William G Stewart dead – Fifteen to One host on Channel 4 dies aged 82
The prolific director and sitcom producer made his name in the 1970s. A representative for the star confirmed he had died after a brief illness
FIFTEEN to One quiz show presenter William G Stewart has died aged 84.
Stewart, who suffered a short illness, presented the hit Channel 4 game from 1988 to 2003.
He also worked as a producer and director on shows including Family Fortunes, The Price is Right and 1970s sitcom Bless This House. A statement yesterday said the star died “peacefully yesterday surrounded by his family after a brief illness”.
William once revealed Fifteen to One was rejected by nine TV execs before it finally hit screens. In 1986 he offered the show’s creator £200 for a 12-month option to develop the idea.
He later said: “Knowing it had been rejected nine times I sensed he’d be keen to make any sort of positive progress.”
The TV star went on to host the show for 2,265 episodes.
He met almost 34,000 contestants and asked at least 350,000 questions in that time.
Channel 4 led the tributes to the beloved TV host last night.
A statement said: “We are saddened to hear the news about William G Stewart, whose style set Fifteen to One apart from all other quiz shows.
“He was a broadcast legend and our thoughts are with his friends and family.” Great British Bake Off presenter Sandi Toksvig, who fronts the revamped Fifteen to One, called him a “lovely man”.
And comedian Adam Hills, who has hosted the celebrity version of the show since 2013, said: “Farewell to William G Stewart.
“Even if I had three feet, I’d never have filled his shoes.”
William married three times, most recently to Fifteen to One voice-over artist Laura Calland. He had five children.