He was the much loved permatanned host of Supermarket Sweep. Onscreen, Dale Winton was known for being smiley and upbeat and viewers were shocked when news of his death broke back on Wednesday, April 18 2018 aged just 62.
Rumours swirled that the primetime presenter of 25 years had taken his own life but a coroner ruled the star died from natural causes. The presenter was found dead in his bed by his assistant at his rented semi-detached house in Whetstone, north London and had complained of feeling unwell shortly before. Close pal Gloria Hunniford revealed his employee has seen him moments before he passed and he was having a cup of tea.
Dale, who presented BBC shows Pets Win Prizes and Hole in the Wall, was rumoured to be suffering from financial woes, selling his £2.6m townhouse in central London just three weeks before he died to rent his £3,000 a month suburban pad. His long-time friend, radio host Steve Allen, confirmed his pal hadn't been in a "good place".
Dale's funeral took place in 2018 (MDM)"He used to say to me: 'I’ve had enough'," said Steve. "I feel happy for him that he’s in a place now where he’s probably going to be eternally young. He won’t age any more." "He had quite a sad life when you look back," added Loose Women star Gloria. "His father died when he was 15 and his mother committed suicide when he was 21."
Dale, whose close showbiz pals included David Walliams and Cilla Black, was said to have previously suffered from depression after a relationship break-up. According to his next door neighbour in his Florida home, the star had fallen hard for a man 20 years his junior but was unceremoniously dumped.
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"The guy said that he wanted to meet Elton John, so Dale arranged a meeting," said Mark Collins. "He flew the guy to London and they had lunch with Elton. When they came back he kind of dumped him. He just said: 'goodbye Dale'. Dale went into a tailspin on that one."
The star was renting a five-bedroom home in north London (PA)Dale came out as gay in 2002 and voiced regrets about not being open with his mum Sheree about his sexuality before she passed away. He never went public with any partners during his lifetime but did speak of a brutal breakup on Loose Women. "I had a very bad year," said Dale in 2016. "I should have taken myself off the TV but I didn't.
"I did not want to put one foot in front of the other outside the house. I would not leave the house. Five years I went through it. I wanted to withdraw... If you've never had it, you'll never understand it."
A new documentary celebrates the star's life, which saw him present a host of primetime shows in a lengthy telly career. It features several of his close pals, actress Claire Sweeney, impressionist Jon Culshaw, Gloria and his much-loved godsons.
Watch The Dale Winton Story: One Of A Kind tonight at 8.40pm on Channel 5
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