York Guides

Middleham trainer James Bethell paid tribute to Richard Whiteley on Monday following the death of the television presenter just days after undergoing heart surgery.

The host of Channel 4's Countdown was a keen racing enthusiast and had horses with Bethell for many years.

He also held the honorary position of Mayor of Wetwang in East Yorkshire and enjoyed a memorable day at Ripon in September 2001 when Mare Of Wetwang won a 10-furlong handicap.

"Richard had shares in horses virtually from when I started training here in 1992. He was a very, very good friend and he was a serious friend for Yorkshire," Bethell said.

"He was a marvellous supporter of anything to do with Yorkshire and he was a great supporter of Middleham.

"He would always attend open days and really fly the flag for us and for all of the Dales - he loved the Yorkshire Dales.

"He loved his racing and I am so glad we managed to have a winner for him with old Mare Of Wetwang.

"But the saddest thing is he was really looking forward to going to Royal Ascot at York and missed it all, which was very sad really because he wanted to go there."

Viewers of Countdown were asked last year to help name a two-year-old in whom Whiteley had acquired an interest.

The unanimous vote saw the youngster become Twice Nightly, a nickname bestowed on Whiteley by Terry Wogan and which eluded to the fact that for many years he presented Calendar on Yorkshire Television as well as Countdown - hence 'Twice Nightly Whiteley'.

Whiteley had presented Countdown since the quiz was the first aired on Channel 4 when the station was launched in 1982.

The show was originally supposed to run for five weeks but now has regular viewing figures of four million and enjoys cult status.

Whiteley never missed an episode in 23 years until he fell ill from pneumonia in May this year.

He was rushed to intensive care in Bradford, West Yorkshire, before being transferred to Leeds a few days ago.

Whiteley leaves behind his partner of 11 years, Kathryn Apanowicz, who shot to fame on EastEnders in the 1980s.

"I don't think Kathy had left his side since he was taken ill in May and our thoughts go out to her. It is an enormous blow," Bethell said.