Person
Richard Whiteley
Bradford, England, Uk
John Richard Whiteley OBE DL (28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) was an English presenter, and journalist, best known for his twenty-three years as host of the game show Countdown.…
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John Richard Whiteley OBE DL (28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) was an English presenter, and journalist, best known for his twenty-three years as host of the game show Countdown. Countdown was the launch program for Channel 4 at 4:45 pm on 2 November 1982, and Whiteley was the first person to be seen on the channel (not counting a program montage). Despite his intelligence, Whiteley enjoyed projecting the image of an absent-minded eccentric. His trademarks were his jolly, avuncular manner, his fondness for puns, and his bold, sometimes garish wardrobe. Thanks to over twenty years' worth of nightly installments of Countdown as well as his work on the Yorkshire magazine program Calendar and various other television projects, at the time of his death Whiteley was believed to have clocked more hours on British television screens—and more than 10,000 appearances—than anyone else alive, apart from Carole Hersee, the young girl who appeared on the BBC's Test Card F.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2004
The Paul O'Grady Show
TV show
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2004
The Brighton Bomb
Movie Self
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2004
The Keith Barret Show
TV show
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2003
Celebrity Mastermind
TV show
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2003
The Terry and Gaby Show
TV show
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2002
Top Gear
TV show Self
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2002
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
TV show Self
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1999
It's Only TV But I Like It
TV show Self
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1996
TFI Friday
TV show
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1993
Shooting Stars
TV show Self
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1991
Noel's House Party
TV show
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1990
Have I Got News for You
TV show Self
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1990
The Word
TV show
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1982
Countdown
TV show Self - Host
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1982
Calendar Countdown
TV show Host
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1980
A Bronte Christmas
Movie
More credits
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1979
Blankety Blank
TV show Self
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1968
Calendar
TV show
