We also said goodbye to…
Alan Rickman, 14 Jan
From Shakespeare to Harry Potter, he played villains and romantic leads with languid ease. ‘He was the ultimate ally,’ said Emma Thompson.
Victoria Wood, 20 April
The ground-breaking comedian brought us Acorn Antiques,
Dinnerladies and strict instructions on what to do with a
Woman’s Weekly. The only good thing about her death from cancer was that we got to indulge in her perfectly observed comedy all over again.
Prince, 21 April
The Grammy Awardwinning media-shunning showman sold more than 100 million records during a 30-year career. His sudden death left fans united in grief that we may never see talentta on Prince’s scale ag again.
Caroline Aherne, 2 July
She relentlessly skewered her celebrity guests as Mrs Merton and reduced us to tears of laughter and sadness as Denise in The Royle Family. A secretary turned national treasure, Aherne died following a secret struggle with lung cancer.
Gene Wilder, 29 August
The theatre and big screen comedy star’s big-hearted performances meant that when Wilder passed away – aged 83, as a result of Alzheimer’s – it felt as if Willy Wonka himself had died.