Steve Whatley
Encyclopedia
Steven Rae "Steve" Whatley (11 July 1959 - 7 November 2005) known as 'Gadget Man', 'Mr Diamonique', 'Whatters' and 'Mr Zhuzh!', was a British Theatre Actor, Consumer Expert, Journalist
, and Television Presenter.
until he was persuaded into consumer and magazine journalism by Fashion Editor Thalia Vickers, who strongly believed his "quirky opinions and quest for the best would make good magazine copy".
He soon became Britain's first male grooming expert with his own male grooming page in She Magazine. This progressed to include, style, grooming and Agony Uncle on the initial team of FHM
and opened the door to BBC Pebble Mill
. Then followed 12 years for Whatley as resident Consumer Reporter with Richard and Judy
(Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan) on ITV
's daytime show This Morning
, discussing consumer issues and presenting numerous gadgets.
along with fellow British Television Presenters Debbie Flint, Paul Lavers, and Julia Roberts prior to 'the UK's first shopping channel' launching on 1 October of that year.
His presenting style on QVC was regarded as 'camp
' and humorous, which earned him a very large fanbase. He is most remembered for the "Diamonique
" jewellery shows he presented, later gaining the nickname 'Mr Diamonique'.
Behind the camera, Whatley was serious about the products he sold and the shows he presented. This 'perfectionism
' sometimes led to disagreements with production staff about the best way to sell the item.
In September 1997, after 4 years working at the channel, Whatley left QVC after what was seen as an excessive discussion of Diana, Princess of Wales
in his presenting of a "Today's Special Value" item of jewellery the day before her funeral
. The "Today's Special Value" item closely resembled Diana, Princess of Wales' diamond
and sapphire
engagement
ring. QVC had ordered there to be no mention of Diana, Princess of Wales in relation to the ring, but Whatley decided otherwise and described the ring as "a fine tribute to a loved princess". There had also been a 'flare-up' of issues regarding his relationship with other members of staff in the months leading up to Whatley's departure from the channel.
productions and plays. He also returned to presenting consumer slots on ITV's This Morning, and up until 2000, featured numerous times on BBC
's Watchdog
, Anglia TV's Home Malone, Granada
Sky's The DIY Show and on the popular Five programme Open House with Gloria Hunniford
.
, a shopping channel
owned by Ideal Direct Shopping Plc, with Debbie Flint and Paul Lavers, whom he had previously worked with at QVC. The channel launched on 17 April 2000, and has since been a major rival of QVC. Whatley's fanbase continued to grow and the programmes he presented such as "Whatters' Crazeee Christmas", "Consumer Choice" and "Amazing Ammolite
(with Ken Oschipok)" were favourites amongst his fans. Whatley also presented "Disney Memorabilia" programmes and was a fan and collector of Mickey Mouse
memorabilia himself.
Whatley owned three Weimaraner
dogs and they were often seen on his shows 'consumer testing' various pet
products. The youngest of the three dogs was named Delia after he had asked the Ideal World audience to send name suggestions into the channel. The name "Delia" is an anagram
of the word "ideal". His eldest dog Harry mainly 'co-presented' on "Magnet Therapy" shows and his third dog Oscar was seen numerous times.
In the build-up to Christmas
each year, Whatley's shows would be inundated with telephone callers shouting "Crazeee Christmas" down the phone and requesting to be on his 'Christmas card list', which meant receiving a personal Christmas card from him.
On 6 March 2001, the Ideal World premises, including the studios and warehouse, were completely devastated by an unexplained fire
. Despite this, Whatley continued to work at Ideal World and helped to re-build the channel. Ideal World began broadcasting again in the autumn of 2001, after several months off the air. Until the new studios and warehouse were completed, Whatley and the team of presenters and production staff worked in temporary studios constructed out of prefabricated units that were erected on the Newark Road, Fengate site.
On Christmas Eve 2004, after 4 years at Ideal World, Whatley left the channel to pursue other projects. These included helping to launch Harrods TV and plans to return to his theatre work.
Magistrates' Court
, charged with indecently assaulting a fellow employee four times over a 17 month period during 2000 and 2001. He was accused of groping a female employee three times and once licking her face.
He pleaded "not guilty" to all four counts of indecent assault
. The case was adjourned to Peterborough Crown Court
until 3 February 2003, and Whatley was granted bail.
On 11 July 2003, after a four day trial, the jurors unanimously cleared Whatley of three charges of indecent assault, but were unable to reach a decision on the fourth 'face licking' charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service
had a week to decide if it would seek a retrial on the remaining charge, but no further action was taken as it was known that Whatley licked the faces of many of his co-workers' as part of a joke
amongst Ideal World staff.
An inquest into his death held at Hatfield
, Hertfordshire
in January 2006, ruled that Steve Whatley had committed suicide
by inhaling fumes whilst ill with depression
following the breakdown of his marriage
five months earlier.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and Television Presenter.
Early career
Steve Whatley spent seven years acting in London's West End TheatreWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
until he was persuaded into consumer and magazine journalism by Fashion Editor Thalia Vickers, who strongly believed his "quirky opinions and quest for the best would make good magazine copy".
He soon became Britain's first male grooming expert with his own male grooming page in She Magazine. This progressed to include, style, grooming and Agony Uncle on the initial team of FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
and opened the door to BBC Pebble Mill
Pebble Mill Studios
The BBC 's Pebble Mill Studios were located in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham, England. The views from the roof overlooked Cannon Hill Park, a nature centre, as well as Birmingham's city centre...
. Then followed 12 years for Whatley as resident Consumer Reporter with Richard and Judy
Richard and Judy
Richard and Judy is the name informally given to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, a married couple who are both British television presenters and columnists. Since their marriage, their television appearances have been largely made as a couple. They are best known for presenting This Morning and...
(Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan) on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's daytime show This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
, discussing consumer issues and presenting numerous gadgets.
QVC
In 1993, Steve Whatley joined QVCQVC (UK)
QVC UK is a digital television shopping channel broadcast in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1993 when QVC, Inc. formed a deal with Sky TV to create a UK version of the US channel. "QVC — The Shopping Channel" first broadcast in the UK on 1 October 1993. QVC UK - 20% owned by Sky - moved into...
along with fellow British Television Presenters Debbie Flint, Paul Lavers, and Julia Roberts prior to 'the UK's first shopping channel' launching on 1 October of that year.
His presenting style on QVC was regarded as 'camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
' and humorous, which earned him a very large fanbase. He is most remembered for the "Diamonique
Diamonique
Diamonique is the brand name used by television shopping network QVC for their cubic zirconia simulated diamond and other synthetic gem products . QVC acquired the manufacturing facilities, proprietary technology and trade name rights from MSB Industries, Inc...
" jewellery shows he presented, later gaining the nickname 'Mr Diamonique'.
Behind the camera, Whatley was serious about the products he sold and the shows he presented. This 'perfectionism
Perfectionism (psychology)
Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that a state of completeness and flawlessness can and should be attained. In its pathological form, perfectionism is a belief that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable...
' sometimes led to disagreements with production staff about the best way to sell the item.
In September 1997, after 4 years working at the channel, Whatley left QVC after what was seen as an excessive discussion of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in his presenting of a "Today's Special Value" item of jewellery the day before her funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
. The "Today's Special Value" item closely resembled Diana, Princess of Wales' diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
and sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide , when it is a color other than red or dark pink; in which case the gem would instead be called a ruby, considered to be a different gemstone. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give...
engagement
Engagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
ring. QVC had ordered there to be no mention of Diana, Princess of Wales in relation to the ring, but Whatley decided otherwise and described the ring as "a fine tribute to a loved princess". There had also been a 'flare-up' of issues regarding his relationship with other members of staff in the months leading up to Whatley's departure from the channel.
A return to earlier projects
From late 1997, Steve Whatley appeared in various pantomimePantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
productions and plays. He also returned to presenting consumer slots on ITV's This Morning, and up until 2000, featured numerous times on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Watchdog
Watchdog (TV series)
Watchdog is a BBC television series that investigates viewers' reports of problematic experiences with traders, retailers, and other companies around the UK...
, Anglia TV's Home Malone, Granada
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
Sky's The DIY Show and on the popular Five programme Open House with Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
.
Ideal World
In 2000, Steve Whatley joined Ideal WorldIdeal World
Ideal World is a shopping channel in the UK whose sister shopping channels include Create and Craft, Ideal Extra and Ideal & More. It is owned by Ideal Shopping Direct Plc. Their sister health and beauty channel, Vitality, closed early in 2008...
, a shopping channel
Shopping channel
Shopping channels are television specialty channels that present shopping related content, particularly for home shopping enthusiasts.-USA:* America's Store* Home Shopping Network* Jewelry Television* QVC* Shop at Home Network* ShopNBC...
owned by Ideal Direct Shopping Plc, with Debbie Flint and Paul Lavers, whom he had previously worked with at QVC. The channel launched on 17 April 2000, and has since been a major rival of QVC. Whatley's fanbase continued to grow and the programmes he presented such as "Whatters' Crazeee Christmas", "Consumer Choice" and "Amazing Ammolite
Ammolite
Ammolite is a rare and valuable opal-like organic gemstone found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls...
(with Ken Oschipok)" were favourites amongst his fans. Whatley also presented "Disney Memorabilia" programmes and was a fan and collector of Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
memorabilia himself.
Whatley owned three Weimaraner
Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is a dog that was originally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game such as boar, bear, and deer. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals like...
dogs and they were often seen on his shows 'consumer testing' various pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
products. The youngest of the three dogs was named Delia after he had asked the Ideal World audience to send name suggestions into the channel. The name "Delia" is an anagram
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
of the word "ideal". His eldest dog Harry mainly 'co-presented' on "Magnet Therapy" shows and his third dog Oscar was seen numerous times.
In the build-up to Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
each year, Whatley's shows would be inundated with telephone callers shouting "Crazeee Christmas" down the phone and requesting to be on his 'Christmas card list', which meant receiving a personal Christmas card from him.
On 6 March 2001, the Ideal World premises, including the studios and warehouse, were completely devastated by an unexplained fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
. Despite this, Whatley continued to work at Ideal World and helped to re-build the channel. Ideal World began broadcasting again in the autumn of 2001, after several months off the air. Until the new studios and warehouse were completed, Whatley and the team of presenters and production staff worked in temporary studios constructed out of prefabricated units that were erected on the Newark Road, Fengate site.
On Christmas Eve 2004, after 4 years at Ideal World, Whatley left the channel to pursue other projects. These included helping to launch Harrods TV and plans to return to his theatre work.
Indecent assault charges
On 18 December 2002, whilst still working at Ideal World, Steve Whatley appeared at PeterboroughPeterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
Magistrates' Court
Magistrates' Court
A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions...
, charged with indecently assaulting a fellow employee four times over a 17 month period during 2000 and 2001. He was accused of groping a female employee three times and once licking her face.
He pleaded "not guilty" to all four counts of indecent assault
Indecent assault
Indecent assault is an offence of aggravated assault in many jurisdictions. It is characterised as a sex crime.Indecent assault was an offence in England and Wales under sections 14 and 15 the Sexual Offences Act 1956...
. The case was adjourned to Peterborough Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
until 3 February 2003, and Whatley was granted bail.
On 11 July 2003, after a four day trial, the jurors unanimously cleared Whatley of three charges of indecent assault, but were unable to reach a decision on the fourth 'face licking' charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
had a week to decide if it would seek a retrial on the remaining charge, but no further action was taken as it was known that Whatley licked the faces of many of his co-workers' as part of a joke
Joke
A joke is a phrase or a paragraph with a humorous twist. It can be in many different forms, such as a question or short story. To achieve this end, jokes may employ irony, sarcasm, word play and other devices...
amongst Ideal World staff.
"Steve Whatley's Zhuzh!"
Steve Whatley later created and founded the "Steve Whatley's Zhuzh!" brand of tanning products and appeared numerous times on Ideal World as a guest seller. He also continued to write blogs, answering questions about "Zhuzh!" on the "Zhuzh!" website late into 2005. http://www.zhuzh.com/index.aspDeath
Steve Whatley died on 7 November 2005, aged 46.An inquest into his death held at Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in January 2006, ruled that Steve Whatley had committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by inhaling fumes whilst ill with depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
following the breakdown of his marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
five months earlier.
External links
- Zhuzh! (www.zhuzh.com)
- VIDEO: Steve Whatley (wearing a blue suit and yellow and blue striped tie) during Ideal World's Launch Night (www.shoppingtelly.com)
- "Interview with Steve Whatley" published 8 June 2005 (www.shoppingtelly.com)
- VIDEO: Ken Oschipok and Ellis Ward announce the death of Steve Whatley on Ideal World (www.shoppingtelly.com)
- "Steve Whatley 1959-2005" published 11 November 2005 (www.shoppingtelly.com)