TELEVISION presenter Richard Whiteley remained in a stable condition in hospital last night after contracting pneumonia.

The host of Channel 4 quiz Countdown, who has a house in East Witton, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, was admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary after falling ill on Friday.

The presenter has received numerous get well messages, including one from colleague Carol Vorderman.

She said: "All of us in Richard's Countdown family want him to get better as quickly as he can. He's our boss and the one who holds everyone together and makes us laugh.

"We all want him back in his chair telling bad jokes as soon as he's able to."

Mr Whiteley, 61, and his partner, Kathryn Apanowicz, appeared at the Dales Festival of Food and Drink, in Leyburn, over the May bank holiday weekend.

The star, who was awarded an OBE last November, has been presenting Countdown since 1982.