As an ambassador for Yorkshire, he was known to millions as the affable presenter of television show Countdown, but his formative years were spent out of the public glare producing plays at his school.

More than two years after he left Giggleswick School over £500,000 in his will, the Dales boarding school is launching a campaign to raise funds for a theatre to be named in their former pupil's honour.

The presenter's generous gift will form the foundation of a bid to raise £2m to build the Richard Whiteley Theatre at the school where he was also a governor for over 25 years.

"As a governor, Richard believed passionately that we should have purpose-built facilities which would reflect the importance of drama at Giggleswick and which could showcase the quality and sophistication of our productions," said headmaster Geoffrey Boult. "His last gift to the school has inspired those he left behind to make his vision a reality."

As a pupil at the school from 1957 to 1962, Whiteley worked with his English teacher, Russell Harty, to produce plays such as The Merchant of Venice.

In the 1980s, as a friend of the school, he took time out of his busy television schedule to "carry the bags" with touring performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Boyfriend.

Whiteley's partner, Kathy Apanowicz, said: "As a governor, Richard watched over the pupils as if they were part of his family. Richard and I shared a love of musicals. Giggleswick has always been brilliant at putting on musicals and I look forward to some grand nights out in the new theatre."

The campaign has already attracted support from some of the UK's best-known names of stage and screen, including York-born Dame Judi Dench, Zoë Wanamaker and Sir Tim Rice.

Whiteley's friend and Countdown co-presenter Carol Vorderman, who is also backing the campaign, said: "Whiters would have been quietly proud of being remembered like this. He always wanted to see the creation of a theatre at Giggleswick School and this is a fitting tribute to a man whose lifelong passions included performance, the Dales and his school."

Whiteley delivered his first outside broadcasts commentating on school sports events after winning a scholarship to Giggleswick School in 1957.

Former pupils will gather at the school tomorrow for the launch of the theatre campaign, three years and two days after Whiteley's untimely death at the age of 62.

The £2m project will involve converting the school's old sports hall into a permanent 300-seat theatre served by professional-quality technical facilities. It is hoped that the auditorium will be used for drama, music and lectures, with retractable seating providing flexibility.

The new theatre will also provide a valuable resource for the local community.

Performance is deeply embedded in life at the school where productions are staged throughout the year, from the annual House "Singing and Speaking" competition to ambitious musicals such as Les Misérables and We Will Rock You.

Every year a number of pupils audition for and are accepted by the National Youth Theatre.