Actor Sam Neill, best known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders, has died at the age of 78.

Neill was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, in March 2022. After the diagnosis left him unable to work, he turned to writing, the project gave him a reason to get through each day.

Reflecting on his illness, Neill said it had prompted him to “take stock of things” and reconsider what mattered most in life.

In 2022, he accepted a knighthood from New Zealand after previously declining the honour when titular honours were reintroduced in 2009. Speaking to ABC in 2023, Neill explained that he had changed his mind after believing he might not survive his illness.

“I said I didn’t want the title for 10 or 12 years,” he said. “Then when I thought I was dying a couple of years ago, I thought, ‘Oh bugger it, I may as well go out with the title.’”

Following the investiture ceremony, Neill said he was “greatly honoured” and thanked then-Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro for the recognition.

Tributes have poured in from leaders in Australia and New Zealand. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Neill “starred in so many beloved Australian stories” and had earned “a special place in Australian hearts.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Neill as “one of the greats,” praising his role in helping establish New Zealand’s film industry on the world stage.

“He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of,” Luxon said. “For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today – one of our greatest cultural exports.”

Born in Northern Ireland, Neill moved to New Zealand as a child and later lived on a farm and winery in the Central Otago region.

During his cancer treatment, Neill wrote his memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, which chronicled his life, career and diagnosis. He insisted it was not “a cancer book,” saying, “The last thing I want is for people to obsess about the cancer thing. I’m not really interested in cancer. I’m not really interested in anything other than living.”

In April this year, Neill announced that he was cancer-free.

Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh rock singer whose powerful voice made “Total Eclipse of the Heart” one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s, has died at the age of 75.

Tyler’s final performance took place at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 19 March, which she described on her official Facebook page as a “fantastic night.”

She had been scheduled to perform in Cardiff on 21 March, but the concert was postponed until December.

Following her hospitalisation, a spokesperson announced that dates on her planned summer tour had been cancelled or postponed, while expressing hope that some performances could still go ahead later in the year.

Born Gaynor Hopkins, Tyler grew up on a council estate in Skewen near Neath.

One of seven children, she was raised in a modest four-bedroom family home, with her grandparents living across the road.

Despite humble beginnings, Tyler often spoke about her childhood dreams and determination to succeed.

In a 2019 interview with The Times, she recalled family outings to the Gower Peninsula.

“When I was a kid, my best friend’s family had a car—my parents couldn’t afford one—and they’d take us out for a drive at the weekend,” she said.

“We’d head to the Gower, singing songs at the top of our voices. On the way back, we’d always pass a lovely old house. I used to say, ‘I’d love to own that place.’”

She later fulfilled that dream, purchasing a nearby home overlooking the bay in 1988.

“It will always be special to me,” she said.

Tributes have poured in following news of her death, including from Keir Starmer.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister is indeed saddened to hear about the death of Bonnie Tyler, one of Britain’s greatest recording artists.”

The spokesperson added: “The prime minister’s thoughts are very much with her friends and family.”

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Bonnie Tyler became one of Wales’ most internationally successful performers. Her distinctive raspy voice, chart-topping hits—including “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, “Holding Out for a Hero”, and “It’s a Heartache”—and enduring popularity earned her a lasting place among the most celebrated artists in British pop and rock music.

Actress Dame Penelope Keith, celebrated for her unforgettable performances in the classic 1970s British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, has died at the age of 86.

In a statement released on Monday, her family announced that she “died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey.”

They 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 ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Dame Penelope earned widespread admiration for portraying the formidable yet lovable suburban neighbour Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life. She also captivated audiences as the widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born, two performances that cemented her place among Britain’s most cherished television stars.

Tributes have poured in from colleagues and admirers following news of her passing. Her longtime friend and The Good Life co-star Felicity Kendal described Dame Penelope as “a comic genius” whose talent and warmth left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know and work alongside her.

Expressing her sorrow, Kendal said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope’s death.”

Dame Penelope Keith’s distinguished career spanned decades, and her remarkable performances, wit, and commanding screen presence made her one of Britain’s most respected actresses. Her work continues to entertain audiences across generations, ensuring her legacy will endure through the timeless television classics she helped create.