16 celebrities we have loved and lost already in 2016

1) Denise Robertson

The Sunderland rose lost her battle with pancreatic cancer last month at the age of 83. She had graced our televisions for many years as This Morning's Agony Aunt, and her funeral at Sunderland Minster just over a week ago saw a host of celebrities in attendance, including her This Morning co-stars Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

2) Prince

The popular musician was found dead yesterday, aged 57, at his Minnesota studio, leading to an outpouring of grief. US President Barack Obama called him "one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time".

3) David Gest

The US producer recently became a reality TV regular during his later years, appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and more-recently, Celebrity Big Brother. He had links with Michael Jackson after growing up with the popstar and his brothers, and produced Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Solo Years in 2001, the highest-rated musical TV special in history. He was found dead in a London hotel room earlier this month.

4) Ronnie Corbett

One half of the famous Two Ronnies, Corbett's long association with Ronnie Barker produced one of the most popular TV programmes on the BBC, always ending with the two saying: "It's goodnight from me ... and it's goodnight from him." Aged 85, Corbett passed away after having been diagnosed with a suspected form of motor neurone disease.

5) Victoria Wood

The woman who led the way for female comedians on today's stage, Wood's comedy Dinner Ladies was one of many award-winning TV series. In 1997, she was made an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and was then made a CBE in 2008. She died on Wednesday, aged 62 after a short battle with cancer.

A tweet on her own account read: “We are devastated to confirm that our very special Victoria has sadly lost her short battle with cancer. Thank you for your support & love.”

6) Paul Daniels

Born in Middlesbrough in 1938, Daniels died aged 77 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was a performer with a magic touch who entertained TV audiences for decades. His magic show soon became a household name on the BBC and his catchphrase, "You'll like this... not a lot, but you'll like it" summed up his self-deprecating humour perfectly.

7) Sir Terry Wogan

The voice of Eurovision and Children in Need, Wogan had a 50-year career on radio and television, including presenting Wake up to Wogan on Radio 2. He was knighted in 2005, and helped raise more than £400million for Children in Need over more than 20 years. He passed away in January this year at the age of 77 after a short battle with cancer.

8) Ali Brownlee

Born within shouting distance of Ayresome Park, the 'Voice of the Boro' was an ever-present when it came to Middlesbrough Football Club. He passed away three months after being diagnosed with cancer, and leaves a huge hole in the BBC Radio Tees ranks. Boro chairman Steve Gibson said he had lost "a true friend."

9) David Bowie

The iconic artist died aged 69 on January 10. Tributes flew in from around the world following his death. His various personas were celebrated first by his wife Iman in a series of Instagram posts in the days leading up to his death and then by music critics and fans, with Aladdin Sane lightning bolts cropping up on faces across the world.

10) Tony Warren

The "father" of Coronation Street, Warren created the popular soap on the cobbles and devised the idea at the age of 24, bringing a gritty drama based in the fictional district of Weatherfield. Little did he know the popularity of the programme, he went on to write articles for the soap until the late 70s. He died on March 2, aged 79 after a short illness.

11) Alan Rickman

One of the most-loved British actors of the last 30 years, Rickman was most famous for playing Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. He kept his cancer diagnosis very private until weeks before he passed away after losing his battle aged 69 on January 14.

12) Frank Kelly

Best known for his role as Father Jack in Father Ted, Kelly passed away on February 28, aged 77. Having received the all-clear from bowel cancer in 2011, he was treated for skin cancer last year and also had heart problems. But none of that stopped him from working, just like when he said he would continue to work despite revealing last November that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

13) Glenn Frey

The Eagles guitarist died aged 67 on January 18 after complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia. Part of one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, Frey co-founded the Eagles in 1971 with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, notching up more than 150million album sales worldwide.

14) Johan Cruyff

The man who created one of the most iconic turns in world football, Cruyff made his name at Ajax and Barcelona, and was European footballer of the year on three occasions. He won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax from 1971, coached Barcelona to their first European Cup triumph in 1992 and helped the Dutch reach the 1974 World Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to West Germany. He lost his battle with cancer aged 68 on March 24.

15) Harper Lee

Widely known as the author behind To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee died aged 89 on February 19, just weeks after the publication of the book's prequel, Go Set A Watchman. Her original publication is still taught in schools today, particularly as part of GCSE English.

16) Sir George Martin

The 'fifth Beatle' died aged 90 on March 8. The news was broken by Ringo Starr, who led the tributes, saying Sir George "will be missed". Sir George signed The Beatles and produced more than 700 records, also working with Gerry and the Pacemakers, Dame Shirley Bassey and Cilla Black.