Death happens. Why not make it interesting?
The online competition to guess which famous people won't make it to the end of the current year. If they're elderly, ill, or just live a high-risk lifestyle, stick 'em in your team, and for each one whose death you correctly predict, you'll score points. DDP was dreamt up in Derby, England (hence the name...) by Big Iain back in 1996. Other hosts: Siegfried Baboon and Rude Kid (2003-7), Octopus of Odstock (2008-9, first tenure), The Man in Black (2010-17), Spade Cooley (2018-19), msc (2020-21), Grim Up North (2020-22), Reptile (2020-23), and DI (2022 – 2025). Now the Committee of Banana (2023), time (2024), the returning Octopus of Odstock (2026) and the deadpooling equivalent of a gap year temp Marlfox (2026) oversee the biggest deadpool going...
A HARD ROAD Bluesman John Mayall has died aged 90. He formed his Bluesbreakers in the 60s and his band would nurture many of the British blues greats including Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. He never quite reached the stardom of his proteges but remained in high […]
THAT BITES FOR DRACULA Snooker star Ray Reardon has died aged 91. He dominated the game in the 70s with six World Championships to his name, and was nicknamed “Dracula” for the vampiric vibes to his hair and teeth. He was picked by fifteen teams. Ray Reardon8 October 1932 – 19 July 2024, aged 9115 […]
CADAVER, READY! REAPER, READY! Gladiators referee John Anderson has died aged 92. He was everpresent during the original 90s series and came back for the brief aughties revival, where his catchphrases and umping would prove as much a part of the pop culture fabric as the athletics contests. His death leaves I’ll sleep when you’re […]
OUT OF GRANGE Prolific designer Kenneth Grange has died aged 95. His works are omnipresent in British life, and include the InterCity 125 train, the Kodak Instamatic camera, Britain’s first parking meters, kettles, typewriters, and pens. A kindred spirit to us, he also designed his own coffin, which during his lifetime was used as a […]
I FOUGHT THE LAWLER, AND LAWLER LOST Pioneer Aussie playwright Ray Lawler has died aged 103. His best-known play was Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, heralded as a turning point in Australian theatre history. He was unique for Bibliogryphon’s Bookworm Food. Ray Lawler23 May 1921 – 24 July 2024, aged 103💀💀💀💀 + 👻 = 8 […]
LUXON DIMS Opera baritone Benjamin Luxon has sung his last aged 87. He was noted for his collaborations with Benjamin Britten, and was picked by The Fat Lady’s singing… Benjamin Luxon24 March 1937 – 25 July 2024, aged 87💀💀💀💀💀💀 + 👻 = 10 POINTS
GIRL WITH PENNY EYES Irish author Edna O’Brien has died aged 93. Her debut novel The Country Girls broke down stigmas surrounding sexual discussion in 60s Ireland, and was so controversial it was subject to bans and burnings. The acclaim won out in the end and in her latter years she received various awards from […]
BECKONING FOR BARR BBC presenter Becky Barr has died aged 46. She had been a popular regular at BBC North West Tonight until switching her trade to firefighting in 2019. A Christmastime announcement of advanced cancer had all the makings of an inspired 2025 pick, instead a canny gamble pays off for three teams, with […]
CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, CROAKERS TO THE RIGHT Surviving frontman of Stealers Wheel Joe Egan has died aged 77. After befriending Gerry Rafferty in their teens, the duo formed the folk rock group in 1972 and quickly struck gold with “Stuck in the Middle with You”. Rafferty’s presence with the group became on-and-off […]
MULL OVER Comic actor Martin Mull has died aged 80. He had worked as a satirical musician when he caught the eye of Norman Lear and was cast as a cruel wifebeater in soaps satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. His character died after being impaled on a Christmas tree star, but Mull himself became a […]
