Herbert Molderings, a German art historian, believes that the provenance given at the time of sale was questionable: the collection, made by a Nazi businessman, was left to his widow, only to disappear from her estate after she became senile.

ECONOMIST: Auction houses

The investigator testified that after Astin died in a car wreck in 1990, he left a business card at the home of Asti's widow but "had never spoken to her, " the papers said.

WSJ: Questions linger in 1990 murder of rabbi in NYC

Mr Purdham, who left his widow Ros and sons Flynn, two, and Cameron eight, was himself a rugby league player.

BBC: Rugby star Purdham's tribute to Cumbria victim brother

His widow Erna has now given Thacker a dozen draft scripts, as well as notes left by Naughton, in order to create a new version.

BBC: Peter Kay records theatre cameo