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Late Countdown host Richard Whiteley would be "appalled" by the way Carol Vorderman has been treated by the show's bosses, according to his former partner.
Kathryn Apanowicz, who lived with Whiteley for the last eight years of his life, accused producers of behaving in a "callous" manner during their recent dealings with Vorderman.
Carol announced that she was quitting the show after 26 years last week. She later claimed that programme makers "forced" her out by threatening to cut her salary by 90%.
Vorderman also revealed that one producer had warned her: "Countdown easily survived without Richard Whiteley. It can easily survive without you."
Apanowicz confirmed: "As Richard's partner I can say he would be appalled. And I am more appalled than anything about that below the belt comment that was used saying 'It survived Richard Whiteley, it will survive you' - how dare they! How dare they!
"It was callous because Carol was very close and was like Richard's little sister. It really upset her and it really upset me."
Kathryn called for the show to be axed following Carol's departure, claiming that the programme would be nothing without her.
She said: "Carol is an integral part of the show and it should not go on without her. They will probably get Myleene Klass, she does everything else. Carol has been a really good friend to me since Richard died and I don't like nice people being treated like this."
Whiteley presented Countdown from 1982 until his death in 2005.
