Richard Whiteley, the star of long-running Channel 4 quiz programme Countdown, died last night just days after undergoing heart surgery. He had fallen ill with pneumonia in May.

Best known nationwide for his loud ties and suits, bad jokes, warmth and good fun on the “words and numbers quiz”, he was also an incisive reporter, working with Yorkshire TV for many years. He was the first reporter to interview Margaret Thatcher in 1984 after the Brighton hotel bombing.

Tributes have flooded in from his many showbiz friends and colleagues.

Carol Vorderman, his co-host for 23 years, was said to be “absolutely devestated” by his death. They were close friends.

Esther Rantzen, friend and frequent guest on the quiz show, said: “It is easy to underestimate his strength on screen – he never outstayed his welcome. They won’t be able to replace him. He will be hugely missed.”

Terry Wogan, a friend of Whiteley, said he was too upset to speak fully. “I’m shocked. It’s terrible news,”

BBC Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce, who also appeared as a guest on Countdown, described Whitely as “one of the nicest of men” and “a completely guileless man”.

He said Whiteley’s friends had been expecting him to recover and return to the show.

“There was no side to Richard,” Bruce said. “Such a nice man – that was the defining quality of him, a genuinely nice man. And he had no real ego.

Last November Whiteley was honoured with an OBE from the Queen, who is said to be a Countdown fan, as was the late Queen Mother.

Channel 4 have not yet decided whether to broadcast the last week of pre-recorded shows Richard made before becoming ill.

Read obituaries and articles:

• BBC: Obituary: Richard Whiteley
• BBC: Tributes paid to TV host Whiteley
• Channel 4: Friends stunned by death of Richard Whiteley