Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Tributes have been flooding in for television presenter and journalist Richard Whiteley, who has died days after undergoing heart surgery. Whiteley, 61, the host of Channel 4's daytime game show Countdown for 23 years, died in Leeds General Infirmary. Whiteley, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, fell ill with pneumonia last month, but had been said to be recovering slowly. The agent for Whiteley's Countdown co-host, Carol Vorderman, said she was " absolutely devastated " by his death. Dearly loved John Miles said the pair were friends as well as colleagues who were very special to each other. It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never outstayed his welcome Esther Rantzen Obituary: Richard Whiteley " He was such a good friend whom she loved dearly - they had 23 years of making programmes together, that's about 4,000 programmes, " Mr Miles said. Channel 4 has yet to decide whether to continue broadcasting pre- recorded episodes of Countdown with Whiteley as host. A spokeswoman for the channel said they were " shocked and stunned " to hear of the death. He leaves behind a partner of 11 years, actress Kathryn Apanowicz, who featured in Eastenders during the 1980s and Emmerdale Farm in the 1990s. Incisive Before presenting Countdown, Whiteley had been a familiar face on Yorkshire Television since the late 1960s. Whiteley received an OBE last year As anchorman on the channel's Calendar programme, he was subjected to an on-screen attack by a ferret, and was broadcast in negative - with white hair and a black face. But he was also an incisive political reporter who had interviewed every prime minister since Harold Macmillan. He was the first journalist to interview then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, after the Brighton bombing in 1984. Hugely missed Esther Rantzen, who was one of several guest presenters on Countdown, described him as " one of those people who made you smile " . He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis Austin Mitchell MP She said: " It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never outstayed his welcome. " They won't be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed. " Terry Wogan, a friend of Whiteley, said he was too upset to speak fully. " I'm shocked. It's terrible news, " the BBC Radio 2 presenter said. Austin Mitchell MP, who knew Whiteley for 30 years, paid tribute to him as a man who " never put on airs and graces " . " If he fluffed and fumbled that was natural. If he told awful jokes people liked that. He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis, " he said. Last November Whiteley was honoured with an OBE from the Queen, who is said to be a Countdown fan, as was the late Queen Mother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 I recall watching an episode of the show in which he said that he had received a letter which was simply addressed to Richard Whitely, England. He was nice. Mary , " heartwerk " <heartwork@c...> wrote: > Tributes have been flooding in for television presenter and > journalist Richard Whiteley, who has died days after undergoing heart > surgery. > Whiteley, 61, the host of Channel 4's daytime game show Countdown for > 23 years, died in Leeds General Infirmary. > > Whiteley, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, fell ill with pneumonia last > month, but had been said to be recovering slowly. > > The agent for Whiteley's Countdown co-host, Carol Vorderman, said she > was " absolutely devastated " by his death. > > Dearly loved > > John Miles said the pair were friends as well as colleagues who were > very special to each other. > > It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never > outstayed his welcome > > Esther Rantzen > > > Obituary: Richard Whiteley > > " He was such a good friend whom she loved dearly - they had 23 years > of making programmes together, that's about 4,000 programmes, " Mr > Miles said. > > Channel 4 has yet to decide whether to continue broadcasting pre- > recorded episodes of Countdown with Whiteley as host. > > A spokeswoman for the channel said they were " shocked and stunned " to > hear of the death. > > He leaves behind a partner of 11 years, actress Kathryn Apanowicz, > who featured in Eastenders during the 1980s and Emmerdale Farm in the > 1990s. > > Incisive > > Before presenting Countdown, Whiteley had been a familiar face on > Yorkshire Television since the late 1960s. > > > Whiteley received an OBE last year > > As anchorman on the channel's Calendar programme, he was subjected to > an on-screen attack by a ferret, and was broadcast in negative - with > white hair and a black face. > > But he was also an incisive political reporter who had interviewed > every prime minister since Harold Macmillan. > > He was the first journalist to interview then prime minister, > Margaret Thatcher, after the Brighton bombing in 1984. > > Hugely missed > > Esther Rantzen, who was one of several guest presenters on Countdown, > described him as " one of those people who made you smile " . > > He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis > > Austin Mitchell MP > > She said: " It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he > never outstayed his welcome. > > " They won't be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed. " > > Terry Wogan, a friend of Whiteley, said he was too upset to speak > fully. > > " I'm shocked. It's terrible news, " the BBC Radio 2 presenter said. > > Austin Mitchell MP, who knew Whiteley for 30 years, paid tribute to > him as a man who " never put on airs and graces " . > > " If he fluffed and fumbled that was natural. If he told awful jokes > people liked that. He did the programme so well on a friendly, human > basis, " he said. > > Last November Whiteley was honoured with an OBE from the Queen, who > is said to be a Countdown fan, as was the late Queen Mother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 He did seem to be nice. I heard Carol Vorderman on the radio saying how nice he was, and what a happy man he seemed to be. She was obviously in tears at the time. Jo > I recall watching an episode of the show in which he said that he > had received a letter which was simply addressed to Richard Whitely, > England. He was nice. > Mary > , " heartwerk " <heartwork@c...> > wrote: > > Tributes have been flooding in for television presenter and > > journalist Richard Whiteley, who has died days after undergoing > heart > > surgery. > > Whiteley, 61, the host of Channel 4's daytime game show Countdown > for > > 23 years, died in Leeds General Infirmary. > > > > Whiteley, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, fell ill with pneumonia > last > > month, but had been said to be recovering slowly. > > > > The agent for Whiteley's Countdown co-host, Carol Vorderman, said > she > > was " absolutely devastated " by his death. > > > > Dearly loved > > > > John Miles said the pair were friends as well as colleagues who > were > > very special to each other. > > > > It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never > > outstayed his welcome > > > > Esther Rantzen > > > > > > Obituary: Richard Whiteley > > > > " He was such a good friend whom she loved dearly - they had 23 > years > > of making programmes together, that's about 4,000 programmes, " Mr > > Miles said. > > > > Channel 4 has yet to decide whether to continue broadcasting pre- > > recorded episodes of Countdown with Whiteley as host. > > > > A spokeswoman for the channel said they were " shocked and stunned " > to > > hear of the death. > > > > He leaves behind a partner of 11 years, actress Kathryn Apanowicz, > > who featured in Eastenders during the 1980s and Emmerdale Farm in > the > > 1990s. > > > > Incisive > > > > Before presenting Countdown, Whiteley had been a familiar face on > > Yorkshire Television since the late 1960s. > > > > > > Whiteley received an OBE last year > > > > As anchorman on the channel's Calendar programme, he was subjected > to > > an on-screen attack by a ferret, and was broadcast in negative - > with > > white hair and a black face. > > > > But he was also an incisive political reporter who had interviewed > > every prime minister since Harold Macmillan. > > > > He was the first journalist to interview then prime minister, > > Margaret Thatcher, after the Brighton bombing in 1984. > > > > Hugely missed > > > > Esther Rantzen, who was one of several guest presenters on > Countdown, > > described him as " one of those people who made you smile " . > > > > He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis > > > > Austin Mitchell MP > > > > She said: " It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he > > never outstayed his welcome. > > > > " They won't be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed. " > > > > Terry Wogan, a friend of Whiteley, said he was too upset to speak > > fully. > > > > " I'm shocked. It's terrible news, " the BBC Radio 2 presenter said. > > > > Austin Mitchell MP, who knew Whiteley for 30 years, paid tribute > to > > him as a man who " never put on airs and graces " . > > > > " If he fluffed and fumbled that was natural. If he told awful > jokes > > people liked that. He did the programme so well on a friendly, > human > > basis, " he said. > > > > Last November Whiteley was honoured with an OBE from the Queen, > who > > is said to be a Countdown fan, as was the late Queen Mother. > > > > > To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 Was he a vegan, or did I miss something? He did have a certain friendlyness on screen, bit like a nice uncle or somethin, shame he`s gone, very sad. The Valley Vegan......heartwerk <heartwork wrote: Tributes have been flooding in for television presenter and journalist Richard Whiteley, who has died days after undergoing heart surgery. Whiteley, 61, the host of Channel 4's daytime game show Countdown for 23 years, died in Leeds General Infirmary. Whiteley, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, fell ill with pneumonia last month, but had been said to be recovering slowly. The agent for Whiteley's Countdown co-host, Carol Vorderman, said she was "absolutely devastated" by his death. Dearly loved John Miles said the pair were friends as well as colleagues who were very special to each other. It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never outstayed his welcome Esther RantzenObituary: Richard Whiteley "He was such a good friend whom she loved dearly - they had 23 years of making programmes together, that's about 4,000 programmes," Mr Miles said. Channel 4 has yet to decide whether to continue broadcasting pre-recorded episodes of Countdown with Whiteley as host. A spokeswoman for the channel said they were "shocked and stunned" to hear of the death. He leaves behind a partner of 11 years, actress Kathryn Apanowicz, who featured in Eastenders during the 1980s and Emmerdale Farm in the 1990s. Incisive Before presenting Countdown, Whiteley had been a familiar face on Yorkshire Television since the late 1960s. Whiteley received an OBE last year As anchorman on the channel's Calendar programme, he was subjected to an on-screen attack by a ferret, and was broadcast in negative - with white hair and a black face. But he was also an incisive political reporter who had interviewed every prime minister since Harold Macmillan. He was the first journalist to interview then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, after the Brighton bombing in 1984. Hugely missed Esther Rantzen, who was one of several guest presenters on Countdown, described him as "one of those people who made you smile". He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis Austin Mitchell MP She said: "It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never outstayed his welcome. "They won't be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed." Terry Wogan, a friend of Whiteley, said he was too upset to speak fully. "I'm shocked. It's terrible news," the BBC Radio 2 presenter said. Austin Mitchell MP, who knew Whiteley for 30 years, paid tribute to him as a man who "never put on airs and graces". "If he fluffed and fumbled that was natural. If he told awful jokes people liked that. He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis," he said. Last November Whiteley was honoured with an OBE from the Queen, who is said to be a Countdown fan, as was the late Queen Mother. To send an email to - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 I don't think he was vegan or even vegetarian. We spent so many years watching Countdown, that we just felt sad when he died. Jo - peter hurd Tuesday, June 28, 2005 5:32 PM Re: Richard Whitely Was he a vegan, or did I miss something? He did have a certain friendlyness on screen, bit like a nice uncle or somethin, shame he`s gone, very sad. The Valley Vegan......heartwerk <heartwork wrote: Tributes have been flooding in for television presenter and journalist Richard Whiteley, who has died days after undergoing heart surgery. Whiteley, 61, the host of Channel 4's daytime game show Countdown for 23 years, died in Leeds General Infirmary. Whiteley, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, fell ill with pneumonia last month, but had been said to be recovering slowly. The agent for Whiteley's Countdown co-host, Carol Vorderman, said she was "absolutely devastated" by his death. Dearly loved John Miles said the pair were friends as well as colleagues who were very special to each other. It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never outstayed his welcome Esther RantzenObituary: Richard Whiteley "He was such a good friend whom she loved dearly - they had 23 years of making programmes together, that's about 4,000 programmes," Mr Miles said. Channel 4 has yet to decide whether to continue broadcasting pre-recorded episodes of Countdown with Whiteley as host. A spokeswoman for the channel said they were "shocked and stunned" to hear of the death. He leaves behind a partner of 11 years, actress Kathryn Apanowicz, who featured in Eastenders during the 1980s and Emmerdale Farm in the 1990s. Incisive Before presenting Countdown, Whiteley had been a familiar face on Yorkshire Television since the late 1960s. Whiteley received an OBE last year As anchorman on the channel's Calendar programme, he was subjected to an on-screen attack by a ferret, and was broadcast in negative - with white hair and a black face. But he was also an incisive political reporter who had interviewed every prime minister since Harold Macmillan. He was the first journalist to interview then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, after the Brighton bombing in 1984. Hugely missed Esther Rantzen, who was one of several guest presenters on Countdown, described him as "one of those people who made you smile". He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis Austin Mitchell MP She said: "It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen - he never outstayed his welcome. "They won't be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed." Terry Wogan, a friend of Whiteley, said he was too upset to speak fully. "I'm shocked. It's terrible news," the BBC Radio 2 presenter said. Austin Mitchell MP, who knew Whiteley for 30 years, paid tribute to him as a man who "never put on airs and graces". "If he fluffed and fumbled that was natural. If he told awful jokes people liked that. He did the programme so well on a friendly, human basis," he said. Last November Whiteley was honoured with an OBE from the Queen, who is said to be a Countdown fan, as was the late Queen Mother. To send an email to - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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