Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
December 28, 1943
Place of Birth:
Bradford, England, Uk
Social Media
Richard Whiteley
Biography
John Richard Whiteley OBE DL 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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Brighton Bomb | Self |
| 1980 | A Bronte Christmas |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Paul O'Grady Show | |
| 2004 | The Keith Barret Show | |
| 2003 | The Terry and Gaby Show | |
| 2002 | Top Gear | Self |
| 2002 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Self |
| 2000 | Fat Friends | |
| 1999 | It's Only TV But I Like It | Self |
| 1993 | Shooting Stars | Self |
| 1991 | Noel's House Party | |
| 1990 | Have I Got News for You | Self |
| 1982 | Countdown | |
| 1982 | Calendar Countdown | Host |
| 1968 | Calendar |