Dead Pool 26th January 2025
A quiet week this week, barely any famous deaths and hardly any news to talk about.
Look Who You Could Have Had:
- Leila Hayes, 85, Australian actress (Sons and Daughters, Division 4).
- John Sykes, 65, English guitarist (Tygers of Pan Tang, Whitesnake) and songwriter (“Is This Love“), cancer.
- Unk, 42, American rapper (“Walk It Out“, “2 Step“, “Show Out“).
In Other News
Pauline Quirke has been diagnosed with dementia, her husband Steve Sheen has announced. The Birds of a Feather star, 65, is best known for playing Sharon Theodopolopodous in the much-loved sitcom alongside Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph from 1988 to 1999. Quirke, who has also had roles in Emmerdale and Broadchurch, was first diagnosed with the disease in 2021. She will now “step away from all commercial and professional duties”. The BAFTA-nominated actor’s last public appearance came in February 2023, when she was awarded an MBE by Prince William for service to young people, entertainment and charity. In his statement, Quirke’s husband Sheen said: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of Dementia in 2021. Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA). Her talent, dedication, and vision have touched countless lives and will continue to do so through the legacy of her work and through PQA where her vision and guidance has facilitated many young peoples’ progression and interest in the Arts and enhanced their self-confidence.” Dementia is an umbrella term for progressive conditions associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, and a timely diagnosis is vital. On average, people live between eight to ten years after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. However, some live for a further twenty years or more.
Music legend Sting has been forced to cancel four gigs just 24 hours before being back on stage. The singer, 73, has fallen ill with a statement from his Instagram page reading: “On advisement from his doctor, due to illness, it is with sincere regret that Sting must cancel his appearance at the Bass Magazine Awards this Thursday.” It added he would also “postpone his STING 3.0 concerts in Phoenix, AZ and Wheatland, CA as well as his performance at the Cherrytree Music Company’s 20th anniversary”. The statement went on to say: “Fans should retain their tickets for the postponed shows, as they will be honoured on the new dates. Sting sincerely apologises for any inconvenience and extends his gratitude to the fans for their understanding.” Sting last cancelled a string of gigs back in 2019 due to a mystery illness. He was forced to pull of performances in Belgium, Germany, Stuttgart, and the Czech Republic. A source insisted the illness was not serious, saying: “He’s just resting up. Everyone is expecting him to be back up and running very soon. He’ll be going straight into the rest of his scheduled tour dates.” Later that year, Sting had made a full recovery but took to the stage in a sling.
On This Day
- 1905 – The world’s largest diamond ever, the Cullinan, which weighs 3,106.75 carats (0.62 kg), is found at the Premier Mine near Pretoria in South Africa.
- 1926 – The first demonstration of the television by John Logie Baird.
- 1998 – On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had “sexual relations” with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
- 2009 – Nadya Suleman gives birth to the world’s first surviving octuplets.
- 2020 – A Sikorsky S-76B flying from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport crashes in Calabasas, 30 miles west of Los Angeles, killing all nine people on board, including five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter.
Deaths
- 1823 – Edward Jenner, English physician, creator of the smallpox vaccine (b. 1749).
- 1973 – Edward G. Robinson, Romanian-American actor (b. 1893).
- 2020 – Kobe Bryant, American basketball player (b. 1978).
Last Week’s Birthdays
Scott Glenn (86), Deep Roy (76), Ellen DeGeneres (67), Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47), Justin Baldoni (41), Mischa Barton (39), Kristen Schaal (47), Matthew Lillard (55), Nastassja Kinski (64), Ed Helms (51), Adrian Edmondson (68), Gil Gerard (82), Linda Blair (66), Geena Davis (69), Emma Bunton (49), Rainn Wilson (59), Tom Baker (91), and Gary Barlow (54).
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