Apologies, but this newsletter sort of  ran away with me, some interesting stories just kept cropping up. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan has revealed he has been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. The former ITV, BBC and Sky News journalist, 67, said he was “responding positively” to treatment and was “feeling well”. “I’m fortunate to have a simply outstanding medical team looking after me, who I can’t thank enough – they are administering the best possible care with expertise, compassion and sensitivity,” he wrote on Twitter. Murnaghan presented the main news programmes on ITV and the BBC before spending 16 years as one of Sky’s lead anchors, and has also hosted BBC Two quiz show Eggheads. His post started: “Some personal news……I’ve been diagnosed with Stage IV advanced prostate cancer.” He continued: “I’m responding positively to their excellent treatment, and feeling well. I’m blessed to be fortified by the monumental love and support of my wife, family and close friends. Needless to say my message to all men over 50, in high risk groups, or displaying symptoms, is get yourself tested and campaign for routine prostate screening by the NHS. Early detection is crucial. And be aware, this disease can sometimes progress rapidly without obvious symptoms.” He added that he is hoping to take part in a charity bike ride organised by Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, who also has prostate cancer, in Glasgow in September.  

Singer-songwriter Jessie J has announced that her cancer has not “all gone” after a previous post about her experience was “misunderstood”. She shared an update on her journey this week following her recent surgery. Jessie, 37, announced three weeks ago that she had been diagnosed with “early” breast cancer. She shared that she was preparing to have surgery and earlier this week she revealed that the procedure had gone ahead. She wrote on Monday: “I am home now, to rest and wait for my results.” Following the surgery, it was reported yesterday that Jessie had said that her “cancer is all gone” in an update on Instagram. She’s however now said it was a “positive affirmation” and highlighted that she used a fingers crossed emoji. Addressing the update having made headlines, she wrote in a post this evening: “You have misunderstood my post. I posted a list of pros and cons of having breast cancer surgery. The first pro I put was … The cancer has all gone [fingers crossed emoji].” She clarified: “This was a positive affirmation NOT a fact. I don’t have my results yet. I added the emoji in thinking people would understand and clearly a lot didn’t.” Jessie added: “A weird situation. My fault for not being clearer.” She went on to share her hope that the statement comes true, writing: “But for now I do not have my results after surgery which was only 6 nights ago. I pray it will be true soon but the journey of cancer isn’t that simple unfortunately.”  

With Glastonbury-goers descending on Somerset’s Worthy Farm this weekend, no doubt some mesmerising chaos at the fabled festival is about to ensue. But underneath the hedonism and glitter lies a darker side to the world-renowned event. Since its inaugural days in the 70’s, the capacity has stretched from a humble 1,500, with 210,000 revellers now setting up camp at Glasto each year. But accommodating the population of a large town for almost a week has seen Glastonbury experience its share of tragedies and mishaps over the years. 

The 1994 Glastonbury line-up saw The Levellers and Rage Against The Machine headline, but away from the stages, a terrifying incident unfolded. On the Saturday night, a gunman started firing indiscriminately into the unsuspecting crowd. Five people with shot, and at around 10pm, police were called as the emergency situation evolved. The man was discovered to be wielding an automatic pistol, and began to shoot fans who had innocently attended the festival to enjoy the music. Two women and three men all sustained gunshot wounds before being rushed to hospital for treatment. Thankfully, the victims, aged between 18 and 44 only suffered minor injuries and recovered fully. 

Over the years, multiple bodies have been recovered at the festival, with the most recent deaths being discovered in 2023. One was a a medical incident in which a man in his 40’s was found fead on the old railway line. The body was that of radio DJ Jason Winder, 48, who died in the early hours of Sunday at the 2023 festival. Avon & Somerset Police said he’d suffered a ‘medical incident’ on the old railway line footpath shortly before 4am and died at the scene. 

Christopher Shale, a senior Conservative, was discovered dead in a toilet at Glastonbury on the Sunday morning of the 2011 event. An aide and friend of David Cameron, Shale, 56, was found hours after describing the Tories as “graceless, voracious, crass, always on the take” in a leaked strategy document. Despite the unfortunate timing, an inquest found that the MP, who had no drink or drugs in his system, died from natural causes. Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue told the inquest at Wells town hall that the asthmatic’s weight had put “an excessive workload” on his heart. 

In 2016, a heartbreaking incident saw a 27-year-old Bristol juggler, who taught young children circus skills, kill himself in a devastating incident. Ashton Launcherley, who was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, set fire to himself on the Glastonbury site, the Monday before the festival was due to start. The inquest heard how Launcherley, who had been detained in mental health hospitals and previously sectioned, had been plagued by voices who spoke in strange accents. He was found crouching in the lotus position in a ditch, doused himself in petrol and deliberately set himself on fire. 

A whistleblower has warned more deaths are to come, after the senior manager slammed the festival for their approach to security. Speaking to the Flying Monkeys, the ex-manager said: “Worst-case scenario, people are going to die, I think they’re going to have some massive issues this year.”

On This Day

  • 1864 – At least 99 people, mostly German and Polish immigrants, are killed in Canada’s worst railway disaster after a train fails to stop for an open drawbridge and plunges into the Rivière Richelieu near St-Hilaire, Quebec.
  • 1971 – Prior to re-entry (following a record-setting stay aboard the Soviet Union
  • ‘s Salyut 1 space station), the crew capsule of the Soyuz 11 spacecraft depressurizes, killing the three cosmonauts on board. Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev are the first humans to die in space.
  • 1995 – The Sampoong Department Store collapses in the Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, killing 502 and injuring 937.
  • 2007 – Apple releases its first mobile phone, the iPhone.

Deaths

The Twitter Killer

For the first time in three years, Japan has carried out a capital punishment sentence by hanging a man known as the “Twitter killer.” Takahiro Shiraishi, 34, was hanged to death on Friday, at Tokyo Detention House. He was convicted and sentenced to death for killing and dismembering nine people in his apartment in 2020.

Takahiro Shiraishi’s was found guilty of sexually assaulting and robbing eight of his female victims aged between 15 and 26 in 2017. He lured them to his apartment near Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Tokyo using a Twitter handle that roughly translates to “hangman.” The victims were all suicidal and Shiraishi had falsely promised them that he would die with them, posting things like “Won’t you die with me?” The sole male victim was the boyfriend of one of the women.

Shiraishi would dump the mutilated bodies of the women in garbage disposals and other places around Zama. In October 2017, police searched his house to investigate the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman who had expressed suicidal thoughts on social media. The woman’s brother who accessed her social media, led the police to Shiraishi’s apartment where they found cooler boxes and containers in with body parts. Some were stashed in boxes filled with cat litter, which he used to hide evidence.

He had admitted in court that he killed them for sexual gratification. His defence council had filed an appeal with the Tokyo High Court but Shiraishi withdrew it himself which finalised his sentence.

Before he moved to Zama, Shiraishi used to work as a scout that lured women into sex work at clubs.

One of the victim’s father told NHK, a Japanese media agency, that the execution changed nothing and that it would have been better for Shiraishi to have lived so that he could reflect on his crimes.

The execution was ordered by Japan’s Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki who said that he ordered it after “careful consideration.” In a press conference, the minister said that “the case caused the extremely serious outcomes and dealt a major shock wave and unease to the society.” he also said that “it is not appropriate to abolish the death penalty while these violent crimes are still being committed.”

In a government poll conducted every five years, 80 per cent of Japanese citizens showed support for capital punishment. The last time capital punishment was used in Japan was in 2022, to execute a man who went on a stabbing spree and killed seven people after crashing a truck in a district in Tokyo.

Last Meals

Richard Jordan, Mississippi’s longest-serving death-row inmate, requested chicken tenders, fries, strawberry ice cream and a root beer float for his last meal ahead of his execution on Wednesday.

Marc McClure, regional superintendent for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, announced the meal choice during a 2 p.m. press conference at the Mississippi State Penitentiary’s visitor centre in Parchman. He was joined by MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain.

McClure said Jordan ate his final meal at 4 p.m. 

Jordan was sentenced to death in 1977 for the 1976 kidnapping and murder of Edwina Marter, a Gulfport bank executive’s wife. He’d lived on death row for 48 years, making him the state’s longest-serving death row prisoner. 

When asked what kind of inmate Jordan had been during his decades on death row, McClure said only that he has never been a “problematic inmate.”

Last Week’s Birthdays

Gary Busey (81), Amanda Donohoe (63), Mel Brooks (99), John Cusack (59), Kathy Bates (77), Felicia Day (46), Alice Krige (71), Elon Musk (54), J.J. Abrams (59), Tobey Maguire (50), Emma D’Arcy (33), Meera Syal (64), Aubrey Plaza (41), Nick Offerman (55), Ariana Grande (32), Ricky Gervais (64), Sheridan Smith (44), Erin Moriarty (31), Iain Glen (64), Peter Weller (78), Nancy Allen (75), Rosie Jones (35), Joel Edgerton (51), Frances McDormand (68), Melissa Rauch (45), Selma Blair (53), Joss Whedon (61), and Bryan Brown (78).

29th June 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 22nd June 2025

This week’s big surprise was finding out that Wincey Willis had passed away last December, unsurprisingly, nobody forecasted that one! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

James Whale admitted he has been “spending a lot of time crying” after giving a devastating update on his health after his cancer returned in 2020, spreading to his kidney, spine, brain and lungs. Whale admitted: “I’m in my last couple of weeks.” The star took calls from the public while reflecting on his epic 50-year career in broadcasting, and paid an emotional tribute to his wife Nadine, before admitting: “I’m heading into the sunset.” James was in good spirits as he told his listeners, “I’m actually in my last couple of weeks. Last time I saw my oncologist, he said I’ve probably only got weeks to go. Talk Radio have been absolutely brilliant, but if you hear a thump during the programme it may have been my last breath. I don’t know, I hope it isn’t! But I just thought I’d throw that in so you can feel remarkably sorry for me and not shout at me.” He continued: “Over 50 years I have interviewed and chatted to some of the most amazing people – it may have been you, and maybe we’ll catch up for the last time.” When caller Paula got on the phone, he told her: “I spend a lot of time crying. Really it’s a bit embarrassing, Paula, to be quite honest with you.” Paula responded: “Don’t James. You’ve got something to cry for – your wife, and she adores you!” A clearly emotional James said: “I’ve got my doggies. I’m heading into the sunset, and I talk about it regularly on the show, and it’s interesting because now everybody talks about it. Not mine, but their own. They don’t feel that they’re doing it quite right without having a cancer to talk about.” The star went on to remind fans: “Nadine my wife and I do a podcast every week called Tales of the Whales and if you’re in a similar situation, I’m the one with it, she’s the one who’s got to put up with it. Please have a listen and tell us what you think.” James was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2000, having his left kidney removed to combat the disease. But in 2020 the cancer returned to his remaining kidney – and sadly it was deemed to be terminal.

Actor Eric Idle, 82, has been hospitalised for a second time in just a matter of days. The Monty Python star took to Instagram to update his fans on his health as he explained a bit more about the illness that he has been battling. He praised the medical staff taking care of him, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, for their “kindness and help” as he shared that he is suffering from Gastroenteritis. The NHS website says that this is an unpleasant condition causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines, often due to viral or bacterial infection. On Monday, the comedy star wrote: “So I’d like to thank all the doctors nurses and staff in the Cedars GI ward for their kindness and help to me today. The second time in three days. I think I’m suffering from Gastroenteritis. I love you people.” Eric previously opened up on his health, back in 2019, when he shared that he had been battling cancer. He shared that he had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer after luckily detecting it early. But last year, he admitted that he “shouldn’t be alive” and now cherished “every moment” of life. When asked how his brush with cancer changed him, he responded: “Oh, I shouldn’t be alive. I’m a lucky bastard and I enjoy every moment.” The star shared that he initially thought the diagnosis was a joke after an exchange with his doctor, partly because he was coincidentally working on a project about death. He explained: “I had been working on a project called ‘Death: The Musical’ and I asked my doctor which type of cancer I could use to finish off one of my characters. He said, ‘Pancreatic cancer, it can finish people off in three weeks.’”. But then during routine health checks years later, an alarming blood test was flagged by the same doctor. Eric shared: “He said, ‘Pancreatic cancer’ and I burst out laughing because I thought he must be joking.”  

R Kelly was rushed to hospital after overdosing on medication in prison, according to reports. The disgraced musician was sentenced to 30 years for racketeering and sex trafficking in 2021 and has been in a US federal prison ever since. The singer was given anxiety medication by prison staff after being put into solitary confinement ‘against his will’ on June 10, and then suffered an overdose, his attorney has claimed in a filing. Federal prosecutors have denied this allegation. The filing further claims that Kelly was then left feeling “faint and “dizzy” and saw “black spots in his vision” three days later, after being instructed to take more medication. Onsite prison medical staff could not help the rapper, so he was transported by ambulance to Duke University Hospital, the court documents state. He was treated in hospital, where he is reported to have spent two days recovering. It is alleged that the rapper was heard telling a member of prison staff that “this is going to open a new can of worms”. His legal team also claim that the prison staffers intentionally ‘gave him an amount of medicine that could have killed him’. Kelly’s attorney, Beau Brindley, said: “This was no mistake. It was a dose that jeopardised his life and nearly ended it.” His attorney has filed an emergency motion seeking that his client is released from prison, claiming that the singer is not safe within the prison walls. This is Brindley’s third request, with the motion referencing an alleged attempt on Kelly’s life by a group of prison officials, according to the reports. Brindley claimed the singer was to be “murdered” by a terminally ill inmate, who is reportedly a member of white supremacist group the Aryan Brotherhood. According to the motion, three prison officials – including a warden and an assistant warden – worked together to have Kelly “murdered” at the hands of an inmate, Mikeal Glenn Stine. Stine had reportedly claimed that high-ranking officials in the prison had offered him the opportunity to get out and live his last few months free, before his terminal illness kills him. After months of stalking Kelly in prison, according to the filing, Stine claimed that he changed his mind and told the rapper about the plans. Kelly is requesting to be placed on house arrest for his crimes – which included convictions for child pornography and enticing minors for sex. However, prosecutors have slammed his attempt to be freed as ‘deeply unserious’ and ‘repugnant’. The artist is seeking a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump, following the claims of his attempted assassination. His attorneys have claimed the singer “does not have the luxury to wait for vindication from the courts that will follow the exposure of the corruption at the heart of his prosecutions’. The legal team claim they ‘are engaged in conversations with multiple persons close to the White House and to President Trump’. R Kelly was exposed during the #MeToo movement as a serial sex abuser, and was sentenced to over three decades in a federal prison in the United States.

On This Day

  • 1948 – The ship HMT Empire Windrush brought the first group of 802 West Indian immigrants to Tilbury, marking the start of modern immigration to the United Kingdom.
  • 1979 – Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott, who had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him.
  • 1986 – The famous Hand of God goal, scored by Diego Maradona in the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and England, ignites controversy.

Deaths

  • 1969 – Judy Garland, American actress and singer (born 1922).
  • 1987 – Fred Astaire, American actor and dancer (born 1899). 
  • 2008 – George Carlin, American comedian, actor, and author (born 1937).
  • 2015 – James Horner, American composer and conductor (born 1953).

Ghana’s Unique Coffins  

It’s hard to miss the coffin shaped like an old Nokia brick phone at the entrance of the sunlit workshop on the outskirts of Accra. Here, on a busy road next to Ghana’s Atlantic coastline, Eric Kpakpo Adotey and his small team of craftsmen spend each day working in the thick humidity to bring people’s creative final wishes to life.

“Most of the time, people don’t cry when they see these ones,” Eric explained as he zigzagged between a coffin shaped like a Nike trainer and another in the form of an intricately detailed, pink fish. “They forget there’s a body in this coffin,” he added, the sounds of carpentry tools hammering away around him. “They all talk about the design, the art, the shape of it… it changes the atmosphere.”

Visiting a coffin maker is hardly at the top of many travellers’ bucket lists, but it should be if you visit Ghana. In this vibrant West African nation, death isn’t mourned in the sober ways you may expect. For many, it’s also a time of celebration, carried out in prolonged, colourful ceremonies full of music and dancing that can span multiple days. One of the more unique traditions adopted into Ghanaian funerary culture is the use of fantasy coffins that carry the dead into the afterlife, just like the ones Eric has crafted for the last 25 years. 

Locally referred to as abebu adekai (proverbial coffins), these figurative designs have been primarily used by the Ga people, one of Ghana’s ethnic groups, since around the 1950s. They’re typically crafted to resemble a person’s trade and symbolise the work they’ll continue in the afterlife, like a cocoa bean for a cocoa farmer or a fish for a fisherman.

Painted in striking colours and finished with minuscule details, they could easily pass for impressive sculptures rather than their more solemn use. Yet, after spending weeks on the design and creation, these coffins encase the deceased just like a regular coffin before burial in the ground. In more recent years, coffin requests have also become bolder — one viral video from a funeral in Ghana in 2020 saw a person buried in a penis-shaped coffin, prompting speculation about whether the deceased was a sex worker, or a ‘wanzam’ who performed circumcisions. 

For Eric’s part, the coffin craftsman has made everything from a coffin shaped like a camera to a human-sized beer bottle. “The one that is most famous to me is the octopus,” Eric recalled about his most unique request, adding that the intricate design came with eight tentacles. “That one was… a challenge.” 

Coffin making can also be big business. Some of Eric’s coffins have become collectables, selling for over $4,000 to international buyers and displayed in galleries worldwide. Those destined for local burials tend to have a more modest price tag, but regardless of its destination, the team puts care and commitment into each and every coffin they work on. 

Behind this bold creativity is also something deeper — the coffins are just one part of an elaborate funeral culture you find in Ghana, where send-offs are particularly grand affairs. News of a funeral here is usually announced through giant posters plastered on the sides of houses and walls, sharing information about the upcoming event. These posters usually include dramatic messages: “A painful exit”, read one, while another announced “What a shock!”

The theatrics also continue through the ceremonies themselves, from “professional mourners” who are paid to wail at the side of a coffin, to the viral dancing pallbearers who skilfully carry the coffin on their shoulders while performing an  impressively synchronised dance routine. 

From the public obituaries to the clothes people wear, Ghana’s lively funeral events carry a deeply spiritual and symbolic significance, as well as a party-like atmosphere that comes with a hefty price tag.

“People would go in for loans to organise beautiful funerals,” says lecturer and researcher Nii Ayo Solomon, whose own family recently commissioned a fantasy coffin. “My sister was buried recently,” he adds. “She was the national captain for the female national rugby team and we had to do a casket like this that looks like a rugby ball for her to be buried in.” On the last day of the festivities, “all the family comes together to settle the bills,” explained Isaac Aziawo, a guide for Intrepid Travel, which includes a visit to the fantasy coffin makers on one of its Ghana tours. “They have to get a contribution from each person to pay for the food, the drink, the coffin, and all other expenses during the funeral.” 

Last Week’s Birthdays

Meryl Streep (76), Bruce Campbell (67), Tim Russ (69), Lindsay Wagner (76), Cyndi Lauper (72), Prunella Scales (93), Chris Pratt (46), Carrie Preston (58), Juliette Lewis (52), David Morrissey (61), Nicole Kidman (58), John Goodman (73), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (36), Zoe Saldaña (47), Aidan Turner (42), Kathleen Turner (71), Will Forte (55), Jodie Whittaker (43), John Cho (53), Arnold Vosloo (63), and James Bolam (90).

22nd June 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 15th June 2025

I thought we might have scored some points this week, those Flying Monkeys did a relatively  good job. Alas, no-one listed any of the below, so we’re still where we were. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Prince William’s polo friend has died after reportedly swallowing a bee during a match – triggering a fatal heart attack, it is claimed. Indian-born billionaire Sunjay Kapur, 53, collapsed during the match at Guards Polo Club in Windsor yesterday. Sources told the Flying Monkeys the bee stung Kapur in his mouth before he suffered anaphylactic shock that caused his heart to stop. He is understood to have requested the match be halted and then fell to the ground. Reportedly, a witness claimed that Kapur said, “I’ve swallowed something,” which seems to be his final words before his fatal heart attack. Medical experts say internal stings can prove deadly, particularly if a person has an undiagnosed allergy. Kapur’s exact cause of death is still being investigated. A well-known figure on the polo circuit in the UK and India, the late industrialist rubbed shoulders with the royals, including the Prince of Wales. Kapur was the chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar. He was previously married to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, the couple had two children together. Talking about Sunjay Kapur’s health, a source close told the UK portal: “Sunjay was in excellent health. No one could believe what had happened. It’s a shocking reminder of how fragile life can be.” 

A ‘seriously ill’ rock legend has been rushed to hospital with the band making a heartbreaking show announcement on Wednesday. James Prime, 64, co-founder and keyboardist of Deacon Blue, is currently undergoing care.  The band, made up of vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, James, drummer Dougie Vipond, guitarist Gregor Philp and bassist Lewis Gordon, confirmed that their shows would still go ahead.  It is unclear why James is in hospital, although he is currently in intensive care. In a statement shared to Instagram, they explained: ‘Dear friends, we wanted to share some news with you about our brother, Jim. Unfortunately, he is seriously ill and undergoing care in hospital. We would like you to join us in wishing him well and to share our love with him. We spoke to Jim yesterday about Deacon Blue’s plans for the rest of the year, and he encouraged us to continue with love in our hearts and with his full blessing that the shows go ahead, even if it means replacing the irreplaceable James Miller Prime for the time being. Together with Jim’s family, we want to thank all the nurses, doctors and ICU staff for their ongoing care, professionalism and compassion. With love, Ricky, Lorraine, Dougie, Gregor, Lewis and Tom.’

On This Day

  • 1215 – King John of England puts his seal to Magna Carta.
  • 1648 – Margaret Jones is hanged in Boston for witchcraft in the first such execution for the area.
  • 1667 – The first human blood transfusion is administered by Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys.
  • 1752 – Benjamin Franklin proves that lightning is electricity.
  • 1878 – Eadweard Muybridge takes a series of photographs to prove that all four feet of a horse leave the ground when it runs; the study becomes the basis of motion pictures.
  • 1896 – One of the deadliest tsunamis in Japan’s history kills more than 22,000 people.
  • 1921 – Bessie Coleman earns her pilot’s license, becoming the first female pilot of African-American descent.
  • 1970 – Charles Manson goes on trial for the Sharon Tate murders.
  • 1996 – The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army detonates a powerful truck bomb in the middle of Manchester, England, devastating the city centre and injuring 200 people.
  • 2022 – Microsoft retires its ubiquitous Internet Explorer after 26 years in favour of its new browser, Microsoft Edge, it’s shit too.

Deaths

  • 1993 – James Hunt, English racing driver and sportscaster (born 1947).
  • 1996 – Ella Fitzgerald, American singer and actress (born 1917).
  • 2014 – Casey Kasem, American radio host, producer, and voice actor (born 1932).
  • 2023 – Glenda Jackson, English actress and politician (born 1936).

Last Meals

Stephen Stanko was an American prisoner who was convicted of the 2005 murders of two people in South Carolina, as well as the kidnapping and rape of the teenage daughter of one of his murder victims. 

Prior to his murder conviction, Stanko had been incarcerated for assault and kidnapping in 1996. Stanko was released from prison in 2004 after serving 81⁄2 years of a 10-year sentence. While in prison, he co-authored Living in Prison: A History of the Correctional System With an Insider’s View.

Stanko has been described as “a highly intelligent, polished ex-convict who didn’t mind talking about his life in prison or the book he’d written about it.” 

After his release in 2004, Stanko moved to Myrtle Beach, renting a room for almost a year. His parole officer visited the home to ensure his landlady was aware of his background, which he had disclosed when applying for the rental. His relationship with his landlady was uneventful other than his occasionally being late with the rent. He often complained about his difficulty getting a job because of his background, although he had one or two brief employments. He abruptly moved out after almost a year, moving to a friend’s home in exchange for keeping an eye on her elderly mother.  

About one year after being released from prison, Stanko began doing library research, supposedly for a second book. While doing this research, he befriended librarian Laura Ling and eventually moved in with her and her boyfriend. He also had developed a seemingly friendly relationship with a library patron, Henry Turner. 

In April 2005, Stanko strangled Laura Ling , shot Henry Lee Turner dead, and sexually assaulted and slit the throat of Ling’s teenage daughter, who survived and made the 911 call for help. He was convicted of these charges after trials in which an insanity defence was used. 

Articles on Jeffrey Dahmer, Green River killer Gary Ridgway, and other serial killers were found in Stanko’s home. According to a police spokesperson: “He either was just interested in serial killers, or he was becoming a serial killer.”

After a nationwide manhunt, based on tips received after the posting of a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture, Stanko was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Service in Augusta, Georgia on April 12th 2005, as he was able to hide discreetly around the Augusta area during the 2005 Masters Tournament.

On August 18, 2006, a Georgetown County jury convicted Stanko and sentenced him to death for the murder of Ling, and 110 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and armed robbery in the related assault of Ling’s daughter. In November 2009, Stanko was convicted of murder in the Turner trial. That led to his second death sentence, this time by a Horry County jury. 

After receiving his execution date, Stanko requested that the state reveal more information about its protocols for lethal injection and firing squad. Stanko stated that he had been  leaning towards choosing the firing squad until details of the execution of Mikal Mahdi were published. 

Stanko was executed on June 13th 2025, by lethal injection at the Broad River Correctional Institution. He was pronounced dead at 6:34 pm. Prior to his execution, Stanko ate a last meal of fried fish, fried shrimp, crab cakes, a baked potato, carrots, fried okra, cherry pie, banana pudding and sweet tea.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Helen Hunt (62), Neil Patrick Harris (52), Courteney Cox (61), Jim Belushi (71), Will Patton (71), Donald Trump (79), Chris Evans (44), Stellan Skarsgård (74), Tim Allen (72), Kat Dennings (39), Malcolm McDowell (82), Ally Sheedy (63), Simon Callow (76), Richard Thomas (74), Kathy Burke (61), Shia LaBeouf (39), Joshua Jackson (47), Hugh Laurie (66), Peter Dinklage (56), Adrienne Barbeau (80), Jane Goldman (55), DJ Qualls (47), Elizabeth Hurley (60), Bill Burr (57), Jürgen Prochnow (84), Eddie Marsan (57), Michael J. Fox (64), Johnny Depp (62), and Natalie Portman (44).

15th June 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 8th June 2025

Scraping the  bottom of the barrel for celebrity deaths this week. I’ll get those cages open… 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

 In Other News

Morten Harket, the frontman of A-ha, has Parkinson’s disease, the singer has announced. On Wednesday, the Norwegian “Take On Me” band released a statement reading: “This isn’t the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is: Morten has Parkinson’s disease.” In his own statement on the band’s official website, Harket, 65, said he originally kept the degenerative condition “strictly private”, but has now decided to tell fans. He said: “I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I’ve taken to heart my 94-year-old father’s attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: ‘I use whatever works. Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn’t a problem for me; it’s my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me.” Harket said he is”trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline”, writing: “It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There’s so much to weigh up when you’re emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general.” Harket’s symptoms have been “softened” thanks to development in treatment from the Mayo Clinic in the US. 

Jessie J has revealed that she was diagnosed with early stage  breast cancer two months ago and after a period spent “in and out of tests”. The singer, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, shared a video on her Instagram with the news, saying she had been “going back and forth” over the decision to talk about it publicly. “I want to share it with my fans and the people that care about me, and also I’m a sharer. I’ve always shared everything that I go through in my life,” she begins her video by saying. “Before ‘No Secrets’ came out I was diagnosed with early breast cancer. I’m highlighting the word early. Cancer sucks in any form but I’m holding on to the word early. I have been in and out of tests throughout this whole period.” The singer went on to explain her reasons for wanting to be open about her diagnosis, saying it was part of her process to accept it. “Because selfishly I do not talk about it enough. I’m not processing it because I’m working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support and also their own stories.” She said she would be undergoing surgery after she performs at the Summertime Ball 2025, scheduled to take place in London on 15th June. “It’s a very dramatic way to get a boob job. I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery and I will come back with massive tits and more music,” she said.  

Sir Rod Stewart has been forced to cancel more US concerts as the singer continues to recover from flu ahead of his set at Glastonbury later this month. The 80-year-old is still set to play the coveted Sunday tea-time legends slot at the prestigious UK festival later this month. Earlier this week Stewart announced that he was having to cancel two planned concerts in Las Vegas following doctor’s orders. The singer has now taken to Instagram to say that he is “devastated” as six more of his shows in Nevada and California, which were all due to take place in the next eight days, have either been cancelled or rescheduled. “I have to cancel and reschedule my next six concerts in June as I continue to recover from the flu,” he wrote in a post shared on Saturday. “So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon.” He signed off “Sir Rod” along with the heartbreak emoji. The singer previously emphasised that, while he had no immediate plans to retire, he would be scaling back his world tours after completing his current one. “This will be the end of large scale world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire. I love what I do, and I do what I love,” he said in a statement. “I’m fit, have a full head of hair, and can run 100 metres in 18 seconds at the jolly age of 79,” Stewart added.

On This Day

  • 1929 – Margaret Bondfield is appointed Minister of Labour. She is the first woman appointed to the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.
  • 1968 – James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. is arrested at London Heathrow Airport.
  • 1972 – Vietnam War: Nine-year-old Phan Thị Kim Phúc is burned by napalm, an event captured by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut moments later while the young girl is seen running naked down a road, in what would become an iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning photo.

Deaths

  • 632 – Muhammad, the central figure of Islam. (born 570).
  • 1913 – Emily Davison, English suffragette (born 1872).
  • 2018 – Anthony Bourdain, American chef and travel documentarian (born 1956).

 Last Meals

While many American prisoners awaiting the death penalty are able to choose their final meal before execution, inmates in Texas no longer have this privilege thanks to the actions of one man.

White supremacist Lawrence Brewer was executed in 2011 after he was convicted of helping to kill a black man by dragging him behind a truck in what some call the most notorious race crime of the post-Civil Rights era.

Brewer, 44 – who was convicted of capital murder along with two other men also found guilty of taking part in the kidnapping and slaying of James Byrd Jr. in 1998 –  was given a lethal injection of drugs on September 21st and was pronounced dead shortly after.

He had no final words, but he did put in a request for his last meal – two chicken steaks, a triple bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, three fajitas, a pizza, a pint of ice cream, and a slab of peanut butter fudge.

Guards did their best to bring Brewer his favourite foods before his death.

But as his dinner was plated up and presented to him on a table, Brewer refused to eat a single bite.

His refusal to eat the multi-course meal angered Texas senator John Whitmire, prompting him to put an end to the tradition, saying ‘it’s long overdue.’

‘Enough is enough’, the senator declared, stating that the last meal request is an ‘extremely inappropriate’ privilege, ‘one which the perpetrators did not provide to their victim.’ 

‘Mr Byrd didn’t get to choose his last meal. The whole deal is so illogical’, he added.

Executive director  of the Texas criminal justice department, Brad Livingston, agreed with Sen. Whitmire.

He said: ‘I believe Senator Whitmire’s concerns regarding the practice of allowing death row offenders to choose their last meal are valid.

‘Effective immediately, no such accommodations will be made. They will receive the same meal served to other offenders on the unit.’

Brewer had been on death row for 12 years before his 2011 execution.

Speaking to local media before receiving his lethal injection, he said death would be a ‘good out’ and that he was ‘glad it’s about to come to an end.’

Asked if he had any last words, he replied: ‘No. I have no final statement’, as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

Brewer was executed for his part in the 1998 killing of Byrd in Jasper, East Texas, after Brewer and two friends offered him a lift along a remote country road. 

The subject of last meals before execution has thrown up  some interesting results over the last few decades, with infamous killer James Smith being refused a request of dirt in 1990 and instead eating yoghurt.

While not a mandatory requirement for prisoners on death row in countries where the death penalty still exists, the request is often granted in the US, with the final meals written into public records of executions.

Despite Texas’ decision to no longer allow prisoners to choose their last meals, other states continue to give inmates the option to.

Some states, however, have a final meal price limit, while others require the meal to be served within a specific time.

It is not uncommon for prisoners to order nostalgic meals that offer them a last flavour of happiness before they face the most extreme punishment possible for their heinous crimes.

While extensive, Brewer’s request was far from the largest or most bizarre death row meal orders.

Back in 2011, prisoner Cleve Foster’s requested two fried chickens, French fries and a 19-litre bucket of peaches.

In 2000, Odell Barnes Jr. from Texas, who was sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of Helen Bass,  requested ‘justice, equality and world peace.’

In 2002, Robert Anthony Buell, from Ohio, was executed by lethal injection for the 1982 murder of 11-year-old Krista Lea Harrison. For his final meal, he requested a single, black, un-pitted olive.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Griffin Dunne (70), Ye (48), Colin Baker (82), Nancy Sinatra (85), Liam Neeson (73), Anna Torv (46), Michael Cera (37), Karl Urban (53), Bill Hader (47), Bear Grylls (51), Tom Jones (85), Jason Isaacs (62), Paul Giamatti (58), Robert Englund (78), Sandra Bernhard (70), Mark Wahlberg (54), Mel Giedroyc (57), Noah Wyle (54), Angelina Jolie (50), Bruce Dern (89), Sean Pertwee (61), Russell Brand (50), Imogen Poots (36), James Purefoy (61), Suzi Quatro (75), Morena Baccarin (46), Awkwafina (37), Justin Long (47), Jewel Staite (43), Liam Cunningham (64), Dominic Cooper (47), Zachary Quinto (48), And Dana Carvey (70).

8th June 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 1st June 2025

Unfortunately we have no points to dispense today, although I mistakenly thought a couple of you had Loretta Swit. Better luck next week.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

 In Other News

Eamonn Holmes has issued an emotional health update to his followers. The former This Morning presenter, 65, has been battling health issues since an operation in 2022, and last week, he fell off his chair while presenting on GB News. Posting a throwback snap on social media, Eamonn said a picture of him broadcasting made him upset as he now can’t walk. “Great picture popped up from 3 years but it’s made me sad – I could walk,” he wrote. “Got to redouble my efforts.” The presenter suffered the fall on GB News while the camera was focused on commentator Charlie Rowley. A loud crash could be heard off-screen, prompting Holmes’ co-host Ellie Costello to exclaim: “Oh my gosh!” A visibly stunned Rowley immediately moved to help Holmes, but the veteran host quickly reassured viewers, saying: “I’m fine, I’m fine. Carry on, carry on.” Rowley attempted to continue the segment, but producers swiftly cut to an extended six-minute advert break. In March, Holmes told his followers he is in constant pain. “Even when the sun shines there’s pain,” he said, sharing a selfie to his 782,000 followers. “Sometimes I feel I’ll never beat this disc immobility but I’m determined to have a life. So pray for me, help me or get out of the way social media haters.” Holmes has frequently been pictured either in a wheelchair or relying on walking aids and turned to various therapies to aid his rehabilitation. The presenter falling off his chair on GB News comes just weeks after he fell in his bathroom, suffering the “sorest and most powerful” knock to his head. He had already revealed on Instagram that he had been hospitalised following the fall, but recalled the accident later in more details on GB News. Holmes said he was fortunate to have his phone within reach and was able to call for an ambulance.  

Australian comedian Magda Szubanksi has announced her devastating diagnosis of a rare cancer that’s “very aggressive” and “very serious”. The Kath & Kim star revealed on Instagram on Thursday that she was about to undergo treatment for stage four mantle cell lymphoma. She described it as a “rare and fast-moving blood cancer”. Appearing on camera with a bald head, Szubanski said she had shaved off her hair “in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks”. “It is one of the nasty ones unfortunately,” she shared with followers. “But the good thing is I’m surrounded by beautiful friends and family and an incredible medical support team.” At one point in the video, an emotional Szubanski burst into laughter. “You know, I’ve just got to…” she said through a chuckle. “What do you do, what are you gonna do?” In her attached blurb, Szubanksi explained that she would be undergoing “one of the best treatments available” known as the Nordic protocol. “I’m lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne,” she wrote. “I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough. But I’m hopeful. I’m being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant. Szubanski is best known for playing Sharon Strzelecki, the red-headed bowl cutt-wearing friend of Kim in the classic Australian series. 

BBC and ITV sports broadcaster Steve Rider has shared that he plans to step away from TV this summer. The 74-year-old is best known for hosting BBC sports show Grandstand, seeing him cover the lives of rugby, golf, motorsports and rowing. Rider also presented Sportsnight and the Sports Personality of the Year award, along with hosting the BBC’s coverage of every Olympic Games from 1988 until 2004. In 2005, Rider left the BBC and moved to ITV, where he has since remained and has hosted coverage for Formula One and the World Cups for football and rugby. The sports legend plans to conclude his 48-year-long broadcasting career this summer and plans for a low-key exit when he has his final job in front of the camera in June. Speaking to the Flying Monkeys, Rider said: “I’ll just slide away.” Adding: “The biggest emotion as you get into the last two minutes of something like that is, ‘For God’s sake, don’t cock it up,’ because you’d be thinking about that for the next 20 years! I’ve probably outstayed my welcome. I’ve been hugely lucky with the places that the career has taken me. But it’s close to 50 years now, so the cracks are showing!” The sports broadcaster’s exit follows his previously announced prostate cancer diagnosis, which he shared while appearing on BBC Breakfast. Rider shared that he was “incredibly lucky” that the disease was found early, and he immediately had surgery to stop the cancer from spreading. He got tested after a close friend was diagnosed with prostate cancer and after his own check-up results were a “little high.” Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Rider said: “They took one look and said, ‘We’re going to operate in two weeks’. No messing around. We did Brands Hatch for ITV on the Sunday and I had the operation on the Thursday, so it slotted into the schedule quite nicely!’” Let’s see how retirements treats him. 

On This Day

  • 1974 – The Heimlich manoeuvre for rescuing choking victims is published in the journal Emergency Medicine. 
  • 2001 – Nepalese royal massacre: Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal shoots and kills several members of his family including his father and mother. 
  • 2008 – A fire on the back lot of Universal Studios breaks out, destroying the attraction King Kong Encounter and a large archive of master tapes for music and film, the full extent of which was not revealed until 2019.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Tom Holland (29), Jennifer Coolidge (64), Morgan Freeman (88), Brian Cox (79), Jonathan Pryce (78), Amy Schumer (44), Heidi Klum (52), Alanis Morissette (51), Robert Powell (81), Clint Eastwood (95), Colin Farrell (49), Lea Thompson (64), Brooke Shields (60), Tom Berenger (76), Sharon Gless (82), Colm Meaney (72), Stephen Tobolowsky (74), Harry Enfield (64), Ted Levine (68), Danny Elfman (72), Laverne Cox (53), Kylie Minogue (57), Michelle Collins (63), Lily-Rose Depp (26), Paul Bettany (54), Jack McBrayer (52), Helena Bonham Carter (59), Pam Grier (76), and Bobcat Goldthwait (63).

1st June 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 25th May 2025

With two death row killers and a supercentenarian in this week’s list, it’s rather surprising that nobody scored! Death row inmates have been listing fairly well of late, might be a good shout for next year.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming concerts after he was diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), the singer announced on Friday. The condition “has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance”, according to a statement posted to the 76-year-old singer’s official Instagram. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health.” The Piano Man singer added: “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience and thank you for understanding.” Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles, leading to difficulty walking, problems with thinking and reasoning and loss of bladder control. It primarily affects people in their 60’s and 70’s and is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Joel’s team added that the 23-time Grammy winner is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.”  

Former US President Joe Biden, 82, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, a statement from his office said on Sunday. The discovery was made on Friday after he reported urinary symptoms which led doctors to find a small nodule on his prostate. The cancer is a more aggressive form of the disease and Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options, the statement said. He left office in January as the oldest serving US president in history and questions about his health dogged his first term, leading him to end his run for re-election late in his campaign. In Sunday’s statement, Biden’s office said: “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.” A Gleason score of nine means his illness is classified as “high-grade” and the cancer cells could spread quickly, according to Cancer Research UK. After news broke of his diagnosis, the former president received support from both sides of the aisle. President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that he and First Lady Melania Trump were “saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis”. Barack Obama – who served as president with Joe Biden as his deputy – said that he and his wife Michelle were “thinking of the entire Biden family”. 

Feargal Sharkey, the singer and environmental advocate, has confirmed that he received a cancer diagnosis last year. Sharkey said he initially sought medical attention for a sore throat, which led to the diagnosis. He the Flying Monkeys issue was “resolved” a year ago. The water campaigner is now encouraging other men to undergo testing and seek medical advice when needed. “My doctor, being the beautiful, wonderful, awkward, cantankerous old man that he is, went, ‘Oh Feargal, by the way, you’re 65 now, I’m going to run the full battery of tests, ‘” he said. “Two days later, it turns out, I began a journey which led to the diagnosis of prostate cancer.” In 2022, some 50,751 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England. In a direct appeal to the public, Sharkey urged men to stay informed about their health options. “Now, for one in eight of you, you will be put in the same journey I’ve had, and it’s quite astonishing to think that in this country right now, one in eight men have prostate cancer,” he said. “Most of them don’t even know it. So go and have the blood test and if you’re lucky, you’ll walk away.” Doctors have a range of tests for diagnosing prostate cancer.

On This Day

  • 1895 – Playwright, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde is convicted of “committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons” and sentenced to serve two years in prison.
  • 1961 – U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces, before a special joint session of the U.S. Congress, his goal to initiate a project to put a “man on the Moon” before the end of the decade.
  • 1977 – Star Wars is released in US theatres.
  • 1985 – Bangladesh is hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge, which kills approximately 10,000 people.

Deaths

Last Meals

The oldest inmate on death row had some fiery words for Tennessee’s governor as he was executed for murdering his estranged wife and her teenage sons.

Oscar Franklin Smith, 75, was killed by lethal injection on Thursday morning for the 1989 murders of Judith Smith and her sons, Jason and Chad Burnett.

Smith has always maintained his innocence in the grisly murders, and as he lay strapped to a gurney at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville he claimed the justice system was broken.

He noted that Gov. Bill Lee – who made a last minute decision to stop Smith’s execution in 2022 – ‘has the last word’ on allowing executions to continue.

‘He’s a damned fool if he doesn’t realise we’ve got innocent men at Riverbend waiting to die,’ the 75-year-old said in his three-minute final statement.

‘I’m not the first, and I won’t be the last,’ he said.

Smith could later be heard insisting, ‘I didn’t kill her’ in the moments before visible signs of respiration stopped and he was pronounced dead at 10.47am.

Witnesses to the execution said they saw no obvious sign that the injection had begun after his final statement, but noted that Smith’s speech became laboured as he spoke with his spiritual adviser – who was allowed into the execution chamber under an agreement with state officials.

She was seen performing a  final liturgy, reading from scripture and at one point singing I’ll Fly Away. 

Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting Judith Smith, her 13-year-old son Jason Burnett and 16-year-old son Chad Burnett at their Nashville home shorty before midnight on October 1st, 1989.

Prosecutors argued that the couple were going through a contentious divorce and were fighting over custody of their three-year-old twins.

When the murders occurred, Smith was also facing domestic violence charges for allegedly assaulting his wife.

At his trial, two of Smith’s co-workers testified that he had solicited them to kill Judith, noting that he had a history of threats and violence against her and her boys.

He even told one of  his co-workers that he threatened to kill the boys because he said Judith treated them better than the twin children they shared.

Smith had also taken out insurance policies on all three victims, prosecutors noted.

They also played the audio of the 911 call, in which they said Chad could be heard screaming, ‘Frank, no.’ Franklin is Smith’s middle name, and one that prosecutors said he used regularly. 

But Smith has long denied the murders and allegations of domestic violence and death threats, claiming he, his wife and the boys had spent the day together and later that night, he said he left Judy’s house with their twins, whom he dropped off at his mother’s house while he left for a job in Kentucky.

His claims, however, were refuted by the fact that his car was seen at the victim’s home the night of the crime.

A handprint found at the scene also matched Smith’s left hand – including his two missing fingers.

Smith was ultimately sentenced to death by a Davidson County jury in July 1990. 

However, all we want to know is that for his last meal Smith ordered hot dogs, tater tots, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

As you may have seen in this issues listings, Smith wan’t the only inmate put to death last week, Benjamin Ritchie was also executed in the same manner. 

For his last meal, the cop killer requested the “Tour of Italy” meal from Olive Garden, which includes fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmigiana. His last words were: “I love my family, my friends, and all the support I’ve gotten. I hope they all find peace.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Ian McKellen (86), Mike Myers (62), Octavia Spencer (55), Frank Oz (81), Cillian Murphy (49), Daisy Edgar-Jones (27), Jim Broadbent (76), Alfred Molina (72), John C. Reilly (60), Doug Jones (65), James Cosmo (77), Priscilla Presley (80), Bob Dylan (84), Éric Cantona (59), Richard Ayoade (48),  Joan Collins (92), Melissa McBride (60), Bob Mortimer (66), Maggie Q (46), Ginnifer Goodwin (47), Sean Gunn (51), Fairuza Balk (51), Mr. T (73), Judge Reinhold (68), Noel Fielding (52), Jack Gleeson (33), Cher (79), Louis Theroux (55), Grace Jones (77), and James Fox (86).

25th May 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 18th May 2025

I’ll forgive you if you have no idea who any of our celebs are this week, but apparently these people are famous!  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Veteran broadcaster James Whale has given a frank health update on his 74th birthday following treatment for stage four kidney cancer. The broadcaster and talk show host has been a popular voice on radio and TV for five decades and currently presents a weekly nighttime talk show on talkRADIO. He was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and to charity in the 2024 New Year Honours List. Whale revealed in February 2020 that his kidney cancer had since spread to his spine, brain and lungs. In 2024 he expressed doubt as to whether he would still be alive by the end of the year. Speaking recently to the Flying Monkeys, Whale offered a candid update on his health. Asked how he was doing, he replied: “I’m feeling ok. As people know I’m not about to die, but well, you never know do you. I have had all my treatment so I’m giving you the lowdown on it. If I make it to Christmas I will be exceptionally lucky. Sometimes I think it will be easier just to have a heart attack and go.” Speaking earlier this month on 2nd May, Whale, along with his Talk co-host Ash Gould, updated listeners on his situation, indicating that he hoped to continue working for a few months more. He said: “I’m at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore. I’m hoping to go on for another few months, but as soon as I can’t do the show anymore, I won’t.” Whale added: “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I’ve been doing it for 25 years!” Whale was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and had to have one of his kidneys removed. In 2018, his first wife, Melinda Maxted, died after being diagnosed with lung cancer; in August 2020, Whale revealed cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain and lungs. The radio DJ’s past experience with cancer led him to form the James Whale Kidney Fund in 2006, which merged with Kidney Cancer UK in 2015.  

Sir Chris Hoy is appreciating life “more than ever” after being diagnosed with terminal cancer last year and says he has entered “a bit of a stability period” in his treatment. The 49-year-old, a six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist, said in February 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. In October, he announced his diagnosis was terminal after the primary cancer spread to his bones, with doctors giving him between two and four years to live. Speaking to the Flying Monkeys, Hoy issued a positive update on his health: “I’m doing well. It feels like I’ve entered a bit of a stability stage at the moment and I’m feeling good. Most importantly, cancer’s not the first thing I think about when I go to bed at night. I think we’ve got into a rhythm now where it’s part of our life and we manage that and crack on. I feel good. I’m on constant medication, constant treatment, but it’s not interfering too much with my life, and the most important thing is it’s working, so I’m stable at the moment, everything’s good. Making hay while the sun shines.” The Scot won his six Olympic golds – and one silver medal – between 2000 and 2012, making him Britain’s second-most decorated Olympic athlete behind Sir Jason Kenny (seven golds). He also claimed 11 World Championship golds and 34 World Cup titles before retiring in 2013. “I can’t believe the position I’m in now compared to 18 months ago. I never imagined I’d be able to get to this point where I’m actually living life,” he continued. “And not just living life, but actually appreciating it more than ever. It’s not just about doing bucket-list stuff and doing massive things, it’s about appreciating the daily, mundane fun of life.”

On This Day

  • 1695 – The Linfen earthquake in Shannxi, Qing dynasty causes extreme damage and kills at least 52,000 people!
  • 1812 – John Bellingham is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval.
  • 1953 – Jacqueline Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier.
  • 1980 – Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.

Deaths

Last Meals 

Florida has executed a man known as the “Casanova Killer” for his good looks and ability to charm women just before murdering them.

Glen Edward Rogers, 62, was executed on Thursday by lethal injection for the murder of Tina Marie Cribbs, one of four single mothers in their 30’s with reddish hair who fell victim to the Casanova Killer. Rogers was also known as the “Cross Country Killer” because the victims all lived in different states: California, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.

“He’s an animal,” one of his victim’s sisters said in court before Rogers was sentenced to death, according to an archived report from the Associated Press. “He’s about the evilest thing I think I’ve ever imagined.”

Rogers used his last words to shout-out President Donald Trump and address the families of his victims, according to execution witnesses.

“I know there’s a lot of questions that you need answers to. I promise you in the near future the questions will be answered and I hope in someway will bring you closure,” he said. “President Trump, keep making America great. I’m ready to go.”

Randy Roberson, whose mother Andy Lou Jiles Sutton was a victim of the Casanova Killer, witnessed the execution and said that seeing Rogers die will help give him some closure but that his death was far too easy.

“It helps a lot, just knowing that he’s not here anymore,” Roberson said. “I wish it wouldn’t have been so easy for him. It looked like he just went to sleep, like he didn’t really get what he deserved.”

Rogers − a native of Hamilton, Ohio − was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m., becoming the 16th inmate executed in the U.S. this year and the fifth in Florida. His last meal consisted of pizza, chocolate cake, and soda. Another three men are set to be executed in the U.S. next week, in Texas, Indiana and Tennessee.

Here’s what to know about Rogers’ execution, including who his victims were. 

Authorities connected five victims to the Casanova Killer. Four of them were mothers with reddish hair in their 30’s. Three of the murders happened within a six-day period.

  • Mark Peters, a 72-year-old retired electrician in Hamilton, Ohio, with whom Rogers lived with briefly, was found dead in a shack owned by Rogers’ family in January 1994 in Beattyville, Kentucky. (Rogers is a native of Hamilton, Ohio just outside Cincinnati.)
  • Sandra Gallagher, a 33-year-old mother of three, of Santa Monica, California, killed on September 28th, 1995 in Van Nuys. Her body was found in her burning vehicle. She had met Rogers in a bar the night of her murder.
  • Linda Price, a 34-year-old mother of two, found stabbed to death in the bathtub of her home in Jackson, Mississippi, on November 3rd, 1995. Price briefly lived with Rogers, telling her mother: “He is my dream man,” according to an archived story in the Dayton Daily News.
  • Tina Marie Cribbs, a 34-year-old mother of two, found stabbed to death in a Tampa, Florida hotel bathtub on November 7th, 1995. Like Gallagher, she had met Rogers at a bar on the night of her murder.
  • Andy Lou Jiles Sutton, a 37-year-old mother of four: three sons and a daughter who were 19, 17, 8, and 6 when she was found stabbed to death in her bed on November 9th, 1995 in of Bossier City, Louisiana. Sutton and Rogers met  before her murder and are believed to have slept together.

Soon after his arrest, Rogers claimed to have killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles in June 1994, and about 70 people overall. There was no evidence to back that up. 

Growing up, Rogers’ childhood was deprived of love, moral guidance or family values, and he frequently witnessed his alcoholic father beat his mother, according to court records.

Rogers started using controlled substances at a young age and began committing burglaries, eventually becoming a chronic alcohol abuser, court records said.

As an adult, he held a slew of jobs, from a school bus driver in his native Hamilton, Ohio, to a carnival worker in Mississippi.

Since his arrest at the age of 33, he spent most of the past three decades on death row. He was 62 at the time of his execution.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Tina Fey (55), Miriam Margolyes (84), Chow Yun-Fat (70), Toyah Willcox (67), Paul Whitehouse (67), Pierce Brosnan (72), Megan Fox (39), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (35), David Boreanaz (56), Danny Trejo (81), Stephen Mangan (57), Cate Blanchett (56), George Lucas (81), Tim Roth (64), Greg Davies (57), Siân Phillips (92), Francesca Annis (80), Robert Pattinson (39), Samantha Morton (48), Iwan Rheon (40), Harvey Keitel (86), Zoë Wanamaker (76), Mark Heap (68), Stephen Colbert (61), Varada Sethu (33), Rami Malek (44), Malin Akerman (47), Ving Rhames (66), Emilio Estevez (63), Gabriel Byrne (75), and Jason Biggs (47).

18th May 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 11th May 2025

Another week of relative unknowns passing away. I’ll have to release the Flying Monkeys!  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former Coronation Street legend Charlie Lawson has gave a health update after he was rushed to hospital earlier this week. The 65-year-old actor revealed he was sent to A&E after suffering two falls. Giving an update from his hospital bed, the former ITV soap star, who is best known for having played Jim McDonald, took to social media to give fans a debrief. Charlie explained he was undergoing examinations after falling twice. The actor had an MRI scan and was waiting on more results. Now, after being initially sent home, Charlie is back in the hospital and shared an update with his followers. On Twitter, he said: “Well hello folks, from a rather, erm, well I’m not sure what it’s doing outside. It was rather nice when I came in, but here I am again in special day care in Macclesfield hospital waiting to see an osteopath and hopefully getting a transfer to Salford Royal to the spinal unit. That’s the plan, but I was talking to you last time from the same cubicle and I ended up back at home at half ten at night so we shall wait and see.” He then told followers he is “fine” before saying he “simply can’t walk properly”. “I’m in great pain,” he added. “I can’t stand on my tip toes now so, yeah, this is very comfortable but if I stand up I just fall over so there’s something seriously gone wrong, so i’ll keep you posted. Cheerio now!” He captioned the upload: “Encore une fois!!!,” which translates to one more time. Earlier in the week, Charlie told followers: “Hi folks, went to physio this morning and she sent me straight to A&E, which I did. They examined me. I have an MRI scan and I’m sitting waiting for the results. They’ve whisked me back in for more examinations so it’s not going awfully well at the moment. Anyway, I’ll keep you updated. They put a wristband on me and all sorts of craic. I’ve fallen over twice, so something going wrong down there.” Charlie first made his debut on the Street back in 1989 in his role as Jim, the patriarch of the McDonald family. He remained in the role for over a decade before making his exit in 2000, 11 years on.  

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has been hospitalised after contracting a cold, the royal household has revealed. The 85-year-old, who abdicated in January in favour of her son, King Frederick X, was admitted to Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. The royal, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth, is in hospital for observation as a precautionary measure.  She has also cleared her schedule of upcoming engagements, including yesterday’s visit to the Sankt Lukas Foundation’s 125th anniversary celebration. ‘HM Queen Margrethe admitted to Rigshospitalet,’ the palace wrote, adding, ‘As a result of the cold that H.M. Queen Margrethe has contracted, it has been decided that the Queen will be admitted to Rigshospitalet for observation as a precaution. Her Majesty, known for her chain-smoking and love of dachshunds, was last seen on Sunday during a church service in connection with the 80th anniversary of Denmark’s liberation. Despite resigning in 2023, the monarch remains active and performs royal duties alongside her son. Margrethe shocked the nation with the announcement of her abdication during her New Year’s Eve live television segment. She said one of the reasons why she chose to give up the throne was because of her health issues, adding that she underwent surgery for her back in February 2023. Margrethe said: ‘It went well, thanks to the skilled healthcare staff who took care of me. Of course, the operation also gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation.’ She is still known as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and can fill in as regent if King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian are abroad, ill or on holiday.  

Japan’s Emperor Emeritus Akihito will undergo heart tests at a hospital after an unspecified problem was detected during a routine checkup. The Imperial Household Agency did not answer calls to its office to confirm reports by the Flying Monkeys and several other Japanese media. Akihito, 91, who is retired, is the father of Emperor Naruhito. He abdicated from the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019. Akihito will be hospitalised, starting Tuesday, at the University of Tokyo Hospital. Other details were not immediately available. Akihito had heart bypass surgery in 2012. Akihito ascended to the throne after his father, Hirohito, died in 1989. No other emperor has abdicated in modern Japanese history. But Akihito has broken with other imperial traditions. He was the first emperor to marry a commoner, Empress Michiko. 

On This Day

  • 868 – A copy of the Diamond Sūtra is published, making it the earliest dated and printed book known.
  • 1812 – Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is assassinated by John Bellingham in the lobby of the House of Commons.
  • 1985 – Fifty-six spectators die and more than 200 are injured in the Bradford City stadium fire.
  • 1997 – Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format.

Deaths

  • 1889 – John Cadbury, English businessman, founded the Cadbury Company (b. 1801).
  • 1981 – Bob Marley, Jamaican singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1945).
  • 1985 – Chester Gould, American cartoonist, created Dick Tracy (b. 1900).
  • 2001 – Douglas Adams, English novelist and screenwriter (b. 1952).
  • 2024 – Susan Backlinie, American actress and stuntwoman (b. 1946).

The ‘Worst Death in History’

History is, sadly, replete with examples of man’s cruelty towards his fellow man.

From modern-day terrorist attacks to medieval torture methods, we are constantly reminded of humankind’s propensity towards inflicting pain on others.

And yet, when it comes to the worst, or “cruellest”, death in history, one man is widely regarded as the unfortunate chart-topper, based on the sheer horror of the range of abuses he endured.

György Dózsa was a Hungarian revolutionary, born in 1470, who came to lead a peasants revolt against the country’s nobility.

He and his fellow rebels successfully killed thousands of members of the ruling classes – burning their manor houses to the ground and seizing the fortresses of Arad, Lippa, and Világos – before they were finally defeated by Hungary’s governing forces.

Dózsa was taken prisoner in July, 1514, and, according to historian Paul Freedman, of Yale University, subsequently executed in a manner “so stunningly barbarous that across Europe contemporaries, inured though they were to gruesome public spectacles, took notice.” 

Freedman notes that Dózsa was forced to sit on an iron throne, which was then heated up, while a red-hot iron crown was placed on his head in a “mock coronation ceremony”.

“Still alive, the partially roasted Dózsa was then removed from the throne and his followers, who had been starved for this purpose, were forced to eat his flesh.”

What remained of the 44-year-old was then quartered and “sent around Hungary for display”.

Other accounts offer further gruesome details, with The Legends of Hungary Youtube channel claiming that “while he was still alive, Dózsa’s soldiers were forced to tear his naked body apart with their own teeth”.

Then, before he succumbed to this hellish end, he was forced to witness as his younger brother Gergely was cut into three parts and hung on the gallows.

Suffice it to say, it’s no wonder Dózsa’s death has been branded the “cruellest of all time,” however arbitrary such a title may be.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Tim Blake Nelson (61), Holly Valance (42), Jadyn Wong (40), Meg Foster (77), Bono (65), Rosario Dawson (46), Grace Gummer (39), Billy Joel (76), Stephen Amell (44), David Attenborough (99), Vicky McClure (42), Alexander Ludwig (33), MrBeast (27), Richard O’Sullivan (81), George Clooney (64), Adrianne Palicki (42), Henry Cavill (42), Lance Henriksen (85), John Rhys-Davies (81), Richard E. Grant (68), Zach McGowan (45), Michael Palin (82), and Marc Alaimo (83).

11th May 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 4th May 2025

Another successful week, let’s dole out the points! Neil correctly predicted that Steve McMichael would die this year, he also listed him as his Cert, so a whopping 183 points which boost him to the top of the league table. 

We can also award 134 points to Abi, Dave, and Lee who listed Inah Canabarro Lucas as either a Cert or a Woman, well done all of you! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

  • Steve McMichael, 67, American football player (Chicago Bears) and professional wrestler, Super Bowl champion, complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  • Jane Gardam, 96, English writer (The Queen of the Tambourine, Old Filth, God on the Rocks). 
  • Mike Peters, 66, Welsh rock singer (The Alarm, Big Country) and songwriter (“Sixty Eight Guns”), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. 
  • Priscilla Pointer, 100, American actress (Carrie, Dallas, Blue Velvet). 
  • Inah Canabarro Lucas, 116, Brazilian supercentenarian, world’s oldest living person. 
  • Ruth Buzzi, 88, American comedienne and actress (Sesame Street, The Berenstain Bears), complications from a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. 
  • Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, American convicted murderer, execution by lethal injection. 
  • Jill Sobule, 66, American singer-songwriter (“I Kissed a Girl“, “Supermodel“), house fire. 

In Other News

The comedian Milton Jones has announced that he is cancelling a planned tour of the UK after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, which will require surgery. The 60-year-old shared the news in a statement on social media where he said that the cancer is “treatable” and he is due for an operation in the coming weeks. However, his recovery period has forced him to cancel a handful of shows across the country. “I’m so sorry about this, but I need to announce the cancellation of several dates from my ongoing Ha!Milton Tour.” He continued: “This difficult decision comes following a recent diagnosis of treatable prostate cancer. I’ll be undergoing surgery soon and will need time afterwards to fully recover.” Jones added: “In addition, the summer dates in Colchester, Bridlington, Stroud, and London will be rescheduled to the Autumn. All dates currently scheduled for the Autumn leg of the tour remain unaffected. Ticket holders for the cancelled shows will be contacted directly by the venue box office. Thanks for your support and respecting my privacy during this time. This decision has not been taken lightly. Trust me, abnormal service will resume as soon as possible and I’m looking forward to being back out on the road again soon – though probably not on a bike!” Jones, best known for his deadpan and often surreal one-liners, began his career in 1996 performing regularly at The Comedy Store in London and Manchester.   

Joanna Lumley has reflected on her mortality, predicting that her “time must be coming quite soon”. The Bafta-winning star of the hit sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, who is 78, opened up on the subject of death in a new interview, revealing that several of her “beloved friends are beginning to leave”. “As you near the top of the hill you suddenly think: ‘Gosh, there’s not all that amount of time left. My time must be coming quite soon and I don’t want to have wasted a minute of being on this beautiful planet.” Lumley also urged young people to worry less, telling the Flying Monkeys: “I used to panic when I was young, but as I’ve got older I’ve started literally to live day to day. With age, you work out what matters. I always knew that good stuff would come along when I was older. When I was 18, I longed to be 30. When I was 30, longed to be 50. We mustn’t be led into thinking getting old is bad. Growing old is good.” While sharing “a big message” to younger generations, the actor hinted that social media might be affecting their people skills. “You need time in your head. I’m so afraid we’re going to breed a generation who don’t know the world and don’t know how to talk.” Lumley previously expressed concern over young people’s work ethic, stating her belief that the youth of today want a fast track to success without putting the work in.  

Sir David Attenborough has reflected on approaching “the end of his life” while sharing what he believes will save the planet from destruction. The veteran naturalist addressed his mortality in a new documentary, which is set to be released in cinemas on 8th May – his 99th birthday. In the forthcoming film, titled Ocean: With David Attenborough, the former BBC Two controller expressed his sadness with the current state of the world’s ecosystems, but said that he has worked out what Earth’s “most important place” is “after living for nearly a hundred years on this planet”. He said that the key to saving the planet “is not on land, but at sea”, stating: “When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.” Attenborough added that the planet “is in such poor health” that he “would find it hard not to lose hope” were it not for the ocean, which he called “the most remarkable discovery of all”. He concluded: “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.”

On This Day

  • 1949 – The entire Torino football team (except for two players who did not take the trip) are killed in a plane crash.
  • 1979 – Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
  • 1998 – A federal judge gives “Unabomber” Theodore Kaczynski four life sentences plus 30 years after Kaczynski accepts a plea agreement sparing him from the death penalty.
  • 2000 – Ken Livingstone becomes the first Mayor of London.

Deaths

  • 1984 – Diana Dors, English actress (b. 1931).
  • 2008 – Fred Baur, American chemist and founder of Pringles (b. 1918)
  • 2009 – Dom DeLuise, American actor, director, and producer (b. 1933)

Last Meals

Florida has executed Gulf War veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for the shooting deaths of his girlfriend and her three children despite a letter from 129 veterans arguing that Hutchinson’s mind was a casualty of war.

The 62-year-old former U.S. Army Ranger was convicted for the 1998 murder of 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, and her three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan.

On the night of September 11th 1998, Hutchinson fought with Flaherty, after which he packed some of his clothes and guns into his truck, and went to a bar, according to court records.

The bartender testified that Hutchinson told him that Flaherty was angry with him, while other witnesses testified that he drove recklessly when he left, according to court documents.

Hutchinson then returned to the Crestview home, “busted down” the front door and shot Flaherty, Amanda and Logan in the head in the master bedroom, a forensic pathologist testified − according to court documents. 

The pathologist testified that Hutchinson shot Geoffrey last in both the chest and the head while the child “was able to see the bodies of his mother, sister, and brother,” according to court records.

“The terror suffered in that moment is incomprehensible to this court,” Hutchinson’s trial judge said, according to the Flying Monkeys.

Hutchinson called the police and told a dispatcher: “I just shot my family.” Police arrived to  find him spattered with blood and lying in a daze on the garage floor, still holding the phone, according to court documents. 

His last meal consisted of salmon, mahi-mahi, asparagus, baked potato and iced tea. He had no last words

The execution took place shortly after 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at the Florida State Prison in Railford using the state’s three-drug protocol involving etomidate, rocuronium bro­mide and potassium acetate. He was declared dead at 8:14 p.m. ET, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

It marked the fourth execution in Florida this year and the 15th in the nation.

While Hutchinson himself maintained that the murders were committed by home invaders, his defence team pointed to brain damage and trauma suffered by the former U.S. Army Ranger during his service in the Gulf War as reason to stop the execution.

Maria DeLiberato, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives for the Death Penalty and liaison for Hutchinson’s legal team, previously told the Flying Monkeys that experts called Hutchinson’s statements “a delusional belief based on his significant and severe mental illness.”

“Executing a man who was physically and psychologically shattered by war − a man who never got the treatment or understanding he needed and deserved − is not justice,” the group said in a statement following the execution.

Meanwhile 129 veterans representing every branch of the military wrote to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling Hutchinson “one of us” and urging the governor to stop the execution.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Will Arnett (55), Rob Brydon (60), Frankie Valli (91), Sandi Toksvig (67), Rachel Zegler (24), Christina Hendricks (50), Pom Klementieff (39), Dwayne Johnson (53), Matt Berry (51), Christine Baranski (73), Ellie Kemper (45), David Suchet (79), Joe Wilkinson (50), Lily Allen (40), David Beckham (50), Julie Benz (53), Jamie Dornan (43), Joanna Lumley (79), Ana de Armas (37), Gal Gadot (40), Kirsten Dunst (43), Sam Heughan (45), Daniel Day-Lewis (68), Michelle Pfeiffer (67), Uma Thurman (55), Kate Mulgrew (70), Anita Dobson (76), Jerry Seinfeld (71), Willie Nelson (92), Jessica Alba (44), Penélope Cruz (51), Mary McDonnell (73), Ann-Margret (84), and Jay Leno (75). 

4th May 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 27th April 2025

Let’s dole out the points! With the death of Pope Francis I can award 62 points to Debbie, Rachel, and Mark W, plus I can award a whopping 162 points to Emma as she had him down as her Cert. Well done everyone! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Carlos Santana was forced to postpone a concert after suffering a medical scare during rehearsals this week. The legendary guitarist’s manager, Michael Vrionis, shared a statement with his fans ahead of Tuesday’s show at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio. It was revealed that Santana was taken from the venue to a local hospital in an ambulance, where he was diagnosed with dehydration. He is currently being kept under observation. “It is with profound disappointment that I have to inform you all that tonight’s show in San Antonio has been postponed,” Vrionis told the Flying Monkeys “Mr Santana was at the venue preparing for tonight’s show when he experienced an event that was determined to be dehydration. Out of an abundance of caution and the health of Mr Santana, the decision to postpone the show was the most prudent course of action.” Vrionis continued: “He is doing well and is looking forward to coming back to San Antonio soon as well as continuing his US Tour. Thank you all very much for your understanding. The show will be rescheduled soon.” The “Black Magic Woman” guitarist has suffered similar episodes in the past, including in 2022 when he postponed six shows after collapsing onstage in Clarkson, Michigan. Earlier this year, he took what he described as a “hard fall” while walking around the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the location of his $20m home, and broke a finger on his left hand, leading to the postponement of several dates for his residency in Las Vegas. At the time he stated, “My finger is recuperating really well, I lost my equilibrium and fell. I put my hand out to block the shock and broke my baby finger, but they operated and put it back in place. One or two more weeks and I’ll be good as new.”

On This Day

  • 1978 – In the deadliest construction accident in United States history, 51 construction workers are killed when a cooling tower under construction collapses at the Pleasants Power Station in Willow Island, West Virginia.
  • 1986 – The city of Pripyat and surrounding areas are evacuated due to the Chernobyl disaster.
  • 1992 – Betty Boothroyd becomes the first woman to be elected Speaker of the British House of Commons in its 700-year history.
  • 1993 – Most of the Zambia national football team lose their lives in a plane crash off Libreville, Gabon.

Deaths

  • 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese sailor and explorer (b. 1480).
  • 2002  – Ruth Handler, American businesswoman, created the Barbie doll  (b. 1916).
  • 2023 – Jerry Springer, American politician and actor (b. 1944).

Last Meals

A death row murderer in the US finally apologised to his victim and her family shortly before dying by lethal injection.

James Osgood, 55, and his girlfriend forced Tracy Lynn Wilemon to perform sex acts at gunpoint before Osgood killed the 44-year-old by cutting her throat.

He was convicted for the 2010 rape and murder four years later and sentenced to death.

Osgood was pronounced dead at 6.35pm on Thursday following a three-drug injection at a prison in Atmore, Alabama, authorities said.

He used his last moments to speak about Ms Wilemon. ‘I haven’t said her name since that day,’ Osgood said. ‘Today will be the first time I said it. Tracy, I apologise.’ He then looked towards friends and family in the witness room and cried as he slowly lost consciousness.

Ms Wilemon was found dead in her home after her employer became concerned when she didn’t show up for work. 

Prosecutors said Osgood admitted to police that he and his girlfriend, Tonya Vandyke, sexually assaulted Brown after discussing how they had shared fantasies about kidnapping and torturing someone. 

His girlfriend, who was Ms Wilemon’s cousin, was sentenced to life in prison. The jury in 2014 took 40 minutes to convict him and unanimously recommended a death sentence.

His initial death sentence was thrown out by an appeals court. But at resentencing in 2018, Osgood asked for another death sentence, saying he didn’t want the families to endure a further hearing.

Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said the victim’s family members witnessed the execution in a separate viewing room. They chose not to make a statement to the media, he said. Governor Kay Ivey issued a statement, calling the killing ‘premeditated, gruesome and disturbing’. ‘I pray that her loved ones can feel some sense of closure today,’ the governor said. 

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said ‘my heart and prayers are with Tracy’s family. No one should have to endure the pain they’ve carried or relive the horror of her tragic and senseless death’. 

Before the execution, Wilemon’s step-sister, Trish Jackson, told the Flying Monkeys that her family planned to attend. She said she’d be travelling to Alabama from Southern California with her mum, ‘Just to know that he will be no more.’ ‘She didn’t deserve this. No one does. She was very loved … She deserved to have the greatest life and flourish,’ Ms Jackson said. Ms Jackson said Wilemon had just gone through a divorce and was restarting her life when she was killed. She said her step-sister, whose surname was legally Brown when she died, had been saving up money to visit her daughter in Arizona when the attack happened.

Last week Osgood said he had dropped his appeals because he was guilty and thought his execution should go forward. ‘I’m a firm believer in — like I said in court — an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I took a life, so mine was forfeited. I don’t believe in sitting here and wasting everybody’s time and everybody’s money,’ he said. 

Osgood declined his lunch tray, but did have a final meal of pizza. He chose to die by lethal injection. Hamm said it took a total of five attempts to get the two required IV lines connected to him. The execution was the second in Alabama this year and the 14th in the nation overall.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Jenna Coleman (39), Russell T. Davies (62), Lizzo (37), Giancarlo Esposito (67), Channing Tatum (45), Pablo Schreiber (47), Kevin James (60), Jet Li (62), Joan Chen (64), Melania Trump (55), Al Pacino (85), Renée Zellweger (56), Hank Azaria (61), Talia Shire (79), Jack Quaid (33), Rory McCann (56), Aidan Gillen (57), Djimon Hounsou (61), Shirley MacLaine (91), Barbra Streisand (83), John Cena (48), John Hannah (63), Dev Patel (35), Gemma Whelan (44), Lee Majors (86), John Oliver (48), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (59), Jack Nicholson (88), Amber Heard (39), Sheryl Lee (58), James McAvoy (46), Andie MacDowell (67), Toby Stephens (56), Robbie Amell (37), Tony Danza (74), Rob Riggle (55), Iggy Pop (78), and Liz Carr (53).

27th April 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 20th April 2025

Not much to report this week, no points to award either. But we do think that we should ring-fence Warwick Davis after two of his cast-mates from Willow have passed away so very close to each other, after all, these things come in threes…  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Pope Francis made a brief appearance on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia. “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since his hospitalisation. “Viva il Papa!” (Long live the pope), the crowd responded. Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old Francis fought for his life. Since his release from the hospital nearly a month ago, Francis has been slowly returning to work and has made several Sunday appearances at St. Peter’s Square, much to the relief and adoration of the crowd that gathers every weekend. He skipped the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter, but he had been expected to appear on Sunday. Unlike in years past, the 88-year-old pontiff did not celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes. The thousands of people below erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See and Italian anthems. Francis waved from the balcony and then asked a Vatican archbishop to read his speech, a global appeal for peace in the world’s hotspots that is the hallmark of the Vatican’s Easter celebrations. Afterward, he imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin.  

Michelle Trachtenberg died as a result of complications from diabetes, New York City’s medical examiner has said. The 39-year-old, who was also known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Harriet the Spy, was found dead at her home in New York City after officers responded to a 911 call on 26th February. According to the Flying Monkeys, she had recently received a liver transplant. At the time of her death, officials said no foul play was suspected, and the medical examiner’s office had listed her death as “undetermined”. Trachtenberg’s family had objected to a post-mortem, which the medical examiner’s office honoured because there was no evidence of criminality. But the medical examiner’s office said in a statement on Thursday it amended the cause and manner of death for the actress following a review of laboratory test results. Trachtenberg was best known for her role as Dawn Summers in Buffy, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar between 2000 and 2003.  

Officials have revealed the worrying internet searches Betsy Arakawa made in the days before her death. The pianist, 65, and her husband, Gene Hackman, were both found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 26th February. Investigations later found that she had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome around 12th February, roughly a week before the actor. Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease – a contributing factor in his death – it is said Hackman, 95, possibly did not know his wife had died before he passed as a result of cardiovascular disease. Authorities released a lengthy investigation, detailing some of the final internet searches, emails and phone calls made by Arakawa. rakawa appeared to be looking into information on flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques, the Associated Press reports. A review of her computer found she was actively searching up medical conditions related to Covid-19 and flu-like symptoms between 8 February and the morning of 12th February. This including asking questions about if Covid could cause dizziness or nosebleeds. On 11th February, Arakawa emailed her masseuse to say Hackman had woken up with flu or cold-like symptoms but had tested negative for Covid. ‘Out of an abundance of caution’, she asked if she could reschedule her appointment for the following day. Then the next morning, she had searched for a local concierge medical service which she had a call with that lasted less than two minutes. There was then a missed return call later that afternoon. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which a post-mortem determined as Arakawa’s cause of death, is a rare disease typically spread to humans through infected urine, droppings or saliva of certain species of mice and rats. Dr Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner for New Mexico, previously told press that the mortality of the hantavirus strain in the south west of the United States is about 38 percent to 50 percent. The rodent-borne disease can lead to a range of symptoms including flu-like illness, headaches, dizziness and severe respiratory distress. Therefore, it could often be mistaken at first for a flu or Covid due to the similarities in signs. It was also reported by the New Mexico medical investigator’s office that there were signs of a rodent infestation at Hackman and Arakawa’s estate. A live rodent, a dead rodent and a nest were found in the three detached garages on the property with droppings and live traps also discovered.

On This Day

  • 1918 – Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. The Red Baron, shoots down his 79th and 80th victims, his final victories before his death the following day.
  • 1968 – English politician Enoch Powell makes his controversial “Rivers of Blood” speech.
  • 1999 – Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold kill 14 people and injure 23 others before committing suicide at Columbine High School. 
  • 2010 – The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that would last six months.
  • 2023 – SpaceX’s Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes 4 minutes into flight.

Deaths

  • 1912 – Bram Stoker, Anglo-Irish novelist and critic, created Count Dracula (b. 1847).
  • 1992 – Benny Hill, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter (b. 1924). 
  • 2016 – Victoria Wood, British comedian, actress and writer (b. 1953).
  • 2018 – Avicii, Swedish DJ and musician (b. 1989).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Andy Serkis (61), Clint Howard (66), Veronica Cartwright (76), Jessica Lange (76), Carmen Electra (53), George Takei (88), Nicholas Lyndhurst (64), Kate Hudson (46), Ashley Judd (57), James Franco (47), Hayden Christensen (44), Tim Curry (79), Simu Liu (36), Rick Moranis (72), James Woods (78), Conan O’Brien (62), David Tennant (54), Hayley Mills (79), Sean Bean (66), Jennifer Garner (53), David Bradley (83), Anya Taylor-Joy (29), Sadie Sink (53), Ellen Barkin (71), Claire Foy (41), Gina Carano (43), Martin Lawrence (60), Seth Rogen (43), Emma Watson (35), Emma Thompson (66), Maisie Williams (28), Luke Evans (46), Anthony Michael Hall (57), Adrien Brody (52), Sarah Michelle Gellar (48), Rob McElhenney (48), Robert Carlyle (64), and Peter Capaldi (67).

20th April 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 13th April 2025

No points this week, although there are a few interesting tidbits to read about.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Harry Potter actor Nick Moran has been rushed to hospital with a “life-threatening” condition. The actor’s friend Terry Stone revealed the news on Friday, asking fans of the franchise to send prayers after Moran, who played Scabior in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, underwent “life-saving” spinal surgery. Stone said that Moran’s health concerns began when he started feeling a pain in his neck, which his girlfriend urged him to get checked out. “But, as a bloke, he said, ‘No I’ll put some deep heat on it’ – then he went to the doctors and got sent to A&E and told, ‘We need to take you in for an emergency operation because this is life threatening’,” he told the Flying Monkeys. Stone originally said Moran “may never talk or walk again” but, in a new update, he said his friend was “giving the thumbs up” while “recovering in the ICU” – and revealed “he’s speaking now” and is “shuffling around like a 100-year-old”. He added: “He still needs your support, prayers & love. Let’s pray he fully recovers and is back to normal soon.” Stone said he will provide Moran’s fans with an update on Sunday  – but is now believed to be recovering at home. Moran’s Harry Potter character was a member of the gang led by Fenrir Greyback and appears in the final two Harry Potter films. 

Eric Dane has revealed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS, also known as motor neurone disease, is an incurable condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and causes increasing muscle paralysis over time. Dane, 52, who’s known for the role of Dr Mark Sloan in Grey’s Anatomy, said he will continue filming for season three of HBO series Euphoria, in which he plays Cal Jacobs, regardless of the diagnosis. Speaking to the Flying Monkeys, Dane said: “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to the set of Euphoria next week,” he added. “I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.” Early symptoms of the disease, according to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, include: muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder or tongue; cramps; tight or stiff muscles; muscle weakness; slurred or nasal speech; and difficulty chewing and swallowing. There is currently no cure for ALS.  

Legendary sports broadcaster Steve Rider has revealed his plans to “sidle away” from TV this summer, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned nearly 50 years on screen. The 74 year-old is perhaps most recognised for hosting the iconic BBC sports show Grandstand, where he covered a wide range of sports including rugby, golf, rowing and motorsports. He also presented Sportsnight and Sports Personality of the Year, and was the anchor for the corporation’s coverage of every Olympic Games between 1988 and 2004. Rider’s exit from our screens comes a year and a half after he disclosed his diagnosis of prostate cancer. The host shared the news on BBC Breakfast, stating that he had been “incredibly lucky” as the disease was detected early and he immediately underwent “significant” surgery to stop it from spreading. He decided to get tested after one of his mates was diagnosed with the same cancer following a medical examination, and his wife encouraged him to have further tests when his initial check-up results came back “a little high”. “I was cutting it a bit fine,” Rider admitted. “They took one look and said, ‘We’re going to operate in two weeks’. No messing around. We did Brands Hatch for ITV on the Sunday and I had the operation on the Thursday, so it slotted into the schedule quite nicely! It was one operation, whip it all out, off you go and enjoy the rest of your life, second chance. But I was one of the lucky ones,” he added, urging people to get checked for the disease. “Get yourself tested because once this wretched thing develops, as we’ve been seeing from Chris Hoy and Eddie Jordan, it just gallops away and there’s no control. The chance you have is early testing.”

On This Day

  • 1964 – At the Academy Awards, Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American man to win the Best Actor award for the 1963 film Lilies of the Field.
  • 1970 – An oxygen tank aboard the Apollo 13 Service Module explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the Apollo command and service module (codenamed “Odyssey”) while en route to the Moon.
  • 1997 – Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament.

Deaths

Last Meals

A convicted cop killer who became the second death row inmate in South Carolina to die by firing squad chomped on a ribeye steak, mushroom risotto, broccoli, collard greens and cheesecake before he was executed on Friday night.

Mikal Mahdi, 42, had three slugs fired into his heart by trained correctional volunteers at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia and was pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m. for the ambush killing of Orangeburg Public Safety Captain James Myers in 2004.

Mahdi, who washed down his hearty last meal with a sweet tea, did not make a final statement before his execution, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Mahdi was then hooded and strapped to a metal chair that sat on top of a catch basin inside the prison’s death chamber with a white target and red bullseye placed over his chest.

Three members from the state’s corrections department stood behind a wall 15 feet away and simultaneously opened fire through openings in the partition at 6:01 p.m. Each shooter fired one round, with Mahdi flexing his arms and crying out as the bullets struck him.

Mahdi continued to groan and take deep breaths for about two minutes before taking one final gasp – with a doctor affirming his death four minutes after the shots rang out.

Nine witnesses were seated in a room separated from the chamber by bulletproof glass.

One member of the victim’s family, Mahdi’s attorney, a representative from the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and three reporters were among those who witnessed Mahdi’s final moments.

Mahdi, who personally chose the violent punishment over the electric chair or lethal injection, became the second death row inmate executed by the Palmetto State’s new firing squad after double murderer Brad Sigmon became the first person in 15 years be shot to death last month. 

“Faced with barbaric and inhumane choices, Mikal Mahdi had chosen the lesser of the three evils,” his attorney, David Weiss said in a statement after the execution, which he described as a “horrifying act” that doesn’t belong in a “civilised society.”

“Mikal chose the firing squad instead of being burned and mutilated in the electric chair, or suffering the lingering death on the lethal injection gurney.”

Mahdi was sentenced to death after he confessed to shooting Myers at least eight times and then burning his body in a shed that had been the backdrop of the officer’s wedding just 15 months earlier.

The heinous act unfolded three days after he killed Christopher Boggs, a convenience store clerk in North Carolina. Mahdi shot the clerk twice in the head.

He was later arrested in Florida while driving the cop’s unmarked police pickup truck. 

Last-minute appeals to spare Mahdi’s life were rejected this week by both the US and South Carolina Supreme Courts. His defence team argued that his original attorneys made little effort to save his life and failed to call on those who knew him to testify after the prosecution called 28 witnesses.

Republican Gov. Henry McMaster also denied clemency. 

Five inmates have been put to death in the state since September – when executions resumed following a 13-year pause.

Twenty-six inmates remain on death row.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Ron Perlman (75), William Sadler (75), Edward Fox (88), Peter Davison (74), Saoirse Ronan (31), Claire Danes (46), Andy Garcia (69), Ed O’Neill (79), Nicholas Brendon (54), David Letterman (68), Milly Alcock (25), Jeremy Clarkson (65), Matt Ryan (44), Charlie Hunnam (45), Daisy Ridley (33), David Harbour (50), Haley Joel Osment (37), Steven Seagal (73), Peter MacNicol (71), Elle Fanning (27), Dennis Quaid (71), Kristen Stewart (35), Cynthia Nixon (59), Patricia Arquette (57), Katee Sackhoff (45), Robin Wright (59), Dean Norris (62), Jackie Chan (71), Russell Crowe (61), and Francis Ford Coppola (86).

13th April 2025 | Categories: 2025 | Leave A Comment »

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