The end of an era.

I'd like to pause for a moment to reflect on the passing of one of Britain's most endearing personalities and an all-round nice guy.

Richard Whiteley (OBE), host of the cult word TV quiz Countdown for 23 years, died on Sunday night, aged 61, shortly after a two-month struggle with pneumonia.

Esther Rantzen's comment really strikes a chord: 'He was just one of those people who made you smile.'

There's a lovely tesimony by his long-time friend and co-host Carol Vorderman here.