Steve Bell

[Gangster Octopus]

In Monday's If... the penguin says that he's been given six weeks to live. Does this mean owt?

[Benjm]

It was announced last year that they are not going to renew Bell's contract when it runs out some time this year. Maybe the time is approaching.

[Capybara]

For some time he had been in talks with editor-in-chief Katharine Viner about reducing his workload, and "Sadly this probably spells the end for the ‘If…’ strip after 39 and a half years, which I enjoy doing immensely, but is a hell of a lot of work for an old codger like me, particularly in full colour. I do hope to continue after next April doing large editorial cartoons."

[Gangster Octopus]

And If... sinks off into the sunset. I'll miss the penguins. Glad to see that Kipling got a run out...

[Felicity, I guess so]

I bought it yesterday, not knowing it was the last one. Then Philosophy Football offered me the whole last week's strips as a Ltd edition print on email, so the end really hit home. 250 notes, if interested.

[delicatemoth]

And If... sinks off into the sunset. I'll miss the penguins. Glad to see that Kipling got a run out...

It was good in the 80s, wasn't it. I liked John The Monkey too. Steve Bell went to the same school as my dad, a few years younger.