Marcel Stellman: Tributes flood in after Countdown creator dies, aged 96
Abbianca Makoni
Carol Vorderman and Rachel Riley were among stars to pen an emotional tribute to Countdown creator Marcel Stellman who has died, aged 96.
Belgian-born Stellman was also a record producer and lyricist who wrote songs for stars including Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Charles Aznavour, The Shadows and Tony Bennett.
A statement from his family said: “The death has been announced on May 2 of Marcel Stellman, 96, former record executive with Decca Records, a prolific song lyricist whose hits included Tulips From Amsterdam and the man who brought the Countdown TV game show to Great Britain, the first programme to be broadcast on Channel 4, where it has been aired continuously since 1982.”