Special Countdown tribute paid to Gary Burgess

A special tribute has been paid to ITV Channel TV's friend and colleague Gary Burgess - this time on the popular show Countdown.

Gary passed away at Jersey Hospice on 1 January after a long-documented journey with cancer.

Comedian Jon Culshaw, who is a regular guest on the quiz show, worked with Gary at Radio Wave in Blackpool in the 1990s. He shared some of his happy memories of Gary and delivered a moving tribute in front of a mesmerized audience.

He said: "I was so lucky in those early days that Gary was producer of the show. He was only 16 at the time but you could tell what a prodigy he was. He made that show work by keeping all the results coming through on time, keeping it accurate and being a one-man sports department, really." "It was at Channel TV where his career really hit its stride, where he became an award-winning journalist and presenter."

"He felt his life has been in fast-forward in the sense that it’s only when you have no choice but to take things steadily and really just experience another pace, that you then are much more open to all of the wonders and small joys and the values of life that are so important and good for the soul."

To end his tribute he shared Gary's parting message to "take twice as long to do half as much, and enjoy every second".