General Features

George Best

Dead celebs society

When Brian Clough died of cancer last September, there weren't many people cracking open the champagne.

But for several players in the Derby Dead Pool, Cloughie's death was good news - because it increased their chances of winning the internet game which was once branded 'sick' by the News of the World.

The game is arguably the world's most popular 'Dead Pool' competition and involves players competing to predict the most celebrity deaths in a calendar year.

The website was set up in 1996 and has gradually grown in popularity ever since. This year it boasts 124 teams from ten different countries.

'Rude Kid' (real name Ian) took over the running of the game two years ago after the founder (also from Derby) stepped down. He says the idea for the game goes back centuries.

He said: "The history of dead pools goes back to the late 16th century when Catholics were threatened with ex-communication from the Church for speculating on when the Pope would die.

"But the main inspiration was the 1988 Clint Eastwood film 'The Dead Pool' in which Eastwood, as Dirty Harry Callahan, investigates a gambling ring who are betting on peoples' deaths and then bumping them off."

In the Derby version, players are asked to nominate 20 famous people. Extra points are awarded for unique picks, under-80s and suicides and murders.

So how do Rude Kid and his fellow admin Siegfried Baboon counter accusations that the game is ghoulish and immoral?

Rude Kid said: "Guilty as charged! But black humour has been an integral and defining part of British comedy from Shakespeare onwards.

Bernard Manning is a popular pick

"As Monty Python sang, "Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true!"

And as Rude Kid explains, sometimes the game strikes close to home with its participants.

He explained: "In 2000, two of the actual competitors died during the year. Their teams were left in the competition as a mark of respect and one of them went on to win posthumously!"

Most of the contestants enter the game anonymously and updates are distributed via email.

Rude Kid said: "One of our current competitors is a well-known political figure who apparently entered after someone made him aware that he'd been picked last year.

"He looked at the site, saw the funny side and decided to join in. However, he tells us he's in good health and has no plans to pop off at any time in the near future!"

Not everyone is so understanding though, and the site regularly receives abusive emails from outraged visitors.

Rude Kid explains: "We get them all the time, usually typed all in capital letters and badly spelt - which probably says something about the sort of person who doesn't 'get' black humour.

Popular choices in this year's competition include The Pope, Soham murderer Ian Huntley, George Best, Margaret Thatcher and Ronnie Biggs.

Meanwhile Rude Kid has already started planning ahead for next year.

He said: "We intend to keep it free of charge, if only because it's illegal in this country to gamble money on people's deaths!

"Next year may well see the DDP comng bang up to date with the introduction of an SMS update service whereby news of 'hits' is sent to people's mobile phones and PDAs while the celeb in question is still warm."

So while some might call the game sick, organisers will point to an increasing number of entrants and 17,000 visitors through the website's doors as testament to its enduring appeal.

And if you hear the news Whitney Houston has died, you can be sure they'll be at least one person raising a glass for all the wrong reasons.

You said:

Art Vandalay
Perhaps, Jean on the last post needs to get out more. Perhaps, she needs to enjoy a few pints, and dance a little bit. Have some fun Jean, don't yell at us because you have lived a repressed life all these years. The game is fun and educational.As an American I have learned more about famous Britons then I could from any history book. Keep up the good work!

Johnny Cheddar
Dead Pools around the world are gearing up for their 2006 competitions. Now's the time to sign up for one!

Ready For The Box
Keep up the good work, I'm just building my box for the next one...

connylad
this site is outrageous. Keep up the good work con man manchester uk

Is He Dead Yet?
Sorry to disappoint the "Bible Bashers" but god doesn't exist. Would we have huge disasters like the Tsunami if he did? How about a similar competition clled "Predict a Disaster"

Sue
Have only just discovered this very funny, if "sick", idea and am just attempting to start up a "Croak Club" in my local pub. For God's sake - we all have to pop our clogs, let's have a bit of a laugh about it (after all - it's not as if we're betting on Aunty Flo going, is it?!)

The Hornchurch Deadpool
I run a Deadpool with over 70 players. You'd be surprised at the amount of people who have labelled the game 'sick' until they realise they can win upto £3000 for a small stake. Death and taxes go hand in hand in more ways than you think.

Grim Reaper
Alls well that ends well.Is this what is meant by Dead certs......

Some Guy From Ilkeston
What's all the furore about? This is, just as it seems, a piece of harmless fun. Would the righteously possessed and very fornicatory, politically correct types [i.e. Channon & Grundy] please consider working collectively and aiming their collaborative ten bob feuds at some worthwhile issue like taking individuals akin to Bush or Bin Laden out of the gene pool; or even themselves for that matter!

Jon, Belper
We run a 'Croak Club' where 100 people pay £1 a week for their celebrity. Since March 2003, it has paid out £9575 for 15 'croaks' with the three biggest winners being Sir Peter Ustinov (£2389), Dame Thora Hird (£1260) and Max Schmeling (£1200). Nobody has complained about it being sick or immoral. In fact, it gives us a refreshing change of topic to talk about as opposed to the usual sport, politics and mindless gossip. You'd be amazed at the number of emails and text messages that start flying round as soon as a famous person dies to see if they were on the Croak List.

To avoid confusion
Mrs Trellis of North Wales is a fictional character who often writes in to the BBC Radio comedy show "I'm Sorry, I Havn't A Clue" Nicely done whoever.

Anon
The Anonymous politician is not the only celeb watching this site. I found my name in the 2003 DDP via Google, and have been keeping track ever since (though I'm not actually competing.) Initially I was rather perturbed, but now I'm just amused.I'll show these bu***rs : I'll outlast them all.

Terry Doyle
I'm a player in the DDP but have also been running one at work for 5 years or so with 20 members who pay 25p a week for the privelige. One lucky punter has just recieved £70 for the demise of Max Schmelling. But in our pool we have agreed that should one of our punters die, then we will send the Pool money to the celebrity who was drawn by the unlucky fellow. True it hasn't happened yet, but 1 of our members recently had a heart attack and spent time on a ventilator. He hasn't returnrned to work yet, and I have obtained Nelson Mandela's postal address just in case. You see everyones a winner!

Teddy
Webble: God gets even more upset when you get her sex wrong!

LJ
Ban Christianity - it's done far more harm over the past 2000 years than this site ever can.

The Moral Majority is Neither
"This site should be brought to the attention of the whole nation - surely popular demand can get it shut down." Gerry Bakewell, Heanor Gerry, babe, the DerbyDeadPool.co.uk site has 124 contestants from 11 different countries. Apparently, "popular demand" has spoken.

1 of 57,288,974
As an American, I used to think the UK had a much better head on their shoulders when it comes to religious dogma. Holy crap, was I wrong! It's the same all over... "God will punish you for this," "you'll burn in hell," "judgement day," "sinful," "the good Lord," and on & on.... I should have know: human is human no matter where you live. You so-called religious people cast judgement on everyone else, yet you don't see your own foolish ways. I'm sure you love to throw these phrases around to everyone else, but never apply them to yourselves, but give it a try: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." "Judge not, lest ye be judged." "Turn the other cheek." "Love thy neighbor." Shall I go on? Listen, just because your parents taught you to believe in a particular religion doesn't make you "holier than thou," as it were. Why do you think you're better than anyone else (oh, yes you do!)? Don't be so foolish.... You're hypocrites. And Mrs Trellis from North Wales: "why won't someone think about the children" - are you kidding me?????? Come on! You're a looney one, aren't you?! If you think that one Dead Pool website is more dangerous to children than putting blinders on them & teaching them a singular way of thinking, you are absolutely backwards! Aaaaaaaaah, I'm wasting my breath; there are those of us who get it, and those of you who don't, and the two shall never meet.

E Grundy
I have witten to the home office and Mr Blair and neither can do anything to close down this obscene and immorral site. I remember when you could leave your doors unlocked at night and cheeky kids like Rude Kid and Mr Babboon (I suspect these are not their real names) would have had a good clip round the ear from the local bobby. I think they should bring back national service for the likes of these people. That would teach them some respect for the dead.

Vassili Zaitsev
DDP what a great idea. They might be able to get government funding because unlike the lake district walking guides they attract all members of the community regardless of colour,race or religion. I just wish I could get my first hit for 2005!

Weddle
Weatherman90: God is written with a capital "G". He gets upset if you forget.

Fuller
You're not wrong Mrs Trellis, children could see this and find out that people *gasp* actually die! Much better that than live in the sugar coated, fluffy cushioned world that you appear to inhabit.

HCW
Dear Christians and other goody two shoes, This is a bit of harmless fun, we are'nt going on an assassination mission or anything like that. Anyway, have any of you ever looked at any of the deathlist websites? You will see we wish no harm on anyone, only discuss their demise with a touch of humour.

Mrs Trellis, North Wales
Oh My Sweet Lord ! What a hideous and obsecene idea. I think it should be shut down immediately. I will be writing to Mrs Currie MP to see what she can do. Children could see this perverted sight. Why won't someone think about the children !

Close the Casket
As a member of DDP I can't see what the problem is. The competition inspired me to start one at my local pub and membership in it is increasing after each passing. We charge £1 per week and have now got 83 members compared with 17 in November 2003. One lucky chap won £902 early in the new year and paid off his Visa, hence xmas for free. Try telling me its sick? Nice one Cyril he sang when he walked in the pub to collect his winnings. Long live DDP.

Craig, Derby
Hilarious!! By that I'm referring to the people who find this sick. The same sort of people who complain about adverts containing a 'bit of flesh' or something close to controversial. If you don't like it then don't look at it. I'd love to know what the Home Office think of it Mr Channon, that is just asking to be ridiculed. By the way, I actually run a Dead Pool at my place of work and have 20 members who all contribute 50p per week in exchange for two random celebs. The winner then takes all. Biggest winner so far ? £673 when the delightful Thora Hird very sadly passed away. I've got George Best and Larry Hagman !!

Richard of York
Oh dear. My brother lives in France and he's doing the Dead Pool. No-one tell the gendarmes please!

Fuller
Hell, if I'm going to burn then I'm going to burn for a lot more than this! And Ken, if France is so good then you know where the Chunnel is mate!

Tony
Get a grip people. If you don't like it don't look at it. Ever heard of freedom of speech ?!? The religious nuts on this board scare me more than death itself !

weatherman90
I'm a member of both the deathlist, and derby deadpool. I see nothing wrong with predicting deaths of celebrities. Say all you want about how god doesnt like this, but it won't change a thing.

Deathlist Member
I feel the need to raise a couple of points: 1) People die. Sorry to break it to everyone like that but there didn't seem to be an easier way - apologies for the shock I must have caused. 2) The Lord did not put us on this Earth at all. Please see Darwin's Theory of Evolution, various science papers and several of Derren Brown's programmes for a fuller explanation. It's not illegal, it's not sick, it's not mandatory and I find the majority of the anti-DDP posts offensive but I don't feel the need to mount a campaign to have them removed. Maybe I'm old enough and big enough to appreciate other people might have different views without wishing to censor them. If some other people had the same approach then the world might get along just a bit better.

Ken Channon
I've had an email back from the enquiries team at the Home office and they tell me that they can do nothing about this so-called 'Dead Pool'. I am as disgusted by them as I am with Messrs "Kid" & "Baboon" and the lot of you. They wouldn't let this happen in France.

Richard Friedman
God will have no part of this. It is sinful and wrong. As a practising Baptist, I find it grossly offensive to derive pleasure in such a sick way. Mark my words, on Judgement Day both Rude Kid and Seigfried Baboon will pay a high price. Repent now and close down the site for the good of your mortal souls.

Loco
A point for "rather not say"... I'd love to know what law we're breaking by having a bit of harmless fun at someone else's expense. A "warped sense of humour" is no more illegal than being "overzealous narrowminded busybody".... As for what happens when I go, I'll be somewhere having a bloody good laugh at the poor sods trying to life the coffin with my 20+ stone in it!

Whittaker
This isn't sick. It might be a little disrecpectful - but given the excesses of celebrity culture that might not be a bad thing. Despite what the article says, no extra points are given in cases of murder. There is no money involved. The trophy isn't even awarded these days. "It's all a bit of fun". Who's the famous politician - is it you Denis? Whitaker/Statto

rather not say
you know it is illegal SO WHY DO IT WHAT ABOUT YOURSELF WHEN POP YOUR TOES UP

Nathaniel Fisher
Don’t get me wrong, I can perfectly well understand why some (many?) people find this contest distasteful. OK, simply don’t join in. But reading the overblown hyperbole in some of the comments, I’m amazed the priorities that some folk have. This is a voluntary competition, and from my discussions , very few competitors WANT to see the celebrities die. Instead they recognise our own mortality and the phoney world of celebrity hype. As regards whether the Derby Dead Pool defames Derby’s good name : remember, this is the city where a pre-teen girl was hounded to suicide. The city where Brian Clough’s death sparked commemorative editions of newspapers, knowing that this would generate large incomes for some. (Yes, newspapers profiting for someone’s death. Surely far worse that a dead pool.) The Dead Pool is not Derby’s biggest problem. Personally, I find the competition a refreshing idea. Keep up the good work guys ! (NB : If someone's bringing God into this; how many millions have died prematurely in the name of Christianity ? And you dare to moralise ?)

Someone with a healthy sense of humour
If we can raise a smile and win someone some money from our demise, then what the hell...

Mav
uh-oh, who alerted the god squad? God had a sense of humour - he created Christians

Loco
Jeez, I'm glad I'm not as uptight as Ken Channon. Illegal? I've never heard of anything so daft in all my life!

Albert Smith
Ken, it isn't illegal. hope this helps.

Ken Channon
This is NOT a harmless bit of fun. Our Lord did not put us on this earth to do this sort of thing. I have alerted the Home Office to your website because it MUST be illegal.

Jones
In reply to those people disparaging this game as contributing to today's sick society--did you not read the article? Dead pools have been going since the 16th Century! Back then it was religious people betting on when the Pope would join the choir invisible. What sick b*****ds they must have been in that sick society back then There are a lot worse things in the world and out on the 'net you need to worry about before the DDP. And in reply to R. Harwood--no matter how all powerful and all pervasive he believes the Derby council to be, I think expecting them to tackle the whole 'censorship/free speech and the global internet' thing is probably more than even they can manage at this time. Come the revolution though...

TIM HEDGES
If the people making the comments slating this site are genuine, maybe they should stop buying any newspapers that carry an obituaries page?

John Meara from Hull
As a player I only wish points could be picked up by selecting other poeple other then celebrities and then we could really have some fun. I would pick all those people who do not have a sense of humour. You know who you are!

Lived so lets die.
Hello as a team player i find the game a bit of fun, and everybody will die one day. And the team player he's talking about when talking about Witney Houston is my team.

Elizabeth Duke, Croydon
I cant wait to enter my team in the 2006 competition. :)

Not a totally and utterly disgusted person
The game is played in a light hearted way, very much a part of the British sense of humour. Compare that to the vitriolic reaction to some of the comments from its detractors here! Calm down people it’s a JOKE!

David Fisher of Spondon
Oh come on ! There's no harm in it, its not like they're making money on it (or encourage anything illegal.) I might even join in!

Gerry Bakewell, Heanor
This site should be brought to the attention of the whole nation - surely popular demand can get it shut down.

Steve J.
It seems some of your readers are too serious. People are going to die no matter if I'm playing or not. I am in 6 Death Pools, and feel no remorse for anyone's departure. If you look at the average age of most of the Picks, these people are 60 and older. As an American with a sense of humor, I am truly sad, that some of you on the other side of the pond have lost your sense of humor. Hats off to Rude Kid, Keep on Keeping on. My team is Time is NOT on our Side, if you would like to see my Roster,and I did'nt even pick Mick Jagger. Now that's funny!

57,288,974
Wow, you people are way too wound up about this! It's harmless. Have you never heard of gallows humor? And I'd bet both Rude Kid & Siegfried would have a good laugh if someone put their names in the pool (hmmm... gives me an idea for next year's derbydeadpool list).

the long awaited return of the plymouth jury
As another competitor, I'd like to say that we do not rejoice in the death of the celebrities. This is a light hearted look at life and death. I hope that when I die (yes, we all die eventually) people will celebrate the fact that I lived, not mourn the fact that I died. All the people who die during the year are given a tasteful and worthy obituary on the site. Many of us would not even know who these people were if it was not for DDP.

Mike Pryan
Lighten up. It's good harmless fun. People have been playing similar games for thousands of years. In many cases death is not tragic, it's merely the culmination of life!

RJ
If nothing else, it's one of the best sites for knowing who's alive. A very fair article, I thought & the perfect antidote to the mindless cult of celebrity found elsewhere in society!

Dave, Glasgow
The DDP is harmless fun.If you don't like the idea, don't visit the site.People die anyway - we're just making educated guesses as to who'll be first.Horses die as a result of falls when they are forced to race so that people can make a few bucks.Do the people that condemn the DDP also condemn gambling on the gee gees?

Tasker
I am always taken aback by people who are offend by these competitions. There would hardly be a person in the western world who hasn't speculated on the Pope's death in the last two weeks. Everyone must die some time. Why not celebrate the lives of those who have shaped our world. Many would have died without a whimper if someone hadn't taken the time to rediscover them for a harmless bit of fun.

Loco
As a DDP virgin this year (and organiser of my own competition) it disappoints me to think that people are seeing stiffologists (it's not a proper word, but who cares!) as saddos or sickos. Competitions like this take place all over the world and it's not like the players are wishing people dead or actively taking a part in their demise. In many ways, it's a tribute to these people that are on their last legs (or in some cases not)... because before I took part in a Dead Pool I certainly didn't pay as much attention to things as I do now. I don't know about other competitions, but I make sure that the people playing my competition take time out to pay their respects to the deceased. Lighten up guys, it's not like people are dying here... erm, well obviously there are, but they're going to go anyway. And are you telling me that the likes of Spike Milligan wouldn't have thought it funny that people were winning competitions off the back him dying? Of course not......

Simon (a player)
Get a life everyone! Black humour is what gets us through tragedy - never laughed after a funeral when the wake starts to turn into a party? Never seen someone fall over in the street and smirked? Come on, lighten up - you could die tomorrow. If you do could you make sure you're on my list!!

deathlist.net
This is an utter disgrace - havent these people got anything better to do with their sad lives?? It makes me sick to think that there's a team somewhere smugly patting themselves on the back for winning last year's competition!

A totally and utterly disgusted person
I have to say this is totally, totally, totally, totally wrong. These sick individuals contribute to the sick society that we live in today. Utterly, utterly, utterly sick. Sick and wrong. Disgusting.

Peter Trait
As a player in this competition I would like to thank the BBC for their illuminating article. I personally would be honoured if I knew someone would derive light-hearted entertainment/get a kick from my demise!

Robert Harwood from Quarndon
A friend sent me a link to this and I didn't believe it at first. These sick idiots bring disgrace on our city. Surely the council can do something to stop them using the name Derby.

John Simms, Leicester
I agree with Jean. The whole thing dfies discription. Sick.

Hirom Williams
I honestly think that it these peole are to be pitied. How can they, in a world so tainted by tragedy, take pleasure in such a sick activity. Even celebrity's have got families and I'm sur ethey would be really upset if they were to see this site. Get it taken off the web, I don't want my kids to see this.

Jean, Ockbrook
I think it rather sad than someone get their kicks out of glorying in the deaths of people who are lived and adored by millions of other people. It must say something about the sad lives of the individuals involved and the general debasement in society as a whole that such a sick games exists. How would the organisers feel about someone speculating on their deaths in this way? I'm sure they'd be absolutely horrified.