AN
Andrew
Founding member
There's a new book coming out soon about popular television presenter Richard Whiteley, here's a story about it...
Richard was my love, my rock
By Sunita Bhatti, Telegraph & Argus
Richard and Kathryn at Buckingham Palace where he received his OBE
The long-term partner of Bradford-born Countdown host and national treasure Richard Whiteley has written his biography to set the record straight about the much-loved television host.
Kathryn Apanowicz, a TV and radio personality in her own right, was shocked by the stories circulating about Richard following his death in June 2005, and decided to put pen to paper to give the real story.
She said: "The response from the public after Richard's death was amazing. "I wasn't really aware of it because the days immediately after his death were a bit of a blur, but I think the reality hit me at the memorial service held in York. Every day for two months I got letter after letter.
"Richard had been planning to write a second book so he had already gathered a lot of the information together. I found writing the book has been cathartic. His best friends have helped me to put the book together - so it has been compiled by the people that loved him the most."
Kathryn said that one of the reasons she wanted to write a book about Richard was because she felt so many false stories were written after his death.
She said: "There was so much rubbish written after his death. And Richard would have said you have got to do it' so I know he would be pleased to know that I had done it."
Kathryn has spent the past year coming to terms with the loss of the love of her life and writing the book.
The pair first met when Kathryn was just eight years old and she was working on a children's programme called Junior Showtime for Calendar. It was when she returned to Calendar for another children's show that their friendship began. "He was my pal and a chum, the love of my life and my soul mate," said Kathryn.
She is hoping the book "Richard by Kathryn: The life of Richard Whiteley" will not only provide readers with an insight into the Richard that she knew and loved but that it will also help to keep Richard's memory alive.
"What you see is what you get with Richard. He didn't turn off his television face when he came through the door. But he wasn't quite as bumbling as people thought. He was a very intelligent, educated man who was my rock. He was a very practical man and very down to earth.
"When someone dies you just want to keep them alive and keep them in people's memories. I want people to remember Richard as a wonderful person with a smile on his face."
One of the book's revelations is that Richard had been planning to ask Kathryn to marry him before he died. Although the couple spent more than a decade together they never formalised their relationship but that never mattered to Kathryn because she always thought of Richard as her husband.
"I was never desperate to get married. We were very much a married couple, he was very much my husband. I expect we would probably have done it some time this year and it would probably have been a quiet affair."
Richard By Kathryn: The life of Richard Whiteley by Kathryn Apanowicz is published by Virgin books from Thursday, priced £17.99.
Richard was my love, my rock
By Sunita Bhatti, Telegraph & Argus
Richard and Kathryn at Buckingham Palace where he received his OBE
The long-term partner of Bradford-born Countdown host and national treasure Richard Whiteley has written his biography to set the record straight about the much-loved television host.
Kathryn Apanowicz, a TV and radio personality in her own right, was shocked by the stories circulating about Richard following his death in June 2005, and decided to put pen to paper to give the real story.
She said: "The response from the public after Richard's death was amazing. "I wasn't really aware of it because the days immediately after his death were a bit of a blur, but I think the reality hit me at the memorial service held in York. Every day for two months I got letter after letter.
"Richard had been planning to write a second book so he had already gathered a lot of the information together. I found writing the book has been cathartic. His best friends have helped me to put the book together - so it has been compiled by the people that loved him the most."
Kathryn said that one of the reasons she wanted to write a book about Richard was because she felt so many false stories were written after his death.
She said: "There was so much rubbish written after his death. And Richard would have said you have got to do it' so I know he would be pleased to know that I had done it."
Kathryn has spent the past year coming to terms with the loss of the love of her life and writing the book.
The pair first met when Kathryn was just eight years old and she was working on a children's programme called Junior Showtime for Calendar. It was when she returned to Calendar for another children's show that their friendship began. "He was my pal and a chum, the love of my life and my soul mate," said Kathryn.
She is hoping the book "Richard by Kathryn: The life of Richard Whiteley" will not only provide readers with an insight into the Richard that she knew and loved but that it will also help to keep Richard's memory alive.
"What you see is what you get with Richard. He didn't turn off his television face when he came through the door. But he wasn't quite as bumbling as people thought. He was a very intelligent, educated man who was my rock. He was a very practical man and very down to earth.
"When someone dies you just want to keep them alive and keep them in people's memories. I want people to remember Richard as a wonderful person with a smile on his face."
One of the book's revelations is that Richard had been planning to ask Kathryn to marry him before he died. Although the couple spent more than a decade together they never formalised their relationship but that never mattered to Kathryn because she always thought of Richard as her husband.
"I was never desperate to get married. We were very much a married couple, he was very much my husband. I expect we would probably have done it some time this year and it would probably have been a quiet affair."
Richard By Kathryn: The life of Richard Whiteley by Kathryn Apanowicz is published by Virgin books from Thursday, priced £17.99.