Dale Winton: Police say death is unexplained but not suspicious

THE death of TV star Dale Winton at a house he moved into weeks earlier is unexplained but not being treated as suspicious, Scotland Yard said.

Tributes have been paid to the 62-year-old following his sudden death on Wednesday at a house in north London.

Winton had moved to Totteridge around three weeks ago, neighbours said, from a flat next to Regent’s Park in central London.

Police said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of his death after being called on Wednesday afternoon to Winton’s new home.

Scotland Yard said: “The death remains unexplained although at this early stage the police are not treating it as suspicious.

“A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.

“Enquiries into the circumstances by officers from Barnet continue.”

At the home in Totteridge, his silver Range Rover, with personalised “21 DW” number plate could be seen in the drive, behind a set of iron gates.

Winton’s nextdoor neighbour Evelyn Sawers, who said he moved in around a month ago, said she “recognised him when he was in the driveway”.

The 68-year-old said: “I felt very proud to live next to a celebrity. He was very friendly, always smiling.

“His downstairs curtains were usually closed but you could tell he was in because the lights were on. He didn’t have any parties or make lots of noise.”

Another neighbour said that he had seen the property advertised for rent at £3,000-a-month, which he said seemed good value for a five-bedroom house worth a million pounds.

Ian Grant, who manages the house opposite where Winton used to live, claimed the Supermarket Sweep star had moved out of his Regent’s Park flat some three weeks ago

He told the Press Association: “There was a ‘for sale’ sign and then white removal vans. It was just at the start of the month.”

“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.”

David Walliams, a friend of the game show host, was among the many celebrities paying tribute following the news.

Hours after first simply posting he was “heartbroken”, Walliams tweeted: “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.”

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.

— David Walliams (@davidwalliams) April 19, 2018

Winton’s agent, Jan Kennedy, said in a statement to the Press Association on Wednesday: “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.

Winton became a household name with game shows such as Supermarket Sweep and National Lottery show In It To Win It.

Supermarket Sweep, which saw contestants run around a mock-up shop collecting shopping items, was a hit in the 1990s and was later revived.

In 2016, Winton opened up about his battle with depression, triggered by a break-up.

“Listen, there are worse things in the world – but I had depression and I didn’t realise,” he said.

“I had a bad break-up and then I had health issues,” he told Loose Women.