Television and Radio
One of Britain’s most recognisable comic actresses, Dame Penelope Keith died at the age of 86 on the 29th June. She found fame in two sitcoms, The Good Life where she played the domineering, snobby Margo Leadbetter, but showed her soft side many times, especially with her neighbour Tom Good, played by the late Richard Briers. Margo was often fabulously dressed, with hair to match, and let’s be honest, she was probably far sexier than Felicity Kendall in the programme, but no-one truly admits it. Her success in The Good Life led to another sitcom based around her, To the Manor Born, with Keith using her posh voice to full effect as the lead character, Audrey fforbes-Hamilton. She starred in many other sitcoms, but was also a leading theatre actress, a television presenter and a long-time President of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund. 5 teams, including four theme teams, score 6 points.
I deliberated whether to put Michael Byrne down under television or film, but as the QO, rightly or wrongly, focuses on his role in Coronation Street, I’ve plumped to put him here. Despite being born in London, Byrne was often cast as Nazi officers in films, including The Eagle has Landed, Force Ten from Navarone and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. But he was also in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and it is courtesy of the theme team that selected him (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, DIE), that he earns the points and becomes an unique hit.
Stateside, Louise Lasser became famous for her role in the soap opera comedy satire, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She was also married to fellow DDP pick Woody Allen, and although she, like Byrne, was also in films, it is probably television she is better known for. Lasser was 87, and a unique pick for the Saturday Night Live theme team, of which she was a contributor for some time.
Other
Hong Kong dissident bookseller Lam Wing-Kee died at the beginning of July, aged 70 after losing a lung cancer fight which attracted a few of the DDP’s top hitters. In 2015, he was detained for selling books critical of Chinese politicans and their policies and fled to Taiwan as a result. His activism against the Chinese earned him respect and a BBC obituary.
He was picked by 4 teams, the highest placed of which is now Mrs Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Slaughter who move up to joint 13th with their 7th hit of the year.
Jim Glennie, one of a dwindling amount of Scottish World War Two veterans, died aged 100. A veteran of the D-Day landings, he was captured and served time as a prisoner of war in the Stalag IV-B war camps. He received a BEM (British Empire Medal) for his volunteering to the Royal British Legion and is an unique hit for veteran DDP player, Windsor’s OBE.
Music
After a little bit of a wait, an obituary came for Phyllis Kinney, an American born opera singer who after meeting Meredydd Evans, later to be her husband, turned into an enthusiast, historian and promoter of Welsh folk music. She died at the end of June, just shy of her 104th birthday.
Politics
Two veteran Scottish politicans have died recently; Charles Sanderson, who was 93, was a life peer who also served as Minister of State in the Scottish Office, which a particular portfolio for housing, agriculture and fisheries. He also served as Chairman of the Conservative Party in Scotland. He was an unique pick for My Dallek Master Plan.
A lawyer by profession, Lord James MacKay of Clashfern became Lord Chancellor in 1987, forming part of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet. He carried on in the role for 10 years, through all of John Major’s somewhat embattled tenure, before being replaced when Labour came to power. He died, aged 99, on the 7th July, but was still an active member of the House of Lords until 2022. He is a hit for five teams, including a number of theme teams.
Scores
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Teams and Scores |
| Michael Byrne | 82 | June 20 | Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, DIE! 💀💀💀💀💀💀+👻 = 10 Points |
| Penelope Keith | 86 | June 29 | 5 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀 = 6Points |
| Phyllis Kinney | 103 | June 29 | Let the Music Play Just a Little Longer – 💀💀💀💀+👻 = 8 Points |
| Lam Wing Kee | 70 | July 2 | 4 teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 = 7 points |
| Charles Sanderson | 93 | July 2 | My Dallek Master Plan 💀💀💀💀💀+ 👻= 9 points |
| Louise Lasser | 87 | July 6 | Saturday Night Dead – 💀💀💀💀💀💀+👻 = 10 Points |
| Jim Glennie | 100 | July 6 | Windsor’s OBE – 💀💀💀💀+👻 = 8 Points |
| James MacKay | 99 | July 7 | 5 teams – 💀💀💀💀💀 = 5 points |