Trivia

When he used to present Calendar (1968), Yorkshire Television's local news programme, he was once required to interview a man who had brought his pet ferrets to the studio as part of the interview. When the interviewee passed him a ferret, saying "Go on, it's harmless, it won't bite you", the ferret did just that - it bit him hard and wouldn't let go! With the ferret hanging from his hand, Richard struggled manfully on with the interview despite being in excruciating pain. Being told "She's only playing with you, if she really meant business she'd bite right down to the bone" was scant comfort!

Was the first face to appear on the UK's Channel 4 in 1982 (discounting a programme montage) when he presented Countdown for the first time. It was intended to run for 5 weeks but it just kept going. In fact, he presented every episode until May 2005 when he got pneumonia. He was taking longer to recover than expected so, for the first time ever, a selection of guest presenters were due to take his slot until he had fully recovered; however, he died shortly afterward, and the guest-presented series were never filmed.

Partner of Kathryn Apanowicz.

He was taught English at Giggleswick School by Russell Harty who later became famous as a chat-show host in the 1980s.

He was the first journalist to interview Margaret Thatcher after the Brighton Bombing in 1984.

Hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia in May 2005.

Discounting a programme montage, he was the first person ever to appear on screen on Channel 4, presenting the inaugural edition of Countdown - and once said that he wanted to be remembered for this feat.

Best known for his roles presenting television game shows and local news programs, he was also an accomplished political interviewer, having interviewed every British prime minister from Harold Macmillan to Tony Blair.

Son, James, born 1987, with fashion journalist and TV presenter Lesley Ebbetts.

A memorial service was held for him on 10 November 2005 at York Minster.

He reported on the imminent collapse of the Holbeck Hall hotel in Scarborough due to a landslip on 7 June 1993. As he was doing his piece to camera, the hotel collapsed into the sea behind him, right on cue.

He once unwittingly caused a scandal, resulting in newspaper headlines such as "Whiteley in Swearing Shocker". On Countdown (1982) he often wore ties that viewers had made for him. On a Christmas special episode of the programme he wore one with the word 'COUNTDOWN' in large letters. After transmission it was noticed that (as related by Carol Vorderman): "The 'DOWN' had disappeared as he sat behind the desk, and his microphone had gone over the 'O'".

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Broadcasting.

Educated at Giggleswick School, North Yorkshire and Christ's College Cambridge.