Actress and broadcaster Kathryn Apanowicz dies aged 64 as friends say she has been ‘reunited with her beloved’ partner Richard Whiteley

Katheryn, who was the partner of former Countdown host Richard Whiteley, was reportedly suffering from a long illness.

Her death was announced on Monday as a friend paid tribute on social media. On Facebook, former ITV Calendar presenter Christa Ackroyd wrote:

‘Reunited with her beloved Richard. I will miss you so much my lovely friend. What adventures we had. The world will always be a duller place without you…’

Kathryn and Richard were in a relationship from 1994 until his death in 2005 aged 61 from heart problems.

Kathryn started her television career as a child performer in Yorkshire Television’s Junior Show Time and in the film Bugsy Malone.

Throughout her career she starred in BBC programme Angels, where she played Nurse Rose Butchins, before multiple appearances in soaps, including EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

In EastEnders she played the caterer Magda Czajkowski. She appeared in Emmerdale in 1972 and Corrie in 1960 and again in 1997.

In her later life she presented on BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio York. She also wrote a book following Richard’s death, titled Richard by Kathryn: The Life of Richard Whiteley.

Ian White of ITV Calendar also paid tribute on social media, writing: ‘Very sad news tonight about friend and former colleague Kathryn Apanowicz.’ 

Another fan said: ‘I was sad to hear that the presenter and actress Kathryn Apanowicz has passed away. I remember Kathryn’s days in EastEnders and her appearing in a charity show in Leicester back in the late 80s. RIP, Kathryn.’