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:

• Rick Davies, 81, English musician (Supertramp), and songwriter (“Bloody Well Right“, “Goodbye Stranger“), complications from multiple myeloma. 
• Charlie Kirk, 31, American conservative activist, co-founder of Turning Point USA, shot. 
• Jay Wynne, 56, British weather presenter (BBC Weather)
• Viv Prince, 84, English drummer (Pretty Things). 
• Allen Blickle, 42, American heavy metal drummer (Baroness). 
• Atomic Steif, 57, German thrash metal drummer (Sodom). 
• Ricky Hatton, 46, English professional boxer. 

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).

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:

• Joe Bugner, 75, Hungarian-born British-Australian European heavyweight champion boxer and actor (I’m for the Hippopotamus, Street Fighter). 
• Graham Greene, 73, Canadian actor (Dances With Wolves, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Green Mile). 
• David Warburton, 59, British politician
• Giorgio Armani, 91, Italian fashion designer, founder of Armani.
• Katharine, Duchess of Kent, 92, British royal. 
• Maru, 18, Japanese Internet cat, lung cancer. 

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

• 1601 – John Shakespeare, father of William Shakespeare (born 1529).
• 1978 – Keith Moon, English drummer (The Who) (born 1946.
• 1996 – Bibi Besch, Austrian-American actress (born 1942).

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).

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

• Floyd Levine, 93, American actor (Bloodbrothers, Melrose Place, Airplane II: The Sequel). 
• Purple Aki, 64, British convicted criminal. 
• Angela Mortimer, 93, British Hall of Fame tennis player.

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

• 1888 – Mary Ann Nichols is murdered. She is the first of Jack the Ripper’s confirmed victims.
• 1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales, her partner, Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.
• 2006 – Edvard Munch’s famous painting, The Scream, stolen on August 22nd 2004, is recovered in a raid by Norwegian police.

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).

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

Look Who You Could Have Had:

• Terence Stamp, 87, English actor (Superman II, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert).
• Frank Caprio, 88, American judge and television personality (Parking Wars), pancreatic cancer. 
• Brent Hinds, 51, American heavy metal musician (Mastodon, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra) and songwriter (“Colony of Birchmen“), traffic collision. 
• Jerry Adler, 96, American actor (The Sopranos, Rescue Me, The Good Wife). 

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

• 2014 – Richard Attenborough, English actor, director, & producer (born 1923).
• 2021 – Charlie Watts, English musician (born 1941).
• 2023 – Bray Wyatt, American wrestler (born 1987).

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).

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:

• Ray Brooks, 86, English actor (Mr Benn, Big Deal, EastEnders), complications from dementia. 
• NoB, 61, Japanese singer (Make-Up, Project.R), kidney cancer. 
• Biddy Baxter, 92, English television producer (Blue Peter). 
• Bobby Whitlock, 77, American singer, songwriter (“Bell Bottom Blues“) and musician (Derek and the Dominos). 
• Hefin David, 47, Welsh politician, MS (since 2016). 
• Geoff Foulds, 85, English snooker player, father of Neal Foulds. 
• Jackie Bezos, 78, American philanthropist, co-founder of the Bezos Family Foundation. 
• Tristan Rogers, 79, Australian actor (General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, The Rescuers Down Under), lung cancer. 
• Lorna Raver, 81, American actress (Drag Me to Hell, The Young and the Restless, The Caller). 
• Bob Simpson, 89, Australian cricket player (New South Wales, national team) and coach

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).