There’s nothing like a nice bit of death on a Sunday evening. Radio 4 originally transmit their obituary programme Last Word on Friday afternoons, but I love listening to the repeat. Sunday at 8.30 p.m. is the perfect time — the ending of people’s lives at the ending of the week. The stresses of Monday morning are beginning to appear on your mental horizon, so Last Word is a handy reminder that none of it matters. Triumphs and tragedies come and go, but in the end we all check out.
This week provided the usual smorgasbord of mortality. Everyone from Irene Shubik, the TV producer behind Rumpole of the Bailey, to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Presenter Matthew Bannister ignored Donald Trump’s curious ‘he died like a dog’ (delivered at the same time as praising the dog that chased the IS leader to his death — are dogs heroes or not?). Instead we got some fascinating details, though sadly no explanation of Baghdadi’s bizarre beard-colouring, grey near the face, orange at the end. (Perhaps he gave up smoking a few months ago?) I was astonished to learn that Baghdadi was only 48. Encouraged, too: this is exactly my own age. I might not be Brad Pitt, but even on a bad day I don’t look 20 years older than I am.
Shubik sounded an interesting cove. Bannister slipped in the obit-euphemism that she had ‘a reputation for being a challenging character’. A friend recalled addressing a letter to ‘Irene Shubik, Institute of Advanced Paranoid Studies…’ I bet she was good value down the pub.
The Rugby World Cup final provided yet more proof of the old adage about watching sport at home: turn down the sound on the telly, listen to the commentary on the radio.
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