Shropshire Star

Midlands tributes paid to 'larger than life' TV presenter Dale Winton

Tributes have been paid to TV presenter Dale Winton who has been described by his friends and former colleagues as a "larger than life" character.

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Dale Winton

The former Beacon Radio DJ, who briefly lived in Cartway, Bridgnorth, died at his home on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old was a household name in the mid 1990s and early 2000s while fronting shows such as Supermarket Sweep and The National Lottery: In It To Win It, but had kept a low profile in recent years.

More recently the star, known for his tanned appearance, made a show for Channel 5, Dale Winton’s Florida Fly Drive.

Ian Perry, who worked with Dale at Beacon Radio from 1988 to 1993, said he had a big personality.

He said: "What you saw is what you got with Dale.

"He was larger than life, friendly, generous and fun to be around.

Dale Winton doing a ‘Supermarket Sweep’ in Brent Cross, London, to promote the midweek National Lottery

"He was a DJ for the mid morning show. His shows were incredible, they were over the top."

He said when Dale left the radio station he had a tea party at the York Hotel in Wolverhampton for his leaving do.

Mr Perry, who now works for BBC Radio Shropshire, said: "His listeners were in tears on his last day. He was such a big part of their lives.

"We knew he wanted to go and try TV. Everyone wanted to see him succeed and everyone was really happy for him.

"When it took off it was just great."

For Signal 107 presenter Dicky Dodd, Dale was a legend of the airwaves who proved to be a major influence on his broadcasting career.

He said: "I was a 16-year-old at Wednesfield High School and went to do a day in the life of Beacon Radio.

Dale Winton

"When I got in the studio Dale Winton was on air. He welcomed me in and was really interested in what I was doing there.

"I can remember him smoking away as he chatted with us one minute, before switching to on-air mode the next.

"Before that day I wanted to be a copper but after that my mind was made up, and five years later I started working at Beacon myself."

Tony Attwater, former head of news at Beacon, said it was clear that Dale was always destined for a career in showbiz.

He said: "His mother was actress Sheree Winton, dubbed the English Jayne Mansfield, who committed suicide aged just 39.

Diva

"Dale arrived at Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton in the early 1980s. He was given the mid-morning show by programme controller Pete Wagstaff who had worked with him at Radio Trent in Nottingham.

"His nickname was Dolly and he certainly could be a diva, endlessly smoking Marlboro Lights.

"His show was mainly aimed at housewives, as was then, and with his chat and humour he was a big hit.

"Working with him was fun but he could tire you out with his infectious enthusiasm for life in general and his DJ career in particular. He always had time for everyone and while he was entertaining on-air he was twice as good when the mic was off as he had a wicked sense of humour."

Dale's long-term agent Jan Kennedy announced he had died at home.

Dale was born in Marylbone, London, in May 1955 to Gary and Sheree.

His career in showbusiness began when he worked as a DJ on the London club scene before he moved into work in radio and television.

In his 2002 autobiography he came out as gay.

In 2015 he sparked concern after failing to attend the funeral of Cilla Black, who was one of his closest friends.

A year later, he appeared on TV’s Loose Women and revealed he had been secretly battling depression after going through a difficult break up.