This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25560734
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Geoffrey Wheeler, Songs of Praise presenter, dies aged 83 | Geoffrey Wheeler, Songs of Praise presenter, dies aged 83 |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The broadcaster Geoffrey Wheeler, best known for presenting Songs of Praise and quiz show Top of the Form, has died aged 83, his son has confirmed. | The broadcaster Geoffrey Wheeler, best known for presenting Songs of Praise and quiz show Top of the Form, has died aged 83, his son has confirmed. |
Wheeler died on 30 December in a care home in Prestbury, Cheshire, after a long illness. | Wheeler died on 30 December in a care home in Prestbury, Cheshire, after a long illness. |
He created the popular ITV game show Winner Takes All, which was hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck between 1975 and 1986. | He created the popular ITV game show Winner Takes All, which was hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck between 1975 and 1986. |
Wheeler, who provided the voiceover during the Tarbuck era, hosted the show himself from 1987-88. | |
He also appeared on Call My Bluff and Jackanory. | He also appeared on Call My Bluff and Jackanory. |
"He was an absolute gentleman and that's the conclusion that everybody who dealt with him came to," the broadcaster's son, Robin, told the BBC on Tuesday. | |
Wheeler had originally conceived Winner Takes All as a horse-racing quiz but it became a multiple choice game show when it was first produced by Yorkshire Television in 1975. | |
Robin Wheeler recalled: "He didn't want there to be a quiz where people have to say 'I don't know the answer', which was very typical of him." | |
Geoffrey Wheeler, was born in Manchester and much of his childhood was spend moving around the country due to his father's job as a hotel manager. | |
He entered the world of broadcasting after auditioning for a radio drama and made some 200 radio programmes for the BBC while studying law at Manchester University. | |
In 1954, he got the the job of BBC radio producer for the north region making variety programmes with the likes of Benny Hill, Morecambe and Wise and Ken Dodd. | |
He went freelance in 1963 and presented school quiz Top of the Form for 12 years on BBC One from the early 1960s to the mid 1970s. | |
He also presented Songs of Praise many times over 21 years. | |
"My memories of him when I was at prep school was that he was constantly recognised in restaurants and on the street, and he would get quite a few letters," Mr Wheeler said. | |
Geoffrey Wheeler is survived by his son, a daughter and four grandchildren. |
Previous version
1
Next version