[Jon]

As well as reducing Carol’s wage which may probably also have happened, Richard would also have had a decision to make when they moved the show to Manchester

Though considering he was no longer Twice Nightly Whitely by the time he died, having left Calendar, the move might have been less of an issue. A pay cut, on the other hand... he'd have probably wanted more money if it involved a longer commute, not less. Who knows what he would've decided.

Whitley was apparently paid less than Voderman and I doubt many of his replacements were paid significantly less than him. So I don’t think his pay would have been an issue. Don’t forget at the same time she was doing Countdown Voderman was doing lots of prime time shows and it was surprising she was still doing daytime Countdown.   

That said I imagine since Anne left all the current stars of the show are on similar money to each other, considering how well established Susie and Rachel are. 

But it’s impossible to say whether Whitley would still be doing it, his health might have deteriorated in another way in the years since he died had he not died. The show probably also benefited from having a new lease of life every few years in some ways too, so difficult to say it wouldn’t have reduced further in popularity. It’s also difficult to say whether more effort would have been made to keep the show somehow in Leeds if Whitley would have been that bothered such as move.

Obviously the decision to cast Anne Robinson seems like it was a mistake, but I think it was a sound one on paper and if nothing else helped raise the profile of the show a bit. At the same time it allows everyone to appreciate Colin’s tenure more than they possibly would had Robinson debacle not have had happened.