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27/06/2005
Tributes paid to ‘Countdown’ host Richard Whiteley
Tributes have been paid to television presenter Richard Whiteley, who died yesterday, following complications arising from heart surgery he underwent last week.
The presenter of Channel 4 quiz show ‘Countdown’ was admitted to hospital last month, suffering from pneumonia. He underwent an operation on his heart last week at Leeds General Infirmary last week, but it was announced yesterday that he had died.
The 61-year-old, from Ilkley West Yorkshire, had presented every episode of ‘Countdown’ since it began in 1982 until he fell ill in May. However, he had been a successful broadcast journalist with Yorkshire Television since the late ‘60s, presenting the local news show ‘Calendar’.
‘Countdown’ made Richard Whiteley a household name. Although the show was only scheduled to run for five weeks, it became so successful that it continued its run and had a regular audience of four million.
The Queen, who presented Mr Whiteley with an OBE last year, is said to be a fan of the show.
Mr Whiteley’s ‘Countdown’ co-host Carol Vorderman described Mr Whiteley as "the best company you could ever have". She said: "I adored him and I always will."
Esther Rantzen, who was one of the show’s guest presenters, described him as “one of those people who made you smile”.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said that they were “shocked and stunned” to hear of the presenter’s death.
His partner of eleven years, former ‘Eastenders’ and ‘Emmerdale’ actress Kathyrn Apanowicz survives Mr Whiteley.
(KMcA/SP)
The presenter of Channel 4 quiz show ‘Countdown’ was admitted to hospital last month, suffering from pneumonia. He underwent an operation on his heart last week at Leeds General Infirmary last week, but it was announced yesterday that he had died.
The 61-year-old, from Ilkley West Yorkshire, had presented every episode of ‘Countdown’ since it began in 1982 until he fell ill in May. However, he had been a successful broadcast journalist with Yorkshire Television since the late ‘60s, presenting the local news show ‘Calendar’.
‘Countdown’ made Richard Whiteley a household name. Although the show was only scheduled to run for five weeks, it became so successful that it continued its run and had a regular audience of four million.
The Queen, who presented Mr Whiteley with an OBE last year, is said to be a fan of the show.
Mr Whiteley’s ‘Countdown’ co-host Carol Vorderman described Mr Whiteley as "the best company you could ever have". She said: "I adored him and I always will."
Esther Rantzen, who was one of the show’s guest presenters, described him as “one of those people who made you smile”.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said that they were “shocked and stunned” to hear of the presenter’s death.
His partner of eleven years, former ‘Eastenders’ and ‘Emmerdale’ actress Kathyrn Apanowicz survives Mr Whiteley.
(KMcA/SP)
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