Supermarket Sweep and Pets Win Prizes legend Dale Winton sadly died eight years ago aged just 62, leaving everything including a home in Florida to a BBC executive
Television icon Dale Winton is still sadly missed, eight years after his tragic death. The bubbly TV presenter passed away unexpectedly on this day (April 18) back in 2018 at the age of just 62, shocking fans and his friends.
Details of the star’s last will and testament emerged after his death, revealing that he’d bequeathed his entire £2.1million estate to BBC Chief Creative Officer Mark Linsey, a close friend of his. Reports from The Sun at the time revealed that Winton entrusted his wealth, including a Florida holiday property, to Linsey and his family. Winton served as godfather to their three children.
The handwritten will contained specific instructions requesting that Winton’s ashes be laid to rest beside his mother’s remains, who tragically died by suicide in 1976. Additional provisions were made for three other close friends to receive gifts.
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The Supermarket Sweep star’s estate initially totalled £2.22 million, though this figure decreased once his financial matters were finalised following his death.
Winton was laid to rest at Golders Green cemetery in North London, with his final wishes respected as his ashes were interred next to his mother, Sheree.
The loss of his mother when Dale was just 21 profoundly affected him throughout his life, something he openly discussed.
In his autobiography, he reflected: “In her last note to me mum said she was sorry, and asked me to water the geraniums. “I was heartbroken. That feeling has never fully gone away. “I had some really desperate personal moments after mum died. On one occasion I telephoned the Samaritans and saw a volunteer. “Whatever people say to comfort one, suicide is chiefly thought of as the ultimate rejection of loved ones, as well as of life, and those who are left need time to get beyond these thoughts.”
Rumours persisted that the beloved TV star had taken his own life after he was found dead at his home. However, the coroner later ruled out suicide, attributing his death to ‘natural causes’.
His good friend Gloria Hunniford previously insisted he had not taken his own life, claiming he was found dead in his bed by his assistant after he complained of feeling unwell. Gloria said she was moved to speak out after being approached by many people who believed something different. She said his assistant saw him moments before he died and he was having a cup of tea
Winton had reportedly become so depressed and ill in his last years, a petrified neighbour used to check up on the much-loved star every day to make sure he hadn’t ended his own life.
John Wenzel, who lived two doors down from Winton’s US home, revealed that just six weeks before his death, the star said he could not get over a love split and admitted: “I have a broken heart.”
As his happiness deserted him, Winton suffered physically too, with breathing problems caused by heavy smoking and crippling shoulder and back pain that left him struggling to walk.
Although the star was best-known for madcap gameshow Supermarket Sweep, he also hosted The National Lottery: In It to Win It and Pets Win Prizes, and presented Pick of the Pops on BBC Radio 2 from 2000 to 2010.
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