Dale Winton sold his £2.6m central London house just three weeks ago

Game show host Dale Winton, who was found dead at his home yesterday, had only moved in three weeks ago having traded his £2.6million Regent’s Park apartment for the leafy north London suburb of Whetstone. 

Winton, who had fought depression and had a secret health battle that kept him off screen for four years, cashed in his central London home and moved to the £3,000-a-month property in an affluent area of Barnet after his television career floundered.

The TV star moved on March 23 after 17 years there and was renting the 5-bedroom house nine miles away despite apparently living there alone, leaving some friends concerned he could have chosen to end his own life.

 

Game show host Dale Winton, who was found dead at his home yesterday, had only moved in three weeks ago having traded his £2.6million Regent’s Park apartment for the leafy north London suburb of Whetstone. Winton,cashed in his central London home and moved to the five bedroom, £3,000-a-month property in an affluent area of Barnet (pictured)

‘He just didn’t seem himself anymore,’ a source who had recently worked with Winton told The Sun.

‘He’d battled depression in the past but over the last few months it appeared to have really taken hold.

‘He was quite erratic and could become very downbeat quickly, and a number of people who knew him were concerned,’ the added.

The fears come as it was revealed that on the eve of his move he joked: ‘If I died today no one would want all this old junk’ – referring to the memorabilia from his TV career.

The star was found collapsed yesterday afternoon and Scotland Yard has ordered a post-mortem examination after his sudden death – but detectives are not treating it as suspicious. 

Lifelong friend and LBC DJ Steve Allen said he would hint at killing himself and had asked him repeatedly: ‘Do you think there’d be a turn out at the funeral? Please make sure everyone turns up’.  

The TV star moved from the Regent's Park apartment on March 23 after 17 years there and was renting the 5-bedroom house nine miles away despite apparently living there alone. On the eve of his move he joked: 'If I died today no one would want all this old junk' because he hoarded memorabilia from his TV career

The TV star moved from the Regent’s Park apartment on March 23 after 17 years there and was renting the 5-bedroom house nine miles away despite apparently living there alone. On the eve of his move he joked: ‘If I died today no one would want all this old junk’ because he hoarded memorabilia from his TV career

Winton moved out of his Regent's Park flat three weeks ago, confirmed one local. The TV star moved on March 23 after 17 years there and was renting the 5-bedroom house nine miles away despite apparently living there alone. His new home had large windows and plush furniture 

Winton moved out of his Regent’s Park flat three weeks ago, confirmed one local. The TV star moved on March 23 after 17 years there and was renting the 5-bedroom house nine miles away despite apparently living there alone. His new home had large windows and plush furniture 

Next door neighbour Evelyn Sawers, 68, said: ‘Dale had only been living there about a month. 

‘He kept to himself, occasionally I’d see him on his door step and he’d say ‘hello’ but other than that I didn’t see much of him. 

‘Yesterday there were four ambulances and a lot of police and I wondered what had happened. 

‘There was a tall blonde woman by his front door talking to a policeman. She might have been a relative. 

‘It wasn’t until I saw the news that I realised Dale had died. It’s a shame as he seemed a nice man. I recognised him from the television’. 

Winton moved out of his Regent’s Park flat three weeks ago, confirmed one local.

‘There was a for sale sign and then white removals vans. It was just at the start of the month,’ said Ian Grant, who manages the house opposite to where Winton lived.

Lifelong friend and LBC DJ Steve Allen said he would hint at killing himself and had asked him repeatedly: 'Do you think there'd be a turn out at the funeral? Please make sure everyone turns up' (one of the five bedrooms in his newly rented property)

Lifelong friend and LBC DJ Steve Allen said he would hint at killing himself and had asked him repeatedly: ‘Do you think there’d be a turn out at the funeral? Please make sure everyone turns up’ (one of the five bedrooms in his newly rented property)

The star was found collapsed yesterday afternoon and Scotland Yard has ordered a post-mortem examination after his sudden death - but detectives are not treating it as suspicious (Winton's kitchen in his newly rented property)

The star was found collapsed yesterday afternoon and Scotland Yard has ordered a post-mortem examination after his sudden death – but detectives are not treating it as suspicious (Winton’s kitchen in his newly rented property)

‘He was always very pleasant, saying ‘hello’ in the street, no matter what time of day,’ added the 84-year-old.

‘He had a Range Rover and a Bentley parked outside, with personal ‘DW’ number plates. He had been there for years. At least 17 years.

‘You could always tell when he was in, because he had such a loud voice. He didn’t particularly have parties or lots of people over though.

‘I’ll always remember him as a very pleasant man, and I’m just sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye.’  

More former neighbours of Winton in Central London have paid their tributes to the TV star.

‘I saw him a few weeks ago,’ said a woman who lives on York Terrace East and declined to be identified.

‘He was delightful, always very kind, but he hadn’t been the same since Cilla (Black) died. Since then, he spent a lot more time in Florida.’

A man who lives opposite Winton’s former residence said: ‘He was a very nice man. Very agreeable and cheerful. He always gave me a big hello on the street. He was very neighbourly.’

A bouquet of white roses lay on the doorstep of Winton's old house with a card that said: 'The kindest man I knew. Always in my heart.' It was signed 'Go Go' (Winton's kitchen and dining area in his newly rented property)

A bouquet of white roses lay on the doorstep of Winton’s old house with a card that said: ‘The kindest man I knew. Always in my heart.’ It was signed ‘Go Go’ (Winton’s kitchen and dining area in his newly rented property)

A bouquet of white roses lay on the doorstep of Winton’s old house with a card that said: ‘The kindest man I knew. Always in my heart.’ It was signed ‘Go Go’. 

In a moving tribute to his friend David Walliams tweeted today: ‘Dale was the best company, always outrageous & hilarious. He adored being in show business & loved meeting fans. He devoted his life to making everyone else happy, his friends, the public & his godsons, even though he found it hard to be happy himself. I pray he has found peace’. 

Walliams, Winton’s closest friend, said today: ‘He found it hard to be happy himself. I pray he has found peace’  

Walliams, who spoke openly about his battle with depression two years ago, recalled some of his favourite memories of Winton, in a series of tweets accompanied by his favourite pictures of the star.

Walliams wrote: ‘Dale was the best company, always outrageous & hilarious. He adored being in show business & loved meeting fans. 

Dale Winton used his final TV interview in June 2016 to admit he couldn't find love because 'nobody wants a camp, over 60-year-old' like him

Dale Winton used his final TV interview in June 2016 to admit he couldn’t find love because ‘nobody wants a camp, over 60-year-old’ like him

‘One night Dale & I were going out to dinner & he stopped off on the way to buy diet lemonade from a corner shop.

‘He was in there about 20 minutes. When he finally got back in the car I asked ‘what took you so long?’ & he said ‘sorry David I am very big with the Indian community’.

‘One afternoon Dale & I were out shopping & some policeman were standing on the street corner.

‘He gave them a huge wave & called out ‘hello loves, hello darlings!’ I asked why he was saying hello. He replied ‘always wave at policemen David. You never know when you might need one!’

‘Dale’s ideal man was Omid Djalili.

‘One night Dale was driving me home from dinner when a big group of lads from Newcastle on a stag night saw him & shouted ‘Dale!’

‘Dale turned to me & said ‘it is such a shame you are here or I would have them all straight back at my house with their trousers around their ankles!’.’     

In June 2016, two months before he was last seen in public, he said: ‘I would not leave the house for five years. I didn’t want to put one foot in front of the other outside the house. I had a bad break up and I had health issues and I thought, ‘I want to withdraw’.’

A year earlier he failed to make it to his close friend Cilla Black’s funeral, sparking concerns about his health, and had undergone four operations in four years to fix crippling pain in his knees and shoulders. 

Speaking in his final TV interview in 2016 he revealed he could not meet anyone to spend his life because he spent too much time chasing ‘mean and nasty’ men.

He said: ‘Nobody wants a camp, over 60-year-old man. I can’t go on dating sites. I’m quite well known so the minute you see the picture it’s desperately unattractive to another gay man to find a guy in showbusiness on there’. He added: ‘It’s time I went from troubled boys to nice guys .’ 

Winton died at this £1million home in Whetstone in north London just three weeks after moving there from his central London flat. His Land Rover remains on the drive

Winton died at this £1million home in Whetstone in north London just three weeks after moving there from his central London flat. His Land Rover remains on the drive

Winton failed to make it to his close friend Cilla Black's funeral in 2015, sparking concerns about his health and he later admitted he couldn't leave the house

Winton failed to make it to his close friend Cilla Black’s funeral in 2015, sparking concerns about his health and he later admitted he couldn’t leave the house

His friend of 50 years, LBC DJ Steve Allen, said today: ‘He didn’t like the ageing process, he hated it. He used to say to me ‘I’ve had enough’. I feel happy for him that he’s in a place now where he’s probably going to be eternally young’.

Mr Allen also revealed Winton would hint at killing himself because of his medical problems, emotional problems and ‘insecurities’ and had asked him repeatedly: ‘Do you think there’d be a turn out at the funeral? Please make sure everyone turns up’.

Dale Winton never got over finding his mother (together when they were three) dead after her suicide when he was and he also deeply regretted not telling the Thunderball actress he was gay when he had the chance

Dale Winton never got over finding his mother (together when they were three) dead after her suicide when he was and he also deeply regretted not telling the Thunderball actress he was gay when he had the chance

He added: ‘Deep down he was a bit lonely. He needed a partner. He has had some bad picks’. 

In the 2016 Loose Women interview Winton admitted he was too depressed to leave the house after a messy break-up with another man but never revealed publicly who he was dating.

He said: ‘It (depression) was triggered by a very bad break-up. God, I can’t half pick them’.

‘People are amazed at my taste. I like them if they’ve not got a tooth in their head, tattooes, the lot. If they’ve got emotional problems, sign me up. If there’s a man over 45 with a beard I’m there’. 

Neighbours have said that Winton ‘wasn’t quite right’ and ‘he did not look that great’ before his death and police and paramedics were called to his home at 4.10pm yesterday after he was found dead inside.

An only child, Dale’s happy childhood ended when his father Gary collapsed and died on the day of his bar mitzvah when he was 13 and he came home aged 21 to find his mother Sheree had killed herself with a drug overdose in her bedroom. 

His own sudden death yesterday came just a month before his 63rd birthday and the 41st anniversary of his actress mother’s suicide, which he admitted he ‘never got over’.

Winton started his career in local radio and had little work for eight years until he spent nearly a decade hosting Supermarket Sweep before fronting the National Lottery show In It To Win It on BBC1 for 14 years and the Pick of the Pops show on BBC Radio 2 for ten years.

But the star, known for his sunny disposition, bright smile and tan, disappeared from public life two years ago admitting he ‘wouldn’t leave the house’ because of depression and regrets that he had failed to admit he was gay until he was 45.

A year earlier he failed to make it to his close friend Cilla Black’s funeral, sparking concerns about his health, and had undergone four operations in four years to fix crippling pain in his knees and shoulders. 

But this year he relaunched his career with a US travel show on Channel 5 called Dale’s Florida Fly Drive.  The final episodes will now be shown at an ‘appropriate time in the future’.

In his 2002 autobiography he came out as gay but revealed his regret at not telling his mother before her death saying in 2008 that nobody had really ever asked him about his sexual orientation. 

This year he had relaunched his TV career with a new Channel 5 show Dale’s Florida Fly Drive but he died before the series was shown in full. 

His friend Davina McCall led the tributes last night as she described him as a ‘lovely, warm, kind, sensitive, generous soul with a touch of naughty!’

This year he had relaunched his TV career with a new Channel 5 show Dale's Florida Fly Drive (pictured) but he died before the series was shown in full 

This year he had relaunched his TV career with a new Channel 5 show Dale’s Florida Fly Drive (pictured) but he died before the series was shown in full 

TV star Dale Winton has died at the age of 62 at his London home (pictured in his last public appearance in 2016 with friend David Walliams)

Dale Winton in August 2016

TV star Dale Winton has died at the age of 62 at his London home (pictured in his last public appearance in July 2016 with friend David Walliams), and right a month later

Flowers for the 'kindest man I know' were left on his doorstep today by a friend nicknamed 'GoGo' by the star

Flowers for the ‘kindest man I know’ were left on his doorstep today by a friend nicknamed ‘GoGo’ by the star

Dale Winton, pictured at the 2003 British Soap Awards, died suddenly at his London flat, his agent has revealed and police are now investigating

Dale Winton, pictured at the 2003 British Soap Awards, died suddenly at his London flat, his agent has revealed and police are now investigating

Winton left his Marylebone flat (pictured today) three weeks ago but died on Wednesday at the age of 62, but no further details about how or why were given

The home of the TV presenter Dale Winton in Totteridge, north London

Winton left his Marylebone flat (pictured today) three weeks ago after selling it for £2.6million but died on Wednesday at the age of 62 in his new rented home in north London (right)

 

David Walliams, who Winton counted among his closest friends, has given both tragic and hilarious insights into his life and personality

David Walliams, who Winton counted among his closest friends, has given both tragic and hilarious insights into his life and personality

Dale Winton on his battle with depression on TV’s Loose Women and the personal crisis ‘when my mum died’

Speaking on ITV’s Loose Women panel in June 2016, Winton opened up about his secret battle with depression.

He was unable to attend his close friend Cilla Black’s funeral which sparked major concern about his welfare.

He admitted his mental health had declined to such an extent he found it difficult to put ‘one foot in front of the other’.

Dale Winton had appeared on the Loose Women in 2016, where he opened up about his battle with depression

Dale Winton had appeared on the Loose Women in 2016, where he opened up about his battle with depression

Part of his problems concerned a difficult break up.

He told the panel: ‘I had a very bad year. I should have taken myself off the TV but I didn’t.

‘There are worse things in the world, but I had the health issues and the depression. My mum died.

‘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.’

His confidence took a blow during the series In it To Win It when people commented ‘he doesn’t look well’. 

‘I pray he has found peace’: David Walliams leads tributes to Dale Winton – who lost both his parents early in life and battled with depression – as ‘sensitive soul with a touch of naughty’ dies aged 62 

David Walliams says he prays his friend Dale Winton ‘has found peace’ after the troubled TV star’s death yesterday.

The Supermarket Sweep and National Lottery presenter died aged 62 at his home in north London, two years after he revealed he was battling depression.

Police are investigating the circumstances of his ‘unexplained’ death, but say it is not being treated as suspicious. 

Winton had a difficult childhood with his parents divorcing when he was ten. His father died on the day of his bar mitzvah.

Just days after his 21st birthday, Winton found the body of his mother, who had depression and died after taking an overdose, leaving a do-not-disturb sign on her bedroom door.

Close friend Walliams wrote online: ‘He devoted his life to making everyone else happy… even though he found it hard to be happy himself. I pray he has found peace.’ 

David Walliams has led celebrity tributes to his close friend, daytime TV legend David Walliams

David Walliams has led celebrity tributes to his close friend, daytime TV legend David Walliams

Walliams recalled a series of hilarious episodes from times he spent with Winton

Walliams recalled a series of hilarious episodes from times he spent with Winton

Walliams also shared some of his favourite photos of Winton with his Twitter followers

Walliams also shared some of his favourite photos of Winton with his Twitter followers

Little Britain star Walliams also recalled some of his favourite memories of Winton, in a series of tweets accompanied by his favourite pictures of the star.

Walliams wrote: ‘Dale was the best company, always outrageous & hilarious. He adored being in show business & loved meeting fans. 

‘One night Dale & I were going out to dinner & he stopped off on the way to buy diet lemonade from a corner shop.

‘He was in there about 20 minutes. When he finally got back in the car I asked ‘what took you so long?’ & he said ‘sorry David I am very big with the Indian community’.

‘One afternoon Dale & I were out shopping & some policeman were standing on the street corner.

‘He gave them a huge wave & called out ‘hello loves, hello darlings!’ I asked why he was saying hello. He replied ‘always wave at policemen David. You never know when you might need one!’

‘Dale’s ideal man was Omid Djalili.

‘One night Dale was driving me home from dinner when a big group of lads from Newcastle on a stag night saw him & shouted ‘Dale!’

‘Dale turned to me & said ‘it is such a shame you are here or I would have them all straight back at my house with their trousers around their ankles!’.’   

The Supermarket Sweep host passed away at his home earlier on Wednesday

The Supermarket Sweep host passed away at his home earlier on Wednesday

The star’s agent announced the TV favourite had died at his home earlier on Wednesday.

His long-term agent Jan Kennedy announced in a statement to the Press Association: ‘It is with great sadness that we can confirm the passing of Dale Winton who died at home earlier today.

‘While we know many will share this terrible loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time of grief.’ No further details were announced.

Concerns had been raised for Winton’s welfare after he missed Cilla Black’s funeral in 2015.

Appearing on Loose Women in 2016, he revealed he had been going through a secret battle with depression after a difficult break-up.

He added: ‘Money wasn’t the main thing. It was the series of In It To Win It that we were filming, and we had three episodes to go but people were saying, ‘He doesn’t look well’.

‘I had a very bad year. I should have taken myself off the TV.

‘Five years I went through it. I wanted to withdraw. If you’ve never had it, you’ll never understand it. It was triggered by a very bad break-up. God, I can’t half pick em! People are amazed at my taste.’ 

Leading the tributes: Davina McCall led tributes to Dale Winton on Wednesday, following the shocking news of his death at the age of 62. Pictured together in September 2005

Leading the tributes: Davina McCall led tributes to Dale Winton on Wednesday, following the shocking news of his death at the age of 62. Pictured together in September 2005

Davina McCall was among some of TV's most famous faces who paid tribute to Winton

Davina McCall was among some of TV’s most famous faces who paid tribute to Winton

Dale Winton meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance in  2001

Dale Winton meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance in 2001

Dale Winton with Cilia Black in 2009. Winton described her as one of his dearest friends

Dale Winton with Cilia Black in 2009. Winton described her as one of his dearest friends

Dale’s family album: Unseen photos offer a glimpse into TV host Winton’s childhood with his beloved mother and father

These unseen family photos show Dale Winton before he was famous – including heartwarming snaps of him with his glamorous actress mother who committed suicide.

One photo shows him in London’s Cumberland hotel in 1959, sitting between his doting mum Sheree and father Gary enjoying a Christmas meal.

The chubby four-year-old is holding his tragic mother’s hand while they all smile and pose wearing silly hats for the hotel photographer. Others show him at the wedding of his cousin Amanda Shayle in 1984.

Winton accompanied his aunt Hazel – Amanda’s mother – down the aisle, because her husband Harry had died just before the wedding.

Paying tribute Amanda, 57, said today said: ‘I remember when he came to tell me that he had this new job on a programme called Supermarket Sweep.

‘We were close before that. Things really took off from them and he worked very hard and we didn’t see as much of each other.

‘He was a very generous and genuine person. There are only positive things to say. I don’t know what his cause of death was.’

A young and happy Dale Winton, aged three, with his parents Gary and Sheree Winton before his life was touched by tragedy

A young and happy Dale Winton, aged three, with his parents Gary and Sheree Winton before his life was touched by tragedy

Winton spending Christmas at the Cumberland Hotel in 1959 with his doting mum Sheree and father as a happy four-year-old

Winton spending Christmas at the Cumberland Hotel in 1959 with his doting mum Sheree and father as a happy four-year-old

Winton aged five, in October 1960, is front and centre in this family photo with his parents (centre) and other relatives

Winton aged five, in October 1960, is front and centre in this family photo with his parents (centre) and other relatives

Winton gives  his cousin Amanda Shayle a kiss on her wedding day in 1984. Mrs Shayle has been left shocked by his sudden death

Winton gives  his cousin Amanda Shayle a kiss on her wedding day in 1984. Mrs Shayle has been left shocked by his sudden death

Winton accompanied his aunt Hazel - Amanda's mother - down the aisle, because her husband Harry had died just before the wedding.

Winton accompanied his aunt Hazel – Amanda’s mother – down the aisle, because her husband Harry had died just before the wedding.

Dale Winton (far right) seen at the wedding of his cousin Amanda  in 1984

Dale Winton (far right) seen at the wedding of his cousin Amanda  in 1984

Dale Winton pictured in his early radio days on Radio Trent in Nottingham in around 1985

Dale Winton pictured in his early radio days on Radio Trent in Nottingham in around 1985



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