Charlie Watkins, 22, was found dead at his home in March
A Take Me Out contestant who lost his job because he took four days off to film the show hanged himself a month later, an inquest heard.
Charlie Watkins, 22, went on the dating show in a bid to find ‘the one’ after saying he was disappointed he had been unlucky in love during his three years at university.
York Coroners’ Court heard the Criminology graduate took a job at the chocolate museum and shop York Chocolate Story for a few months after completing his degree.
But his twin brother said Charlie could not have his phone with him during four days of filming at the Maidstone Studios in Kent.
He missed calls from work and his employment was terminated when he returned.
His family also told the inquest Charlie had ‘never recovered from the tragic loss of his mother.’
Charlie’s four-day filming commitment lost him his job at the chocolate factory in York
Charlie went on the dating show in a bid to find ‘the one’ after saying he was disappointed he had been unlucky in love during his three years at university
Charlie’s lacrosse team mate and housemate Swabir Abdul Rahmam, 24, told the inquest: ‘He really loved his job at the chocolate factory – he was happy.
‘But when he went to go film for the Take Me Out TV programme, he lost his job – they terminated his contract.
‘He then had nothing to do apart from stay around the house and play on the Xbox and Playstation. He would have spent that time at work.’
Family and friends told the inquest Charlie had self-harmed previously and taken anti-depressant medication in the past.
But Mr Rahmam said those days were behind him and at the time ‘he was cheerful and happy’.
Charlie’s psychiatrist Vivienne Sabre described him as ‘the life and soul of every party, but would suddenly retreat into the back of his mind moments later’.
The 22-year-old tragically posted after graduating in June 2016: ‘My one regret is not finding that one woman for me to spend the rest of my life with.’
Charlie, known on Take Me Out as ‘Chaz Man’, even posted a picture on his Facebook account of the show’s application form as he filled it in.
He was then called up to join match-making host Paddy McGuinness and shot scenes in February, winning a date with pretty brunette Jo-Tara.
The inquest heard Charlie suffered after losing his mother when he was aged nine, and then his grandmother, grandfather and aunt within a five year period
The episode featuring Charlie and Tara-Jo was broadcast in April and dedicated to his memory
In a Twitter post, McGuinness said the episode featuring Charlie would be dedicated to his memory.
The presenter wrote: ‘Tonight’s Take Me Out is in memory of Charlie. A fantastic lad who I’m sure will be greatly missed by his wonderful friends and family. RIP.’
It was broadcast on April 23 after ITV were granted the go-ahead from his family.
Charlie’s date with Jo-Tara was also broadcast a week later as the pair jetted off to the show’s fictional Isle of Fernando’s, where their date ‘went really well’.
The inquest heard Charlie had spent the day before his death drinking with his brother in Leeds, West Yorkshire, before enjoying a charity dinner with friends in York.
He was found hanged in his bedroom by his flatmates the following evening, on March 13.
Mr Rahmam, who was the first to find Charlie, used a credit card to slide open the latch and attempt to open the door.
He told the inquest: ‘I knew Charlie was dead – panic then set in and I called for an ambulance.’
Paddy McGuinness paid a touching tribute to Charlie after it was revealed he had died
Paramedics arrived at the address around 9pm and reports confirmed rigamortis had already set in after it took 45 minutes to gain entry to his room.
The inquest heard Charlie suffered after losing his mother when he was aged nine, and then his grandmother, grandfather and aunt within a five year period.
North Yorkshire Coroner Rob Turnbull said he ‘unable to answer questions put in front of him’ as Charlie left no suicide note and his mother had died ‘some years ago’.
Returning a conclusion of suicide, Mr Turnbull said: ‘Charlie was witty, charming and a considerate young man – that is what people thought of him.
‘He was all but a popular young man and it was in a sad set of circumstances his life was to end the way it did.’
After the hearing, Charlie’s twin brother Harry Watkins, 23, said: ‘I didn’t know he was still struggling with our mother’s death.
‘I also noticed some laceration marks on his arm about a year ago when we went to the gym, but he just told me to mind my own business.
‘We thought he had got better.’
The family, from Essex, said they have now set up a foundation in Charlie’s name to help others battling mental health.
To donate to The Charlie Watkins Foundation visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlie-watkins-foundation
York Chocolate Story and Take Me Out have been contacted for comment.