Richard Whiteley RIP

[partygirluk]

This will mean nothing to anyone outside the UK, but it is sad. I have watched Countdown since I was 4 and have always postponed going on the show. It won't be the same without Whiteley. However silly he could be, he was Countdown. Always came across as a top guy too. Only 61 and leaves a son who was awaiting his 'A' level results. Makes me want to make the most of my parents as my dad is 57 and not in great pyshical shape. It is not an exaggeration to say a small part of British life died tonight.

http://www.channelm.salford.ac.uk/pics/interference/Interference%20interview%20-%20British%20TV%20phenomenon,Richard%20Whiteley,%2 0on%20the%20set%20of%20Countdown.jpg

RIP

[Yeti]

Couldn't believe it either. Knew he was ill but never thought for a moment it would come to this /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[jakethebake]

so he's like the british bob barker?

[Yeti]

We don't know who that is /images/graemlins/smile.gif

But yeah, he hosted a quiz show (which basically became an institution), 5 days a week, for ~20 odd years.

It was the first program aired on C4 and is still running.

[jakethebake]

yea. thats kind like bob barker on price is right.

[partygirluk]

[ QUOTE ]
so he's like the british bob barker?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, cos I know exactly who bob barker is.

In the UK most people on receive terrestial (free to air) TV which is only 5 channels. The 4th channel first broadcast in 1982, and Whiteley was the first face on it, hosting a word and numbers quiz called Countdown. It has been broadcast every (barring Christmas, royal weddings, 9/11 etc.) weekday since then and Whiteley has hosted every show. It went out at 16:00 so was watched mainly by students and retirees. Over 23 years a lot of people have fallen into one of those brackets. He was also a journalist, and was the first reporter to interview Thatcher after the Brighton bombings. Very genial guy, came across as a fool quite often (but wasn't) but was very avuncular and likeable.

[CallMeIshmael]

A) PGUK, sorry about the loss.

B) While on the topic of UK game shows.. Blockbusters and gold runs. What are they? (it appers gold runs are what you win, yes?)

[partygirluk]

[ QUOTE ]
A) PGUK, sorry about the loss.

B) While on the topic of UK game shows.. Blockbusters and gold runs. What are they? (it appers gold runs are what you win, yes?)

[/ QUOTE ]

Blockbusters was a game show popular in the early '90s. It was one contestant v. two contestants. Who ever won, faced the Gold Run (if the twosome won then only one of them took part in G.R).

To win the Gold Run the contestant had to answer a series of acronym based questions.

e.g. the contestant picks "MHT" from the choice in front of him and the host would say

"What was the full name of the first British female prime minister?"

Whoever won the show came back on the next day for a maximum of 3 appearances. If they completed the Gold Run within 90 seconds all 3 times they won a very nice prize, 2 times a less good prize and so on.