h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Welcome to the h2g2 Deathlist Game 2019!

After another very tight contest, I’m happy to announce that the winner of the 2018 contest is Bluebottle, with a score of 75. Audrey Geisel's and June Whitfield's deaths in late December clinched a 20-point victory ahead of Galaxy Babe.

On to the 2019 game, and here are some stats on this year's entries:


For the 2019 contest, 10 entrants have selected a total of 119 celebrities, 21 of which were chosen for the first time.

There are 85 men on the list and 34 women, and their average age is 78 years. The oldest picks are Kane Tanaka (115), Herman Wouk (103), and Kirk Douglas & Olivia de Havilland (both 102). The youngest pick is Paris Jackson (20).

Sequences:

Seven celebrities picked in the 2019 game have remained on the same list for 12 years. One is Coelacanth’s pick of Olivia de Havilland, and the other six are on Mol’s list: Alan Bennett, Michael Barrymore, Pete Doherty, Prince Philip, Rolf Harris and Tom Baker.

Long Time Away:

Joan Collins and Gina Lollobrigida were both picked for the first time since 2007. Geoffrey Palmer has also returned, having last been picked in 2008.

Deaths in 2018:

Of the celebrities who died in 2018, 32 had been picked at some time or other in the Deathlist game, and 18 of these were correctly picked in 2018. Of those we missed, three were last picked in 2017 (Burt Reynolds, Norman Gimbel and Roger Bannister). One (Peter Stringfellow) had not been picked since 2006.

The 2006 Originals:

A total of 37 celebrities picked in the first Deathlist game in 2006 are still alive, and 20 were picked again this year. Five celebrities have been picked in every year since 2006: Kirk Douglas, Olivia de Havilland, Pete Doherty, Prince Philip and Vera Lynn. We lost originals Barbara Bush, Stephen Hawking, Denis Norden and Peter Stringfellow in 2018.


And so, without further ado, I declare the 2019 Deathlist Game … open!

Homepage: A87926953
Scoreboard: A87926962
Archive: A87874582

Icy

Please post any 2019-listed deaths below.

For deaths not on the list, pleae use this other thread: F22156867?thread=8321276

Just Bob has Michael J Fox as his under 50. Mr Fox will be 58 in June.

My mistake, Coelacanth. San Diego’s his under-50. I’ll fix it later.

And thanks for checking these. Compiling the lists is a fiddly process.

Homepage updated

Congrats to Bluebottle, that's the closest I've ever come to winning so I don't mind runner-up

Thanks very much for all your hard work Icy (I know how fiddly the lists are to get right and also deciphering some of the emails were a bit of a )

A very happy and healthy new year to everyone

I was expecting you to win last year too, the end of December came as a complete surprise. Just wait, this year no-one on my list will die.

<BB<

Or maybe you'll be first off the mark, Bluebottle.
Carol Channing, aged 97.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46878018

I was just coming here to report that.

Carol Channing was picked twice in the past (by Mu Beta)

Homepage and scoreboard updated.

Homepage: A87926953
Scoreboard: A87926962
Archive: A87874582

Icy

Diana Athill
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/diana-athill-dies-937326
Points for Coelacanth

Diana Athil had been picked three times in this game, all by Coelacanth.

Homepage and scoreboard updated.

Homepage: A87926953
Scoreboard: A87926962
Archive: A87874582

Icy

Was Carol CHanning any relation to Stockard Channing? I read most of the obit and it dodn't mention it, so I would guess probably not, but...

I first picked Diana Athill in 2011, and every year since, so that's 9 times, not three. What a remarkable lady and what a life she had!

So you did

Albert Finney

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47175304

How is this the first I've heard about this one? A true screen legend.

Does anyone else think it's weird that the correct picks this year are appearing in alphabetical order on our scoreboard? (Bluebottle/coelacanth/Galaxy Babe)

Yes, I'd noticed that too.

Albert Finney was picked three times in this game, the first time by broelan in 2007.

Points for Galaxy Babe

Homepage: A87926953
Scoreboard: A87926962
Archive: A87874582

Icy

The other weird thing is that their first and last names are all in the first 6 letters of the alphabet.

And if you play the corresponding musical notes, it's Dvorak's Death March.