Richard Whiteley - Revision history

The Doctor at 18:53, 13 June 2025

2025-06-13T18:53:09Z

JohnnyCanuck: not really sure how this would be confused, it's a totally different surname

2023-07-08T15:59:05Z

not really sure how this would be confused, it's a totally different surname

JohnnyCanuck at 02:58, 22 February 2023

2023-02-22T02:58:31Z

TobyMcDonald at 17:39, 29 January 2023

2023-01-29T17:39:38Z

The Doctor: /* Countdown */

2023-01-05T05:10:17Z

‎Countdown

TobyMcDonald at 13:33, 25 July 2022

2022-07-25T13:33:24Z

Show changes

TobyMcDonald at 14:46, 21 September 2021

2021-09-21T14:46:07Z

TobyMcDonald at 12:58, 14 September 2021

2021-09-14T12:58:58Z

Launchballer: /* Early life and education */ https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8035255.tv-celebrity-in-tribute-to-his-biggest-critic/

2021-09-10T22:45:15Z

‎Early life and education: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8035255.tv-celebrity-in-tribute-to-his-biggest-critic/

The Doctor: /* Personal life and death */ copyedit from my edit to Series 53 the other day

2021-08-20T01:35:58Z

‎Personal life and death: copyedit from my edit to Series 53 the other day

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 A TV documentary on his life, ''Richard Whiteley: Television Man'' was released in 2003, and rereleased with some minor changes in 2005. On 1 July 2005, the programme ''[[Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley]]'' was shown on [[Channel 4]].
-Archive clips featuring Whiteley are occasionally reused on ''Countdown'', most recently in June 2021, with a clip from [[Episode 549]] of him introducing [[Anne Robinson]].
+Archive clips featuring Whiteley are occasionally reused on ''Countdown'', most recently in [[Episode 7886|November 2022]], with a clip from [[Episode 3644]] of Vorderman presenting him with a Valentine's Day present.
 ==Personal life and death==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:59, 8 July 2023
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	{{Host\|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg\|debut_episode=Episode CCP1\|debut_date=''unreleased'' (filmed 1981)\|latest_episode=Episode 3959\|latest_date=1 July 2005}}		{{Host\|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg\|debut_episode=Episode CCP1\|debut_date=''unreleased'' (filmed 1981)\|latest_episode=Episode 3959\|latest_date=1 July 2005}}
−	~~{{For\|\|the [[contestant]] in [[Series 65]]\|[[Richard White]]}}~~

	'''John Richard Whiteley''' OBE, known as '''Richard Whiteley''' (28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from [[Episode 1\|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 began his career as a newsreader, before beginning to present ''Countdown'' in 1982 and leaving newsreading in 1995. Born during the Second World War to a mill owner, he would attend {{w\|Giggleswick School}} between 1957 and 1962, before a career in television began after graduating from University in 1965.		'''John Richard Whiteley''' OBE, known as '''Richard Whiteley''' (28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from [[Episode 1\|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 began his career as a newsreader, before beginning to present ''Countdown'' in 1982 and leaving newsreading in 1995. Born during the Second World War to a mill owner, he would attend {{w\|Giggleswick School}} between 1957 and 1962, before a career in television began after graduating from University in 1965.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:58, 22 February 2023
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−	{{Host\|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg\|debut_episode=Episode CCP1\|debut_date=''unreleased''\|latest_episode=Episode 3959\|latest_date=1 July 2005}}	+	{{Host\|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg\|debut_episode=Episode CCP1\|debut_date=''unreleased'' (filmed 1981)\|latest_episode=Episode 3959\|latest_date=1 July 2005}}
	{{For\|\|the [[contestant]] in [[Series 65]]\|[[Richard White]]}}		{{For\|\|the [[contestant]] in [[Series 65]]\|[[Richard White]]}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 29 January 2023
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−	~~:''For the [[Series 65]] [[contestant]], see [[Richard White]].''~~
	{{Host\|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg\|debut_episode=Episode CCP1\|debut_date=''unreleased''\|latest_episode=Episode 3959\|latest_date=1 July 2005}}		{{Host\|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg\|debut_episode=Episode CCP1\|debut_date=''unreleased''\|latest_episode=Episode 3959\|latest_date=1 July 2005}}
		+	{{For\|\|the [[contestant]] in [[Series 65]]\|[[Richard White]]}}
		+
	'''John Richard Whiteley''' OBE, known as '''Richard Whiteley''' (28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from [[Episode 1\|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 began his career as a newsreader, before beginning to present ''Countdown'' in 1982 and leaving newsreading in 1995. Born during the Second World War to a mill owner, he would attend {{w\|Giggleswick School}} between 1957 and 1962, before a career in television began after graduating from University in 1965.		'''John Richard Whiteley''' OBE, known as '''Richard Whiteley''' (28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from [[Episode 1\|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 began his career as a newsreader, before beginning to present ''Countdown'' in 1982 and leaving newsreading in 1995. Born during the Second World War to a mill owner, he would attend {{w\|Giggleswick School}} between 1957 and 1962, before a career in television began after graduating from University in 1965.

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 Whiteley was also known for garish outfits and brightly-coloured jackets and ties. One clothing-related incident fondly remembered by Vorderman on ''{{w|Kate Garraway's Life Stories|Piers Morgan's Life Stories}}'' occurred during the [[Episode 3152|grand final]] of [[Series 46]], whereupon Whiteley had been sent in a tie by a viewer with the word "{{word|C O U N T D O W N}}" on it, and, having decided to wear it for the Christmas Day final, the "{{word|D O W N}}" had disappeared underneath the desk whilst his microphone had covered the first "{{word|O}}", thus leaving a certain four-letter word.
-His habit of appearing on out-take shows continued when on ''Countdown'', with notable incidents including glossing over the word {{word|[[Episode 1073|WANKERS]]}}, and noting that he did not want to appear on such shows with [[Kate Ogilvie]]'s memorable declaration of {{word|[[Episode 2417|ERECTION]]}}.
+His habit of appearing on out-take shows continued when on ''Countdown'', with notable incidents including glossing over the word {{word|[[Episode 1073|WANKERS]]}}, and noting that he did not want to appear on such shows with [[Kate Ogilvie]]'s memorable declaration of {{word|[[Episode 2417|ERECTION]]}}. Known for his dreadful puns, many of whom were scripted by [[Rick Vanes]], he would usually try to incorporate a pun into the contestants' introductions; [[Chris Philpot]] even got to read his own one out.
 He appeared in every single edition of ''Countdown'' prior to his death, and all but one of these was as the [[presenter|host]] (the only one he didn't host was the [[Episode CS1997|1997 Christmas special]], where he was a [[contestant]]). In addition to 3,959 regular episodes of ''Countdown'', he presented all the [[special episode]]s up to his death (except for the 1997 Christmas special), all the ''Calendar Countdown'' shows, all the ''[[Countdown Masters]]'' programmes, and eight ''[[Celebrity Countdown]]'' games, thus totalling over 4,000 appearances, currently third only to [[Susie Dent]] and Vorderman.

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 In the summer of 1982, Whiteley was asked to present another Calendar spin-off programme, having already done many spin-off shows for Calendar, called ''[[Calendar Countdown]]''. After two pilots and a laborious eight episodes, the show was commissioned for the new [[Channel 4]] and would also have the unusual distinction of being the very first programme to be broadcast. Initially featuring a cast of several others, by [[Series 18]] the cast was whittled down to just Whiteley and [[Carol Vorderman]] and the show was given a relaunch with a new set, new titles, and new [[clock music]], which, after some minor tweaks in 1991, would prove to be very successful as the programme became one of the most popular shows of the 1990s. His rapport with Vorderman was considered a major factor in the popularity of the show. One week of ''Countdown'' in the mid-1990s occupied the top five most-watched shows for Channel 4 for that week.
-Whiteley was also known for garish outfits and brightly-coloured jackets and ties. One clothing-related incident fondly remembered by Vorderman on ''{{w|Piers Morgan's Life Stories}}'' occurred during the [[Episode 3152|grand final]] of [[Series 46]], whereupon Whiteley had been sent in a tie by a viewer with the letters "{{word|C O U N T D O W N}}" on it, and, having decided to wear it for the Christmas Day final, the "{{word|D O W N}}" had disappeared underneath the desk whilst Whiteley's microphone had covered the {{word|O}}, thus leaving a different kind of four-letter word.
+Whiteley was also known for garish outfits and brightly-coloured jackets and ties. One clothing-related incident fondly remembered by Vorderman on ''{{w|Piers Morgan's Life Stories}}'' occurred during the [[Episode 3152|grand final]] of [[Series 46]], whereupon Whiteley had been sent in a tie by a viewer with the word "{{word|C O U N T D O W N}}" on it, and, having decided to wear it for the Christmas Day final, the "{{word|D O W N}}" had disappeared underneath the desk whilst his microphone had covered the first "{{word|O}}", thus leaving a certain four-letter word.
 His habit of appearing on out-take shows continued when on ''Countdown'', with notable incidents including glossing over the word {{word|[[Episode 1073|WANKERS]]}}, and noting that he did not want to appear on such shows with [[Kate Ogilvie]]'s memorable declaration of {{word|[[Episode 2417|ERECTION]]}}.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 :''For the [[Series 65]] [[contestant]], see [[Richard White]].''
 {{Host|image=Richardwhiteley.jpg|debut_episode=Episode 1|debut_date=2 November 1982|latest_episode=Episode 3959|latest_date=1 July 2005|appearances={{PAGESINCATEGORY:Episodes presented by Richard Whiteley}}}}
-'''John Richard Whiteley''' OBE, known as '''Richard Whiteley''' (28 December 1943 - 26 June 2005) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from [[Episode 1|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 began his career as a newsreader, before beginning to present ''[[Countdown]]'' in 1982 and leaving newsreading in 1995. Born during the Second World War to a mill owner, he would attend Giggleswick School between 1957 and 1962, before a career in television began after graduating from University in 1965.
+'''John Richard Whiteley''' OBE, known as '''Richard Whiteley''' (28 December 1943 - 26 June 2005) was the [[presenter]] of ''[[Countdown]]'' from [[Episode 1|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 began his career as a newsreader, before beginning to present ''Countdown'' in 1982 and leaving newsreading in 1995. Born during the Second World War to a mill owner, he would attend {{w|Giggleswick School}} between 1957 and 1962, before a career in television began after graduating from University in 1965.
-As a newsreader, he had several major incidents that gained him national attention, but his most famous role was as the host of ''Countdown'', hosting over 4,000 programmes (including specials, Masters, and Celebrity editions) and only missing one episode as host prior to his death, and that was when he played as a [[contestant]]. Whiteley died in 2005 and was succeeded by [[Des Lynam]] at the start of [[Series 54]].
+As a newsreader, he had several major incidents that gained him national attention, but his most famous role was as the host of ''Countdown'', hosting over 4,000 programmes (including [[special episode|specials]], [[Countdown Masters|Masters]], and [[Celebrity Countdown|Celebrity]] editions) and only missing one episode as host prior to his death, and that was when he played as a [[contestant]]. Whiteley died in 2005 and was succeeded by [[Des Lynam]] at the start of [[Series 54]].
 ==Early life and education==
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 At the age of 13, Whiteley won a scholarship to Giggleswick School in Yorkshire in January 1957, his father having attended the school in the 1920s. Though not the most athletic student, claiming that he never touched the ball during an entire term's worth of rugby matches (36), he would often win prizes at the school's speech day and was an impassioned public speaker and debater. Whiteley's love affair with television was such that during sermons at school he would envisage the positioning of cameras for an outside broadcast should one ever occur from the Giggleswick chapel - an eventuality that eventually did happen, although Whiteley claims his advice on camera positioning was rejected. He was taught by [[Russell Harty]] and later acted in comedy sketches with him, before later inviting Harty on to ''[[Countdown]]''. After leaving school and going to university, Whiteley later became a governor of the school, and upon his death Giggleswick built a theatre, costing £1.3m, which opened in late 2010. [[Gyles Brandreth]] described Giggleswick as being the single most important factor in Whiteley's life.
-Whiteley read English at Christ's College, Cambridge, between 1962 and 1965.
+Whiteley read English at {{w|Christ's College, Cambridge}}, between 1962 and 1965.
 ==Television Career==
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 Whiteley's interest in television began when he saw a BBC van on the top of Baildon Moor on the way back from primary school on a Saturday. Whiteley himself described it as a "defining moment" in a 2003 documentary in his life.
-Whiteley spent three years at ITN before moving to YTV. Whiteley was initially offered £2,500 per year: this was much higher than Whiteley's expectations of around £1,850, and thus stunned him into silence. With his employer thinking that his silence was a rejection, Whiteley was then offered £2,600, which Whiteley accepted, joining in 1968. As a ''{{w|Calendar (News)|Calendar}}'' newsreader on YTV, Whiteley very rarely missed an edition, and although not one of the most well-known journalists in the country, had three major incidents which gained him national attention, the first of which was being bitten by a ferret in 1977, often repeated on out-take programmes.
+Whiteley spent three years at ITN before moving to YTV. Whiteley was initially offered £2,500 per year: this was much higher than Whiteley's expectations of around £1,850, and thus stunned him into silence. With his employer thinking that his silence was a rejection, Whiteley was then offered £2,600, which Whiteley accepted, joining in 1968. As a ''{{w|Calendar (British TV programme)|Calendar}}'' newsreader on YTV, Whiteley very rarely missed an edition, and although not one of the most well-known journalists in the country, had three major incidents which gained him national attention, the first of which was being bitten by a ferret in 1977, often repeated on out-take programmes.
-He interviewed every Prime Minister between Harold Wilson and Tony Blair (the incumbent at the time of Whiteley's death), as well as Alec Douglas-Home after his election defeat, and his interview with Margaret Thatcher angered Thatcher's Conservative Party colleagues after he noted during the interview that her husband Denis was a divorcee, although Thatcher herself was not deeply offended. It was another incident involving Thatcher that gained him further national attention in October 1984, when the {{w|IRA}} attempted to assassinate Thatcher in Brighton and Whiteley, covering the Conservative Party Conference Thatcher was attending, was still awake at the time of the incident and was in the foyer of the hotel at the time of the blast. He was thus was the first person Thatcher spoke to after the bomb. Whiteley described it as the biggest story he was ever involved in.
+He interviewed every Prime Minister between Harold Wilson and Tony Blair (the incumbent at the time of Whiteley's death), as well as Alec Douglas-Home after his election defeat, and his interview with Margaret Thatcher angered Thatcher's Conservative Party colleagues after he noted during the interview that her husband Denis was a divorcee, although Thatcher herself was not deeply offended. It was another incident involving Thatcher that gained him further national attention in October 1984, when the {{w|Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA}} attempted to assassinate Thatcher in Brighton and Whiteley, covering the Conservative Party Conference Thatcher was attending, was still awake at the time of the incident and was in the foyer of the hotel at the time of the blast. He was thus was the first person Thatcher spoke to after the bomb. Whiteley described it as the biggest story he was ever involved in.
-In 1993, he achieved his third and final major news scoop when he broadcasted live from the site of {{w|Holbeck Hall}}, which was collapsing into the sea, and the dramatic moment of a chimney collapsing occurred whilst Whiteley was live on camera in Scarborough. Whiteley left ''Calendar'' in 1995, thus ending 13 years of moonlighting on ''[[Countdown]]'' and ''Calendar'' which earned him the nickname "twice nightly Whiteley". Whiteley claimed that a more accurate version of the innuendo would be "once yearly, nearly", and [[Kathryn Apanowicz]] described "twice nightly Whiteley" as an accurate comment on Whiteley's bladder.
+In 1993, he achieved his third and final major news scoop when he broadcasted live from the site of {{w|Holbeck Hall Hotel}}, which was collapsing into the sea, and the dramatic moment of a chimney collapsing occurred whilst Whiteley was live on camera in Scarborough. Whiteley left ''Calendar'' in 1995, thus ending 13 years of moonlighting on ''[[Countdown]]'' and ''Calendar'' which earned him the nickname "twice nightly Whiteley". Whiteley claimed that a more accurate version of the innuendo would be "once yearly, nearly", and [[Kathryn Apanowicz]] described "twice nightly Whiteley" as an accurate comment on Whiteley's bladder.
 ===Countdown===
-In the summer of 1982, Whiteley was asked to present another Calendar spin-off programme, having already done many spin-off shows for Calendar, called ''[[Calendar Countdown]]''. After two pilots and a laborious eight episodes, the show was commissioned for the new [[Channel 4]] and would also have the unusual distinction of being the very first programme to be broadcast. Initially featuring a cast of several others, by [[Series 18]] the cast was whittled down to just Whiteley and [[Carol Vorderman]] and the show was given a relaunch with a new set, new titles, and new [[clock music]], which, after some minor tweaks in 1991, would prove to be very successful as the programme became one of the most popular shows of the 1990s. His rapport with Vorderman was considered a major factor in the popularity of the show. One week of Countdown in the mid-1990s occupied the top five most-watched shows for Channel 4 for that week.
+In the summer of 1982, Whiteley was asked to present another Calendar spin-off programme, having already done many spin-off shows for Calendar, called ''[[Calendar Countdown]]''. After two pilots and a laborious eight episodes, the show was commissioned for the new [[Channel 4]] and would also have the unusual distinction of being the very first programme to be broadcast. Initially featuring a cast of several others, by [[Series 18]] the cast was whittled down to just Whiteley and [[Carol Vorderman]] and the show was given a relaunch with a new set, new titles, and new [[clock music]], which, after some minor tweaks in 1991, would prove to be very successful as the programme became one of the most popular shows of the 1990s. His rapport with Vorderman was considered a major factor in the popularity of the show. One week of ''Countdown'' in the mid-1990s occupied the top five most-watched shows for Channel 4 for that week.
-Whiteley was also known for garish outfits and brightly-coloured jackets and ties. One clothing-related incident fondly remembered by Vorderman on ''Piers Morgan's Life Stories'' occurred during the [[Episode 3152|grand final]] of [[Series 46]], whereupon Whiteley had been sent in a tie by a viewer with the letters "{{word|C O U N T D O W N}}" on it, and, having decided to wear it for the Christmas Day final, the "{{word|D O W N}}" had disappeared underneath the desk whilst Whiteley's microphone had covered the {{word|O}}, thus leaving a different kind of four-letter word.
+Whiteley was also known for garish outfits and brightly-coloured jackets and ties. One clothing-related incident fondly remembered by Vorderman on ''{{w|Piers Morgan's Life Stories}}'' occurred during the [[Episode 3152|grand final]] of [[Series 46]], whereupon Whiteley had been sent in a tie by a viewer with the letters "{{word|C O U N T D O W N}}" on it, and, having decided to wear it for the Christmas Day final, the "{{word|D O W N}}" had disappeared underneath the desk whilst Whiteley's microphone had covered the {{word|O}}, thus leaving a different kind of four-letter word.
 His habit of appearing on out-take shows continued when on ''Countdown'', with notable incidents including glossing over the word {{word|[[Episode 1073|WANKERS]]}}, and noting that he did not want to appear on such shows with [[Kate Ogilvie]]'s memorable declaration of {{word|[[Episode 2417|ERECTION]]}}.
-He appeared in every single edition of Countdown prior to his death, and all but one of these was as the host (the only one he didn't host was the [[Episode CS1997|Christmas special]], where he was a contestant). In addition to 3,959 regular episodes of Countdown, he presented all the Calendar Countdown shows, all the Countdown Masters programmes, and all the special episodes, thus totalling over 4,000 appearances, currently third only to [[Susie Dent]] and Vorderman.
+He appeared in every single edition of ''Countdown'' prior to his death, and all but one of these was as the host (the only one he didn't host was the [[Episode CS1997|Christmas special]], where he was a contestant). In addition to 3,959 regular episodes of ''Countdown'', he presented all the ''Calendar Countdown'' shows, all the ''Countdown Masters'' programmes, and all the special episodes, thus totalling over 4,000 appearances, currently third only to [[Susie Dent]] and Vorderman.
 ===Other appearances===
-Due to his links with ''Countdown'', he appeared on ''Star Spell'' in 2005, a programme that tested celebrities on spelling, which he won. He also presented the {{w|ITV Telethon}} for the Yorkshire region in 1988, and two chat shows in the late 1990s, the latter of which he was not informed about his guests beforehand. He also made guest appearances on ''Celebrity Fifteen to One'', ''Top Gear'', ''Have I Got News For You'', and ''The Big Breakfast''. Archive clips of Whiteley have been reused in several feature films, such as ''{{w|About a Boy (film)|About a Boy}}'' in 2002 (showing a clip of [[Episode 2971]]) and, posthumously, ''{{w|Pride (2014 film)|Pride}}'' in 2014.
+Due to his links with ''Countdown'', he appeared on ''{{w|Star Spell}}'' in 2005, a programme that tested celebrities on spelling, which he won. He also presented the ''{{w|ITV Telethon}}'' for the Yorkshire region in 1988, and two chat shows in the late 1990s, the latter of which he was not informed about his guests beforehand. He also made guest appearances on ''{{w|Celebrity Fifteen to One}}'', ''{{w|Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear}}'', ''{{w|Have I Got News for You}}'', and ''{{w|The Big Breakfast}}''. Archive clips of Whiteley have been reused in several feature films, such as ''{{w|About a Boy (film)|About a Boy}}'' in 2002 (showing a clip of [[Episode 2971]]) and, posthumously, ''{{w|Pride (2014 film)|Pride}}'' in 2014.
-A TV documentary on his life, ''Richard Whiteley: Television Man'' was released in 2003, and re-released with some minor changes in 2005. 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, and rereleased with some minor changes in 2005. On 1 July 2005, the programme ''[[Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley]]'' was shown on Channel 4.
 Archive clips featuring Whiteley are occasionally reused on ''Countdown'', most recently in June 2021, with a clip from [[Episode 549]] of him introducing [[Anne Robinson]].

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Early life and education==
-Richard Whiteley was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, on 28 December 1943, to his father, Thomas Whiteley, and his mother, Maragret Whiteley. At an early age, he lived in Number 23, Ferncliffe Drive, in Baildon. In the early 1950s, he would do paper rounds in the local area, before the family moved to a house in the next street that the young Whiteley was already very keen on on account of its pond in the front garden. Whiteley would live at this house for many years and his parents lived in the house until the early 1990s, thus ensuring that until Whiteley managed to find a place of his own he would stay there into the early 1970s. His father, Thomas, was a businessman, who owned Thomas Whiteley & Co., a mill. The mill ran through three generations of the Whiteley family before being closed in 1963.
+Richard Whiteley was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, on 28 December 1943, to his father, Thomas Whiteley, and his mother, Margaret Whiteley. At an early age, he lived in Number 23, Ferncliffe Drive, in Baildon. In the early 1950s, he would do paper rounds in the local area, before the family moved to a house in the next street that the young Whiteley was already very keen on on account of its pond in the front garden. Whiteley would live at this house for many years and his parents lived in the house until the early 1990s, thus ensuring that until Whiteley managed to find a place of his own he would stay there into the early 1970s. His father, Thomas, was a businessman, who owned Thomas Whiteley & Co., a mill. The mill ran through three generations of the Whiteley family before being closed in 1963.
 At the age of 13, Whiteley won a scholarship to Giggleswick School in Yorkshire in January 1957, his father having attended the school in the 1920s. Though not the most athletic student, claiming that he never touched the ball during an entire term's worth of rugby matches (36), he would often win prizes at the school's speech day and was an impassioned public speaker and debater. Whiteley's love affair with television was such that during sermons at school he would envisage the positioning of cameras for an outside broadcast should one ever occur from the Giggleswick chapel - an eventuality that eventually did happen, although Whiteley claims his advice on camera positioning was rejected. He was taught by [[Russell Harty]] and later acted in comedy sketches with him, before later inviting Harty on to ''[[Countdown]]''. After leaving school and going to university, Whiteley later became a governor of the school, and upon his death Giggleswick built a theatre, costing £1.3m, which opened in late 2010. [[Gyles Brandreth]] described Giggleswick as being the single most important factor in Whiteley's life.

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2004, with some speculating that he took the opportunity to ask the Queen whether or not she watched ''Countdown'', as was rumoured.
-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. At the time of his death, it was thought that he had accumulated more hours than anyone on British television (other than the BBC test card), with over 10,000 hours of broadcasting, more than 2,000 of which were on ''Countdown'' alone.
+In May 2005, Richard was taken ill with septicaemia, and died in hospital on 26 June after an unsuccessful heart operation. The [[Countdown transmission times|scheduling]] for the finals week was changed at short notice following Whiteley's death. No edition was shown on 27 June, with the third and fourth quarter finals pushed back by a day. The two semi finals were then double-billed on 30 June, before [[Channel 4]] cleared its afternoon schedule on 1 July, to show ''Richard Whiteley: Television Man'' at 2:30pm, followed by [[Episode 3959|the grand final]] at 3:15pm, and ''[[Mr Countdown: A Tribute to Richard Whiteley]]'' at 4:00pm. At the time of his death, it was thought that he had accumulated more hours than anyone on British television (other than the BBC test card), with over 10,000 hours of broadcasting, more than 2,000 of which were on ''Countdown'' alone.
 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.