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The tributes have been flooding in for Richard "Twice Nightly"
Whitely as the show biz world salutes the Countdown supremo.

Countdown co-host Carol Vorderman said "I am absolutely stunned by
this news. He was a very dear fiend, and a true professional. He did
owe me money it has to be said."

Esther Rantzen, who was one of several guest presenters on Countdown,
described him as "One of those people who made you smile. We were very
dear friends, but there's usually be an ornament or two missing after
he visited the house."

Austin Mitchell MP, who knew Whiteley for 30 years, paid tribute to him
as a man who "Never put on airs and graces. He always remembered where
he came from. He was perhaps not the best man to leave alone with your
wife though."

BBC Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce added: "There was no side to Richard. Such a
nice man - You could trust him with absolutely anything. Except money
maybe. Oh, and women."

ITV are said to be considering whether to screen the shows recorded
prior to Whitley's death, but an insider revealed "they always say
that, don't they".