Due to persistent vandalism, account creation has been suspended. If you would like an account, please contact Charlie Reams on Apterous.

Difference between revisions of "Richard Whiteley"

From Countdown
m
Line 8: Line 8:
 
Richard started his television career as a newsreader, and from 1982 to 1995 performed both as the ''Countdown'' host and as a ''{{w|Calendar (News)}}'' newsreader on Yorkshire TV, earning him the nickname "Twice-nightly Whiteley". In 1982, he hosted the short-lived ''Calendar'' spin-off ''[[Calendar Countdown]]'', which in turn led to ''Countdown'' itself on Channel 4. He gave up newsreading in 1995.  In 1997, he appeared as a contestant in a Christmas special against co-presenter [[Carol Vorderman]]. Due to his links with ''Countdown'', he appeared on ''Star Spell'' in 2005, a programme that tested celebrities on spelling, which he won.  
 
Richard started his television career as a newsreader, and from 1982 to 1995 performed both as the ''Countdown'' host and as a ''{{w|Calendar (News)}}'' newsreader on Yorkshire TV, earning him the nickname "Twice-nightly Whiteley". In 1982, he hosted the short-lived ''Calendar'' spin-off ''[[Calendar Countdown]]'', which in turn led to ''Countdown'' itself on Channel 4. He gave up newsreading in 1995.  In 1997, he appeared as a contestant in a Christmas special against co-presenter [[Carol Vorderman]]. Due to his links with ''Countdown'', he appeared on ''Star Spell'' in 2005, a programme that tested celebrities on spelling, which he won.  
  
In May 2005, Richard was taken ill with septicaemia, and died in hospital on 26 June after an unsuccessful heart operation.  Five more episodes, forming the final games of [[Series 53]], had been filmed before his death. ''Countdown'' was not broadcast on the day after his death, but the rest of the episodes were shown later that week. His [[Episode 3959|last episode]] saw [[John Mayhew]] become series champion.
+
In May 2005, Richard was taken ill with septicaemia, and died in hospital on 26 June after an unsuccessful heart operation.  Five more episodes, forming the final games of [[Series 53]], had been filmed before his death. ''Countdown'' was not broadcast on the day after his death, but the rest of the episodes were shown later that week. His [[Episode 3959|last episode]] saw [[John Mayhew]] become series champion. His death resulted in the show taking a four month hiatus with [[Des Lynam]] taking over, starting his run at the beginning of [Series 54]] in October 2005.
  
 
A TV documentary on his life, ''Richard Whiteley: Television Man'' was released in 2003. He also wrote the book ''Letters Play!  A Treasury of Words and Wordplay'' in 1995 (republished in 2000 as ''A Treasury of Words & Wordplay''), and an autobiography, ''Himoff!: Memoirs of a TV Matinée Idle'', and was posthumously the subject of a biography, ''Richard by Kathryn'', by his partner [[Kathryn Apanowicz]].  On 1 July 2005, the programme [[Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley]] was shown on Channel 4.
 
A TV documentary on his life, ''Richard Whiteley: Television Man'' was released in 2003. He also wrote the book ''Letters Play!  A Treasury of Words and Wordplay'' in 1995 (republished in 2000 as ''A Treasury of Words & Wordplay''), and an autobiography, ''Himoff!: Memoirs of a TV Matinée Idle'', and was posthumously the subject of a biography, ''Richard by Kathryn'', by his partner [[Kathryn Apanowicz]].  On 1 July 2005, the programme [[Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley]] was shown on Channel 4.

Revision as of 22:27, 10 February 2016

For the Series 65 contestant, see Richard White.
Host
First appearance 2 November 1982
Last appearance 1 July 2005
Appearances 4,107
Episodes with Richard Whiteley
The late Richard "Twice Nightly" Whiteley.
Letters Play!  A Treasury of Words and Wordplay (1995)
A Treasury of Words and Wordplay (2000)

John Richard Whiteley, known on television as Richard Whiteley (28 December 1943 - 26 June 2005) was the presenter of Countdown from its inception in 1982 until his death in 2005. He was the first face on Channel 4 and, with over 10,000 television appearances, he accumulated more broadcast hours than anyone else in the history in British television. He became an OBE in 2004.

Richard started his television career as a newsreader, and from 1982 to 1995 performed both as the Countdown host and as a Calendar (News) newsreader on Yorkshire TV, earning him the nickname "Twice-nightly Whiteley". In 1982, he hosted the short-lived Calendar spin-off Calendar Countdown, which in turn led to Countdown itself on Channel 4. He gave up newsreading in 1995. In 1997, he appeared as a contestant in a Christmas special against co-presenter Carol Vorderman. Due to his links with Countdown, he appeared on Star Spell in 2005, a programme that tested celebrities on spelling, which he won.

In May 2005, Richard was taken ill with septicaemia, and died in hospital on 26 June after an unsuccessful heart operation. Five more episodes, forming the final games of Series 53, had been filmed before his death. Countdown was not broadcast on the day after his death, but the rest of the episodes were shown later that week. His last episode saw John Mayhew become series champion. His death resulted in the show taking a four month hiatus with Des Lynam taking over, starting his run at the beginning of [Series 54]] in October 2005.

A TV documentary on his life, Richard Whiteley: Television Man was released in 2003. He also wrote the book Letters Play! A Treasury of Words and Wordplay in 1995 (republished in 2000 as A Treasury of Words & Wordplay), and an autobiography, Himoff!: Memoirs of a TV Matinée Idle, and was posthumously the subject of a biography, Richard by Kathryn, by his partner Kathryn Apanowicz. On 1 July 2005, the programme Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley was shown on Channel 4.

Mayor of Wetwang

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, Richard claimed to be the mayor of Wetwang, an honorary town in Yorkshire that has no mayor. He borrowed chains of a local mayor, but after his encounter on 10 April 2000, whereupon he was saying goodbye to Les Noble, "...and may I say congratulations to your brother-in-law, who is mayor of Sunderland. I know how it feels.", he mentioned less of the term.

Richard was succeeded as Countdown host by Des Lynam.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
CS1997 25/12/1997 X Richard Whiteley 30 – 43 Carol King William G Stewart Susie Dent Magnus Magnusson Mark Nyman 59

See also