to think that 2016 has been no different to any other year for celebrity deaths....

[caroline161]

Has it been worse than any other year ? Or now in the age of social media are we just a lot more aware of what's happening? I know it's controversial but just interested in your thoughts.

There's been a disproportion of celebrities that have had a broad appeal, actively or recently working and under average life expectancy.

There was more tribute to Terry Wogan who still had his regular Sunday show, and high profile Children in Need until his fairly short illness than his retired colleagues Ed Stewart and Jimmy Young.

Some will have had their health affected by lifestyle such as Prince, but many such as Victoria Wood were not publicly known to have health issues, so an earlier than average death was a shock to the public.

Then there's the usual flow of people such as Liz Smith and Richard Adams who have lived to ripe old ages.

The list of obituaries is definitely high profile when I actually know who they are!