We don’t always get a say on the timing of our departure

Tragic though it was, Tommy Cooper probably had the death that all stars secretly dream of – to die on live television in the middle of his act.

The comedian was just 63 when he suffered a massive heart attack, and when he collapsed the crowd thought it was just part of the shtick routine he’d been famous for.

But in the manner of his departure, he literally left them laughing to the very end.

Who knows if the fez-wearing comic would ever have retired of his own volition, because in truth he’d been hanging on for years – dropping further down the pecking order as his lifestyle came to hugely impact on his ability to deliver.

But ultimately, God, or nature, took the decision away from him and he exited as he might have chosen to – to a final round of laughter and applause.

Joe Biden believes that only God can derail his efforts to stand again for the Presidency of the United States – although he might yet find that there are a handful of leading Democrats that actually have more authority on this one than the Almighty.

On one hand, you’d have to admire Biden, determined to see off the challenge of Donald Trump – to see good triumph over bad, a decent man bettering a convicted criminal – but you also have to wonder why he’d bother.

He’s had his time in the sun, and at 81 he’d be well within his rights to enjoy his autumn years. He could dine out on his time as POTUS, do lecture tours or a Netflix series or write his biography if he still wanted to court the limelight – but he doesn’t need this shadow of confusion to cast a cloud over a second term.

All of the media coverage should be about Donald Trump – is he fit to hold high office; why are his court actions delayed; how can a man who has committed so many offences even think about contesting the Presidency?