Ronnie Corbett - d. March 31st 2016

...later in the show

we put Britain's

tiniest comedian

under the microscope,

but now it's goodnight

from me, and it's goodbye

from him. Goodbye.

Read about Ronnie Corbett here

Johan Cruyff - March 24th 2016

I saw the playback;

you & St Peter

outside the area. 

A jink of the heel

turned him inside out,

left for dead,
had all Heaven

leaping to its feet.

Read about Johan Cruyff here

Barry Hines - d. March 18th 2016

They’re coming out for you;
from trees and grey streets. 
You, who taught them to talk
in their own accent, slip
their jesses, take to the wing.

Read about Barry Hines here 

Paul Daniels - d. March 17th 2016

Turning turgid sleight of hand 
to gold, 
homeliness to handsome profit, 
joker into ace, 
Teesside into Vegas;
Now that's magic.

Read about Paul Daniels here

Sylvia Anderson - d. March 16th 2016

Time to stub out the Sobranie,

leave the mansion of the future.

The Rolls is purring pinkly 
at the door, waiting 
till your final mission is GO!

Read about Sylvia Anderson here

Peter Maxwell Davies - d. March 14th 2016

We are coming out
of radioactive houses,
up Binkie's Brae, 
pulling your piano behind us 
to the place 
where the whole world 
can hear it.

Read about Peter Maxwell Davies here

Ken Adam - d. March 10th 2016

Your body lies, dead wrist
chained to a ticking bomb

beneath the volcano

in a sepulchre built
to your particular design.

Read about Ken Adam here

George Martin - d. March 8th 2016

Your desk has many channels;

bass, drums, 2 guitars, 2 vocals,

strings, screams, howls of acid,

plus one for every soul alive

since 1962.

Read about George Martin here

Tony Warren - d. March 2nd 2016

You’re alive; echoing in drains
on dark streets; empty spaces
where words live; in grains
between cobbles; in faces
shining in the Salford rain.

Read about Tony Warren here

Frank Kelly - d. February 28th 2016

The end lies in wait like a nun,

the smell of God in her nostrils.

Then, a creaking gate, a curse,

one less soul on a lonely island.

Read about Frank Kelly here

Douglas Slocombe - d. February 22nd 2016

The scenes of a dead century
tumble in a gust of light.
They are the harvest of the lens,
gathered from the backlot
of your imagination.


Read about Douglas Slocombe here

Umberto Eco - d. February 19th 2016

I live for books;
for what they say,
for what they signify
by what they don't say.
The books that bear
your empty name,
are shelved in eternity.

Read about Umberto Eco here

Harper Lee - d. February 19th 2016

We took the skin

of America,

climbed inside,

walked around,

felt it from the inside.

You didn't do one thing 

except tell a story

for us to enjoy.

Read about Harper Lee here

Norman Hudis - d. February 8th 2016

Was this 
how you scripted it
- scene upon scene
groaning 
with rotten gags?
Some jokes carry on,
improve with retelling.


Read about Norman Hudis here

Maurice White - d. February 4th 2016

Bury me in polyester,
bare my chest 
to the mourners.
Dance on my grave
until the dawn;
whatever you do, groove.

Read about Maurice White here

John Bingham, Lord Lucan - d. February 3rd 2016

In our fascination

we have wrung 

each drop of mystery

from all the obfuscation.

Perhaps you played along,

but now you're history.

Read about Lord Lucan here

Frank Finlay - d. January 30th 2016

In the little theatre
of my hometown
cues are missed,
lines go unsaid,
bouquets wither
in a cold dressing room.

Read about Frank Finlay here

Terry Wogan - d. January 31st 2016

A

And up next, the Irish entry.
Would you look at the eejit,
all whimsy and innuendo,
carrot and schtick. 
Could go far.





Read about Terry Wogan here

Paul Kantner - d. January 28th 2016

Respect, man;

you were always 

chasing rabbits,

feeding your head.

Your life was what you 

were tripping on,

your death 

one more comedown.

Read about Paul Kantner here

Abe Vigoda - d. 26th January 2016

Sooner or later

even the wisest guy

gonna get clipped,

and no good word

will get you off the hook

this time.

Read about Abe Vigoda here