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THE old adage that sex sells was given a shake-up yesterday, with once-dominant lads' mag Ralph announcing July's issue would be its last.

Management blamed the shock decision on the changing tastes of younger readers, the success of rival Zoo Weekly, and increasing pressure from titles such as Top Gear and Men's Health.

Publisher ACP said 13 staff would be "affected".

Embarrassingly, the email went out to other media before staff were told.

Ralph made its debut in August 1997. Despite its axing increasing slightly in the most recent survey to 267,000, which was still just over half that of Zoo Weekly.

"Tastes continually shift among younger readers," said Phil Scott from Ralph's publisher ACP Magazines.

"The history of the monthly men's market is that the No. 1 masthead tends to change every six or seven years. The trend is evident all over the world."

The magazine's website will continue.

D-Day bagpiper dies at 88

The Scottish bagpiper who played as British forces stormed ashore in German-occupied France in 1944 has died at the age of 88.

Bill Millin, personal piper of Lord Lovat, was with British commandos as they landed on Sword Beach on D-Day.

Mr Millin began playing Hieland Laddie immediately upon jumping into the water, and continued amid the incoming gunfire as soldiers fell dead around him.

He continued to play throughout the landing, marching up and down the shoreline.

Speaking in 1995, Mr Millin said he was sure not how he managed to march up and down without being shot.

"Those days, when you're very young, you do some very foolish things," he said.

"If I had to do it now, I'd think twice. But that was my job as piper and working at the front didn't make any difference at the time."

His action was depicted in the 1962 film, The Longest Day.

Police have revealed crocodile expert Malcolm Douglas died from massive chest injuries after crashing his four-wheel-drive into a tree on his property in far north WA this morning.

Vale: Greg Giraldo

US Comedian Greg Giraldo, a judge on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, has died following an accidental overdose from prescription pills, reports say. He was 44.

He had been hospitalised since Saturday.

“Greg was one of the most talented comedians of our time,” producers said in a statement. “He was truly brilliant. His work will surely continue to influence and inspire us. We will miss our friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Giraldo was also known for regularly appearing on Comedy Central via standup specials and his role on the cabler’s series of celebrity roasts.

Giraldo was also a regular guest on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He also appeared last season on NBC’s The Marriage Ref and starred in ABC’s short-lived comedy Common Law.

Stars paid tribute to him via Twitter.

“Greg Giraldo was a great and funny man,” wrote Jimmy Kimmel.

“RIP Greg Giraldo. Belly-laugh hilarious, prolific, good & kind. A thousand oys can’t express,” tweeted comedienne Silverman.

“Honor to be roasted by one of the best- RIP greg giraldo – i was a huge fan,” John Stamos tweeted.

“Greg Giraldo was a fantastic gentleman with a great heart ! And i am deeply saddened by this news!” David Hasselhoff wrote.

“The tragic news of Greg’s passing hits us very, very hard,” Comedy Central said in a statement. “Greg has been a close member of the Comedy Central family for years, injecting his energy and wicked sense of humor into countless projects. The comedy community lost a brother today. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Screen legend Tony Curtis dies

Hollywood legend Tony Curtis, whose career spanned more than 60 years, has died at the age of 85.

The dashing star - who will forever be remembered for his role in drag in the 1959 Billy Wilder comedy Some Like It Hot - suffered a heart attack.

Sir Roger Moore led tributes to him, telling a news channel: "He was a fine actor. I shall miss him."

Sir Roger starred alongside Curtis in TV hit The Persuaders. He played aristocrat Brett Sinclair in the series while Curtis was playboy Danny Wilde.

The former James Bond star said: "We had a lot of laughs together for about 15 months, working together every day. He was great fun to work with, a great sense of humour and wonderful ad libs. We had the best of times."

Sir Michael Parkinson, who interviewed the star - the father of actress Jamie Lee Curtis - several times, said his performance in Some Like It Hot would live forever.

He said: "He was a very, very fine actor. Some Like It Hot is one of the greatest comedies of all time. The man who made it, Billy Wilder, did not suffer fools so for Tony Curtis to work with him and make that film shows just how good he was.

"He was an extraordinary man. Hollywood tried to make him into a sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s but he was his own man. He was a great chatshow guest and was wonderfully indiscreet but he was very bright and did not take himself too seriously."

The actor's business manager and family spokesman Preston Ahearn told US TV network ABC News that Curtis passed away on Wednesday night peacefully in bed next to his wife Jill in their home in Nevada. Clark County coroner Mike Murphy said the actor suffered a heart attack.

Curtis, who had heart surgery in 1994, began his acting career as a 1950s heartthrob but became a respected actor in films such as The Defiant Ones. His portrayal of a racist escaped convict handcuffed to a black escapee, Sidney Poitier, in the film brought him an Oscar nomination in 1958.

Norman Wisdom dies at the age of 95

Comic actor Sir Norman Wisdom has died aged 95, his son has confirmed.

The London-born star was known for his slapstick film roles in the 1950s and 1960s, famously playing Norman Pitkin against frustrated boss Mr Grimsdale.

Sir Norman became a cult figure in Albania, where his were the only films from the West allowed in the country.

His family said he died at a nursing home on the Isle of Man on Monday evening, having suffered a series of strokes over the past six months.

A statement said: "Sir Norman Wisdom has today passed away at Abbotswood Nursing Home on the Isle of Man.

"Over the last six months Norman has sustained a series of strokes causing a general decline in both his physical and mental health.

"He had maintained a degree of independence until a few days ago. However, over the last few days his condition rapidly declined. He was in no pain or distress and peacefully passed over at 1846 on 4 October."

The family asked for time to grieve a "much loved father and grandfather".

Sir Norman, who was knighted in 2000, was renowned for a string of comic roles and Charlie Chaplin described him as his favourite clown.

His later work included the recurring role of Billy Ingleton in the long-running BBC comedy Last of the Summer Wine.

Sir Norman's agent, Johnny Mans, said he was "the greatest".

"His comic timing was absolutely perfect, second to none, and not only a great comic, but also a wonderful, wonderful person."

Phil Day, who had been his publicist since 1969, said Sir Norman was a "lovely man" who was "100% professional".

He said: "He never turned down any request. He never threw a tantrum. He was 100% professional all of the time.

"Of all the artists I've ever worked with, he's been the closest. It's a sad day."

The broadcaster Nicholas Parsons, who was a friend, said Sir Norman would be sorely missed.

"Let's remember all the wonderful things he did to entertain people. And that's the greatest gift in the world, to help take people out of themselves and make them laugh," he said.