'Twice Nightly' Whiteley who died on 26 June 2005 in Leeds General Infirmary, accumulated more hours on British television than any living TV-personality, bar Carole Hersee.

As the famous face of Countdown for 23 years, a daily Channel 4 game show, he was also the first person on the channel.

Renowned for his bizarre blazers and colourful ties, Mr Whiteley achieved his nickname during his stint of appearing on both Countdown and Calendar daily.

Co-presenter Carol Vorderman regularly commented on his amazing ability to create a pun out of anything, alongside his garish suits.

He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, on 28 December 1943 and went to Giggleswick public school where celebrity Russell Harty taught him English.

He obtained a third in English at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he also edited the university publication, Varsity.

At the tender age of 22, he was accepted on to the ITN graduate scheme in 1965 which landed him the job of news reporter for Yorkshire Television (YTV).

Only a few years later, he became anchorman and appeared on the opening night in 1968 of Calendar, the early evening news programme.

Mr Whiteley’s 1977 Calendar appearance earned him a vicious bite from a ferret resulting in a permanent position in international outtake shows.

In 1982 his already successful career advanced further making him a household name with the first broadcast of Countdown on YTV.

After the Brighton bombing in 1984 he became the first journalist to interview Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister at the time.

His achievements as a celebrity and expert journalist were honoured by the Queen in 2004 with an OBE.

His presence on Countdown established it as one that outlived every programme on every other channel except the news.

Over his 23-year stretch he appeared in over 4,000 programmes. Esther Rantzen said: “It was easy to underestimate his strength on screen- he never outstayed his welcome.”

As a self-critical joker, he frequently teased changing his nickname to ‘Once Yearly, Nearly’.

Never ceasing to amaze, this insightful political journalist had also interviewed every Prime Minister since Harold Macmillan .