Channel 4 Statement ref Richard Whiteley

Contdown

Kevin Lygo, Channel 4's Director of Television, said: "Richard was a Channel 4 icon and institution and he will be sadly missed by everyone at the station who came into contact with him as well as Countdown's millions of loyal viewers.

"Countdown was the first programme shown on Channel 4 more than two decades ago and Richard was the first face to appear on the new channel. It's tribute to his skill and enduring appeal as a presenter, as well as the wonderful chemistry of his relationship with Carol, that the programme is still going strong as a mainstay of the Channel 4 daytime schedule.

"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."