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TV and radio star Peter Wheeler dies of heart attack at 75

Peter Wheeler began his career in BBC junior radio drama as a teenager and went on to host Call My Bluff and Come Dancing.

Veteran broadcaster Peter Wheeler has died suddenly at the age of 75.

Peter began his career in BBC junior radio drama as a teenager and went on to host Call My Bluff and Come Dancing.

He was also the chairman for Crossword on Two, acted in a number of BBC sitcoms with contemporaries such as Ken Dodd, Les Dawson and Peter Sallis, and was the main presenter of BBC 2's Executive Business Channel for seven years, as well as TV Sports Round-up.

His work for ITV, and in particular Granada, made him familiar in the north west as a newscaster and interviewer, and was notable for a 30-year stint on What The Papers Say - a show he described as 'the fastest ride on the fairground'.

The grandad, of Tarporley near Knutsford, also worked on 850 editions as a narrator on daytime TV show Crown Court, and did regular voice-over work on popular programmes like All Our Yesterdays and World in Action.

He died after collapsing with a heart attack during a business meeting in Manchester.

Peter's voice was also regularly heard on the radio. He appeared in numerous Radio 4 dramas, read Morning Stories and Books At Bedtime, and was a presenter on the Talkabout arts programme for 12 years and Plain Sailing for five.

He was the anchorman for Radio 4 North Sports Spotlight for more than a decade and a newsreader for Radio 4 North News, while his work for Radio 2 included presenting Music Through Midnight.

He later hosted his own breakfast show on BBC Radio Manchester for six years.

More recently, Peter worked in the commercial and corporate sector, providing media training and guidance for clients around the world.

Peter is survived by his wife, Pat,four children and nine grandchildren.

A thanksgiving service will take place on Tuesday June 1 at the United Reformed Church, Chapel Lane, Wilmslow, starting at 11.30am

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Peter was a fantastic servant to broadcasting - especially in the NW. He, along with his brother provided superb broadcasting standards all those years ago - when broadcasting especially TV was in it's infancy - they could certainly learn a few things from his era.
God Bless you Peter

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One heck of a gentleman. He served the North West well. Condolences to his family.

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He will be missed - Good on yer Peter R.I.P.

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So sad to hear this news. Peter was a lovely man, a true gentleman, modest and friendly. He was brilliant on Comedy First, a show for new writers on BBC Radio 4 back in 1979, on which I and my then partner had material. Strangely, I was only talking about him this week and praising his talent. He made it all look so easy. Deepest sympathy to his wife and family.

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A very nice man and high/ly professional. God Bless Peter.

Tarporley near Knutsford? Should this be Tabley?

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