Quote:
Friends and colleagues of Countdown host Richard Whiteley have been speaking of their shock and devastation at his sudden death.
The 61-year-old, who had undergone major heart surgery three days ago, died in hospital last night from pneumonia.
His Countdown co-presenter Carol Vorderman, who presented the hit quiz with him for 23 years, is said to be "absolutely devastated" by his death.
Her agent, John Miles, said: "Carol is having great difficulty in coming to terms with what has happened."
Mr Whiteley had presented Countdown since the quiz was the first aired on Channel 4 when the station was launched in 1982.
He never missed an episode in 23 years until he fell ill with pneumonia in May this year.
Today's episode has been postponed as a mark of respect.
Channel 4 had been broadcasting pre-recorded episodes of the teatime quiz show featuring Whiteley.
Kevin Lygo, Channel 4's director of television, said: "We still have a few episodes of Countdown presented by Richard that have not yet been aired, but we will be postponing today's scheduled transmission of the programme as a mark of respect.
"Subject to his family's wishes, we hope to broadcast these remaining episodes with a tribute to Richard as soon as we feel it appropriate.
"We're confident that's what Richard would have wanted."
Whiteley's journalistic side was less well-known, but he had a background in news and presented the regional news bulletin in the ITV Yorkshire region for many years.
His first job after university was with the ITN news organisation, and he interviewed every Prime Minister since Harold Macmillan.
He was also on the scene to report when the IRA, targetting the Tory party conference, bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984.
Mr Whiteley was immortalised as a presenter after his anguished reaction when a ferret bit his finger on live TV - a moment since shown on many out-take programmes.
He said he feared that would be what he would be remembered for, and this morning's Yorkshire Post has 'Ferret man dies' as the headline on its fond obituary.
Mr Whiteley leaves behind his partner of 11 years, Kathryn Apanowicz, who shot to fame on EastEnders in the 1980s.
Ms Apanowicz, who was at his hospital bedside when he died, released a brief statement.
She said: "Thank you to the thousands of people who have sent in messages of support saying how much they will miss him.
"I will miss him desperately."
His bosses at Channel 4 expressed their sympathy: "We are shocked and stunned to hear of Richard's death."
And names such as Gyles Brandreth, Esther Rantzen, Jennie Bond, Emma Forbes and Ann Widdecombe appeared in Dictionary Corner.
Paying tribute to Whiteley, Rantzen said: "He was just one of those people who made you smile. It was always a pleasure to meet him.
"He was genuinely self-deprecating. His autobiography was characteristically charming in that way. Although he was a very, very bright man, he wore his considerable brain in a very English, unassuming, modest way.
"They won't be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed."
Brandreth said Whiteley was a "highly intelligent person, a mixture of the sophisticated and the relaxed. He liked the fact that The Queen watched the programme and he was very proud to be honoured with an OBE."
I find this deeply saddening. He presented one of the few TV programmes that I like to watch. May he rest in peace.
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That's just... Not right.
Heard about this earlier. 
One of the best TV show hosts ever. They may as well cancel Countdown now.
Yeah, my mum was talking to me about this earlier today.
I really hope they don't replace him. I never really watched Countdown... but he's the Countdown Guy for pie's sake. It won't be the same anymore.
I was very very sad when i heard this. He was a genuinly brilliant presenter. I watched Countdown the other day, and it made me laugh so hard (it was a joke in the dictionary corner), but the relationship between Whiteley and Carol Vorderman was great as they joked and ribbed each other. You don't really get that much anymore as it seems that insulting each other seems to be the order of the day.
Countdown will never be the same... If a new presenter should be chosen, then i will continue to watch it, because it is a very good show, but it just won't be the same. I didn't watch it every day, but when i did, it made me happy. I remember getting the Countdown Conundrum - man alive, i never managed to get that again!
Rest in peace sir...
His death really came out of the blue. Truely a shame, the man was a brilliant presenter, on the odd time I watched Countdown, he seemed like a really funny bloke, his death seems to have struck everybody pretty hard, Carol Vorderman especially.
But yeah, he will be missed I really don't think they can carry on with countdown now...
That's just...wow.
This is completely unexpected. I'm not all that big a fan of Countdown, but my parents were pretty into it. Still, this is pretty...well, crazy to be honest.
He was good at what he did, and he'll be missed I guess.
I was taken aback to hear he'd died, and it's a shame...Xx;
Countdown won't be the same without his and Carol's hosting partnership.
Rest thee well, Sir Whitely...<Nods>
I momentarily thought this was a hoax when I read the subject line, but apparently not. Wow. Of all the well-known TV presenters to just suddenly disappear, I never thought it'd be him. Can't really say anything anyone else hasn't already. May the man rest in peace.
~SilverShadow.
Well-known? I suppose over there, but over here, I'll be honest: I've never heard of the guy.
I really thought that if he'd held off the pneumonia this long, he'd be able to get over everything. 61's no age at all, and everyone who knew him seems so broken up over it...
He might not've had the most trendy reputation, but the bloke was a broadcasting institution. It's a pity that C4 may apparently retire Countdown - one of the few intelligent quiz shows left - after his death, but I can't see anyone who could replace him, or have that same chemistry with Carol Vorderman.
(And yes, SH, he wouldn't be someone you'd have known over there. He hosted the same vaguely cult game show on one channel for 23 years.)
The only other person I would consider as presenter of Countdown is Stephen Fry, but even he wouldn't come close.
