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  • MONDAY JUNE 27 2005 1:24 AM

RIP Richard Whiteley

Submitted by SomeOneUK

Edited by SomeOneUK

Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley died yesterday after a short period of illness. Whiteley had presented the Channel 4 show on UK TV for the last 23 years, the gameshow was the first program to be aired on Channel 4 when it launched in 1982.

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.

Before the gameshow Whiteley was a well respected news reporter, covering several key events:

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.

Summing up what people liked about Richard Whiteley, and how he will be remembered, Austin Mitchell MP said:

"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"

 

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Comments
Ollie

Ollie

United Kingdom
November 2004

JUN 27, 2005 01:54 AM

I'm really upset by this. I loved Countdown. frown

JohnnyForeigner

JohnnyForeigner

United Kingdom
July 2003

JUN 27, 2005 02:36 AM

RIP Twice Nightly frown

The_Reverend

The_Reverend

United Kingdom
September 2004

JUN 27, 2005 02:49 AM

Countdown was a very cool programme, for lots of reasons.
It's a shame... no more silly ties *sigh*...

fpkk

fpkk

United Kingdom
June 2003

JUN 27, 2005 04:59 AM

The world is a sadder place...

myiaa

myiaa

United Kingdom
January 2005

JUN 27, 2005 05:18 AM

frown for some reason, this is really hard to believe, even though I know it's true.

soapdodger

soapdodger

United Kingdom
November 2003

JUN 27, 2005 05:26 AM

Can't imagine countdown with anyone else in the chair. Will they go on?

ASipOfMercury

ASipOfMercury

United Kingdom
March 2005

JUN 27, 2005 05:28 AM

frown

pg1456

pg1456

United Kingdom
May 2003

JUN 27, 2005 05:56 AM

frown

Carpe_Diem

Carpe_Diem

I'm lost
April 2004

JUN 27, 2005 05:59 AM

so sad, i didnt realise he was that old. I didnt even know he had been ill!!!

RIP frown

mycroft

mycroft

United Kingdom
January 2005

JUN 27, 2005 06:28 AM

RIP frown

Anarchie

Anarchie

SUICIDEGIRL

Vatican City

JUN 27, 2005 07:01 AM

I'll always love you Richard! frown RIP

lock

lock

United Kingdom
December 2003

JUN 27, 2005 07:42 AM

who the hell is going to do countdown now?

mat8drb

mat8drb

United Kingdom
October 2004

JUN 27, 2005 01:14 PM

frown We treasured your signed numbers board at Leeds University's Maths Dept. You shall be missed.

Malon

Malon

United Kingdom
June 2005

JUN 27, 2005 01:18 PM

So so sad. was it me or was he a bit like an uncle? slightly eccentric, a bit embarrassing, but totally adored by everyone. frown No more clashing ties or cheesy jokes...

Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg

I'm lost
July 2004

JUN 27, 2005 01:23 PM

all i know about richard whiteley is that he's the slowest celebrity ever to post a lap time on 'top gear'. shame about his passing, though

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