Oxford News
Jeremy Clarkson addresses ‘most divisive issue of all time’
The Location, Location, Location star said she “stumbled across the most divisive issue of all time” when she blasted the use of the word “passing” instead of “death”.
Ms Allsopp criticised Bafta for its statement about the actress Dame Penelope Keith, whose death at the age of 86 was announced on Monday.
After news of Dame Penelope’s death was shared by her family, Bafta paid tribute to The Good Life star with a post on social media, reading: “We’re saddened to learn of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith, aged 86.
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“A familiar face on stage and screen, Keith won a Bafta for her iconic role in The Good Life in 1977 and another for her work in The Norman Conquests and Saving It For Albie in 1978, with a further three Bafta nominations during her career.”
Ms Allsopp replied to the post: “It’s ‘death’; Dame Penelope died; she was an absolute national treasure; she lived & worked and was brilliant, and then she died.
“Dame Penelope did not ‘pass’; she was not a car or a bottle of ketchup.”
Ms Allsopp’s comment sparked a heated online debate over the appropriate language to use when talking about death.
Responding to the furore, she wrote on X: “It seems I’ve stumbled across the most divisive issue of all time.
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“Those who loathe the use of passed or passing in reference to death & those who prefer it.
“I’m in the loathe camp, I think it attempts to sweep away the profound significance of death, but it’s quite the debate.”
In a further post, Allsopp asked: “When did we move from saying ‘sad to hear of the death of….’ to ‘sad to hear of the passing of’?
“Is there any way to stop this? We are already bad enough at discussing death in the UK.”
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Her feelings were echoed by former Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson, who replied: “I loathe ‘passing’. Loathe it.”
Announcing the news of Dame Penelope’s death, a statement on behalf of her family said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years.
“The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments and asks that their privacy be respected at this time.”
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Ms Allsopp pointed out that this language was not reflected by Bafta, writing: “When a family announces that someone they love has died, it is not up to Bafta or anyone else to alter that to passing.”
She added it was “an expression loathed by both Margo & Audrey,” referring to her characters in sitcoms The Good Life and To The Manor Born.
Ms Allsopp also described it as “a quasi-religious euphemism which sweeps aside the profound nature of death”.
However, other followers on Twitter pointed out that reactions to grief may vary. One wrote: “It’s not up to you to dictate the language people use in grief.”
The North Star in Steventon near Abingdon closed in September for renovation work and reopened earlier this month.
Manager Kerry Tyrell welcomed customers from the village and surrounding area at a busy reopening celebration.
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The Campaign for Real Ale White Horse branch shared the pub’s Facebook post, which said: “A huge thank you to everyone who came along to The North Star tonight for our opening evening.
“I’m overwhelmed with the outstanding support from you all and what amazing community Spirit. I am so pleased you all had a lovely evening and the weather was kind to us.
“A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me out recently and to all the wonderful local tradesmen to get the pub looking fabulous.”
The Campaign for Real Ale Oxford branch has researched the history of the pub.
It said: “Despite appearing in the news for being partially demolished on New Year’s Day in 2003 and being closed during restoration, the North Star remains one of Oxfordshire’s finest pubs.
“Standing on The Causeway, it is one of a series of 17th century half-timbered houses and buildings, fully deserving its Grade II-listed status.
“It has been in the hands of the same family over a long period of time. The North Star has barely a bar as such, merely a servery from the beer store to the tiny low-ceilinged public and lounge bars, the former with impressive high-backed seating surrounding the fireplace.
“Another room not served by the bar is also available, as are benches in the connecting corridor. Now reopened after renovations.”
The pub in Stocks Lane has a four out of five rating on reviews site Tripadvisor.
One recent visitor posted; “The North Star is a genuine, brilliant pub.
“For centuries it has offered excellent beers, wines, good company, and sincere customer service in an amazing setting. It is on a national walking trail and on an ancient, cobbled causeway.”
There are also two pubs in Steventon High Street – The Cherry Tree and The Fox Inn.
In 2003, The North Star’s owner at the time, a local farmer, drove a JCB into the side of the pub after bar staff refused to serve him early on New Year’s Day because they were closing.
About 15 customers still drinking in the Grade II-listed pub were forced to flee as the ceiling and walls collapsed. No-one was hurt but several suffered shock.
The man was taken to hospital with potentially serious injuries after crashing into the River Thames near Marlow on Sunday evening.
Emergency services were called to Temple Lock, Harleyford Lane, at about 8.50pm on June 29 after reports that a paraglider had entered the water following an “apparent loss of control”.
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed crews from High Wycombe, Maidenhead and Marlow, along with the Beaconsfield Water Rescue Team and supporting officers.
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A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Specialist water rescue technicians entered the water and used a boat, throw lines, grappling equipment and a short extension ladder to bring the casualty safely to the bank.
“The casualty was conscious and breathing and was left in the care of South Central Ambulance Service.”
Firefighters worked alongside South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police, Thames Valley Air Ambulance and other partner agencies before handing the casualty into the care of paramedics.
South Central Ambulance Service said it sent two ambulance crews, two rapid response vehicles and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance critical care response vehicle to the scene.
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The male paraglider was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with potentially serious but not life-threatening injuries.
A second person was also taken to Wexham Park Hospital after suffering exposure to fuel vapours.
Ambulance service incident notes suggest there was a significant fuel leak from the paraglider into the water.
A spokesperson for the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “Once the male paraglider had been rescued from the water, he was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with potentially serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
“A second patient was taken to Wexham Hospital suffering from exposure to fuel vapours – our incident notes suggest there was a significant fuel leak from the paraglider into the water.”
Thames Valley Police said officers were called to assist fire and ambulance crews at around 9pm following reports that a paraglider had entered the water.
A police spokesperson said: “We were called to assist the fire and ambulance services at Temple Lock, Marlow, at around 9pm yesterday following reports that a paraglider had entered the water.
“A man was located and taken to hospital with injuries.”
The incident has since been handed over to Thames Valley Police.
The Scottish actor played the tenth iteration of the iconic Time Lord from 2005 until 2010, taking over from predecessor Christopher Eccleston.
Mr Tennant starred in three full series alongside Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate, respectively, before having a run of specials in his final year.
The 55-year-old has gone on to return to Doctor Who on two occasions, firstly for the show’s 50th anniversary in 2013, starring alongside his successor, Matt Smith.
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He then came back a decade later alongside Ms Tate in 2023 for the sci-fi programme’s 60th anniversary, playing the 14th iteration of the character.
Mr Tennant worked with Alex Kingston in his third full season, as she made her first appearance as the Doctor’s wife, River Song, in 2008.
She spoke about the experience during a recent chat with this newspaper ahead of the OUH Staff Recognition Awards 2026, earlier this month.
When asked whether she knew she was going to be in the role for a long time at that point, the actress said: “I didn’t know, but I think that the announcement had either just happened or it was about to happen while we were filming.
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“People knew that was going to be David’s last season, so there was just an element, it wasn’t melancholy, but there was just an energy that I was aware that somehow something had shifted.
“I don’t think he ever wanted to stop playing the Doctor, as he loved it so much.
“It wasn’t that he didn’t welcome me because he absolutely did, but I think it was him starting to already disengage with the character.
“I’m not even sure whether he knew he was doing that consciously or not, but there was just something there.
“Whereas with Matt, he was about to start, and was looking for that support to help him step into David’s very huge shoes, enormous feet!”
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