2026 deaths in the United Kingdom

Further information: Category:2026 deaths

Main articles: 2026 in the United Kingdom and Deaths in 2026

The following notable deaths of British people occurred in 2026. Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order. A typical entry reports information in the following sequence:

• Name, age, citizenship at birth, nationality (in addition to British), or/and home nation, what subject was noted for, birth year, cause of death (if known), and reference.

January

• 1 January
  • Arnold Long, 85, British cricketer (Sussex, MCC, Surrey). ^[1]
  • Gregory de Polnay, 82, English actor ( Dixon of Dock Green , Doctor Who , Howards' Way ). ^[2]
• 2 January
  • Ian Balding, 87, British horse trainer. ^[3]
  • Jenny Collins, 83, broadcaster and producer (BBC Radio Merseyside). ^[4] (death announced on this date)
  • Sir Patrick Duffy, 105, British politician, MP (1963–1966, 1970–1992) and president of the NATO Assembly (1988–1990). ^[5]
  • Tim Robertson, 81, English-born Australian actor ( Chances , Australia You're Standing In It , Stingers ). ^[6] (death announced on this date)
• 3 January
  • Gerry Gable, 88, British political activist and magazine editor ( Searchlight ). ^[7]
  • Terry Wharton, 83, English footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace). ^[8]
• 4 January – Alan Baker, 81, English footballer (Aston Villa). ^[9] (death announced on this date)
• 5 January
  • Andrew Bodnar, 71, English bass guitarist (The Rumour) and songwriter ("I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"). ^[10] (death announced on this date)
  • Andrew Carter, 86, English classical choral composer and pedagogue ^[11]
  • Colin McDonald, 95, English footballer (Burnley, Headington United, national team). ^[12] (death announced on this date)
  • Molly Parkin, 93, Welsh painter, novelist and journalist. ^[13]
  • Ken Wilcock , 91, British sprinter. ^[14] (death announced on this date)
  • Mike Wilson , 66, British kart racer, six-time Karting World Champion. ^[15]
• 7 January
  • Martin Chivers, 80, English footballer (Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, national team). ^[16]
  • Tony Field, 79, English footballer (Blackburn Rovers, Southport, Memphis Rogues). ^[17]
• 8 January –
  • Howard Riley, 87, English footballer (Leicester City, Walsall, Barrow). ^[18]
  • Terry Yorath, 75, Welsh football player (Leeds United, national team) and manager (national team). ^[19]
• 9 January – Tina Packer, 87, British actress ( David Copperfield , Doctor Who ) and stage director, co-founder of Shakespeare & Company. ^[20]
• 10 January – Derek Martin, 92, British actor ( Law & Order , Eldorado , EastEnders ). ^[21]
• 11 January
  • Andrew Clements, 75, English classical music critic ^[22]
  • Robert Hopkins, 64, English footballer (Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town). ^[23]
  • Trevor A. Toussaint, 65, British actor ( Hollyoaks ). ^[24]
  • John Wallace, 76, Scottish trumpeter, composer and arts educator. ^[25]
• 12 January
  • Sheila Bernette, 94, English singer ( The Good Old Days , The Black and White Minstrel Show ) and actress ( The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins ). ^[26]
  • Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, 26, British guitarist (Black Midi). ^[27] (death announced on this date)
  • Eddie McCreadie, 85, Scottish football player (Chelsea, national team) and manager (Chelsea). ^[28]
• 13 January
  • David Collier, 70, English sports administrator, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (2004–2014). ^[29]
  • David Webb, 60, British-born Hong Kong activist investor, prostate cancer. ^[30]
• 15 January – Kenny Morris, 68, English drummer (Siouxsie and the Banshees). ^[31] (death announced on this date)
• 16 January – Mickey Brady, 75, Northern Irish politician, MLA (2007–2015) and MP (2015–2024). ^[32]
• 18 January
  • David Young, 80, English footballer (Charlton Athletic, Southend United, Newcastle United). ^[33]
  • David Thomas, 83, British crown jeweller, complications from Alzheimer's disease. ^[34]
• 20 January – Tommy Wright, 81, English footballer (Everton, national team). ^[35] (death announced on this date)
• 21 January
  • Stephen Baxter, 56–57, British medieval historian. ^[36] (death announced on this date)
  • Ian Macowat, 60, English footballer (Crewe Alexandra, Northwich Victoria, Gillingham). ^[37] (death announced on this date)
  • Peter Squires, 74, English cricketer (Yorkshire) and rugby union player (British & Irish Lions). ^[38]
• 24 January – David Abulafia, 76, British historian ( The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean ). ^[39]
• 25 January – Sir Mark Tully, 90, British journalist and writer. ^[40]
• 26 January – Danny Coughlan, British singer and guitarist. ^[41]
• 27 January
  • David Andrews, 90, British actor and director. ^[42] (death announced on this date)
  • Joan Hall, 90, British politician, MP (1970–1974). ^[43]
  • Nigel Ogden, 71, British theatre organist and radio presenter ( The Organist Entertains ). ^[44]
• 29 January
  • Peter Lee, 80, English cricketer (Northamptonshire, Lancashire). ^[45] (death announced on this date)
  • Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, 71, Scottish politician, acting first minister (2000, 2001) and deputy first minister (1999–2005), complications from surgery. ^[46]
• 30 January – David Triesman, Baron Triesman, 82, British politician and trade union leader, member of the House of Lords (since 2004). ^[47]

February

• 1 February – Tony Pigott, 67, English cricketer (Sussex, Surrey, national team), heart attack. ^[48]
• 3 February – Allan Massie, 87, British journalist and author ( Augustus , Tiberius , Caesar ). ^[49]
• 4 February – John Virgo, 79, English snooker player, ruptured aorta. ^[50]

References

1. Sofroniou, Adam (3 January 2026). "Arnold Long (1940-2026) - Obituary". kiaoval.com. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
2. "Avis de décès de Gregory, Peter DE POLNAY né DE POLNAY paru le vendredi, janvier 02, 2026". www.simplifia.fr. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
3. Carr, David (2 January 2026). "Clare Balding pays tribute to 'one of a kind' father Ian Balding after death of Mill Reef's trainer aged 87". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
4. Bird, Daniel; Mutch, James (2 January 2026). "BBC Radio Merseyside founding member dies as tributes paid". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
5. "Sir Patrick Duffy, Britain's oldest living former MP, passes away at the age of 105". The Irish Post. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
6. "Vale: Tim Robertson". TV Tonight. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
7. "Gerry Gable (1937-2026)". Searchlight Magazine. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
8. "Terry Wharton: 1942-2026". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
9. Cox, Lewis (4 January 2026). "Walsall confirm death of former Saddlers and Aston Villa creative favourite Alan Baker". Express and Star. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
10. Henk, Kremer (5 January 2026). "Bassist Andrew Bodnar (o.a. Graham Parker & The Rumour) overleden". hitzound.com. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
11. "Andrew Carter dead at 86". The Diapason. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
12. "Burnley pay tribute to their former great and England goalkeeper Colin McDonald". Burnley Express. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
13. "Molly Parkin, fashion editor whose real-life adventures were as outlandish as her raunchiest novels". 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026– via The Telegraph.
14. "Tribute to Sutton Harriers great Ken Wilcock, who has died aged 91". St Helens Star. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
15. "Mike Wilson (1959-2026): 6-Time Karting World Champion dies". Kartcom. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
16. "Obituary | Martin Chivers". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
17. Kozlowski, Hannah (7 January 2026). "Former Memphis Rogues soccer star Tony Field dies at 79". actionnews5.com. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
18. "Howard Riley: 1938–2026". Leicester City FC. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
19. Mason, Peter (8 January 2026). "Terry Yorath obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
20. "Shakespeare & Company co-founder Tina Packer dies at 87". timesunion.com. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
21. Fatima, Zahra (11 January 2026). "EastEnders actor Derek Martin dies aged 92". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
22. Martin Kettle and Imogen Tilden (11 January 2026). "Andrew Clements, Guardian's classical music critic, dies aged 75". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
23. "Football clubs pay tribute to 'cult hero' Hopkins". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
24. Chilton, Louis (11 January 2026). "'Enigmatic' Hollyoaks star Trevor A Toussaint dies at age 65". The Independent. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
25. "Obituary: John Wallace, 1949-2026" (Press release). London Symphony Orchestra. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
26. Holt, James; Feric, Carla (12 January 2026). "Good Old Days and Coronation Street star dies aged 94". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
27. Monroe, Jazz (12 January 2026). "Black Midi Co-Founder Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin Dies at 26". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
28. "Eddie McCreadie – 1940-2026". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
29. "Former ECB chief executive David Collier dies aged 70". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
30. "Hong Kong corporate governance activist David Webb dies at 60". South China Morning Post. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
31. Murray, Robin (15 January 2026). "Siouxsie And the Banshees Drummer Kenny Morris Has Died". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
32. O'Hare, Columba (16 January 2026). "Former Newry and Armagh MP Mickey Brady Dies". https://www.newry.ie . Retrieved 17 January 2026.{{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
33. "Obituary: David Young". safc.com. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
34. "David Thomas obituary: crown jeweller at heart of royal pomp". The Times. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
35. "RIP Tommy Wright – one of Everton's finest". Everton FC. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
36. "In memoriam: Prof Stephen Baxter (1969-2026)". St Peter's College Oxford. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
37. "Ian Macowat (1965-2026) – 1984 FA Youth Cup Winner Remembered". Everton FC Heritage Society. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
38. Wilmer, Josh (22 January 2026). "Peter Squires 1951-2026". Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
39. "David Abulafia (1949-2026)". Gonville & Caius. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
40. "Legendary Journalist Mark Tully Passes Away". The Kashmir Monitor. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
41. "Muere el músico Danny Coughlan, alias Crybaby". muzikalia.com. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
42. Andrews, Laurie (27 January 2026). "David Andrews obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
43. "Joan Hall, redoubtable Right-wing Yorkshire MP who campaigned vigorously for Margaret Thatcher". The Telegraph. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
44. "In Memoriam – Nigel Ogden". www.organfax.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
45. "Peter Lee: Ex-Lancashire and Northamptonshire bowler dies aged 80". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
46. "Former deputy first minister Jim Wallace dies of complications after surgery". The Scotsman. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
47. "Labour peer and former FA chairman Lord Triesman dies aged 82". Eastern Daily Press. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
48. "Remembering Tony Pigott: 1958-2026". sussexcricket.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
49. "Acclaimed novelist Allan Massie dies aged 87". BBC News. BBC. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
50. "John Virgo dies aged 79". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.