Dale Winton "worried" about when his TV career would end.
Danny Baker has revealed the former ‘Hole in the Wall’ host – who passed away on Wednesday (18.04.18) aged 62 – used to feel "shocked" when he got gigs on the small screen, and believes the ‘Supermarket Sweep’ presenter was "a thousand times more entertaining" in private.
He said: "I wrote some stuff for Dale over the years. I’m not good at this eulogising, because when you know people you know they wouldn’t want … and I can feel people over your shoulder saying, ‘Oh shut up.’
"Here’s thing about Dale. On TV he was terrific, but he always looked like he was on his best behaviour.
"But in private he was never on his best behaviour and he was a thousand times more entertaining, if you’ll forgive me. Television he did the job.
"It was like the Russell Harty thing. He was quite flamboyant, and I don’t use that just in the gay way. He had to rein it in and Dale was never quite sure how much people wanted of the real Dale.
"He was also shocked to be on television, and he was also worried about when it would end."
But Danny believes Dale had the ideal mix of entertainment in his private and personal life.
Speaking on ‘Good Morning Britain’, he added: "I think that’s exactly your life should be. Don’t be at your most entertaining in public, on television, if you can be entertaining in private that’s much, much better.
"It’s a rotten piece of news."
Radio DJ Danny, 60, also took to Twitter to pay tribute to his pal, praising him as an "unassuming, gentle" guy.
He wrote: "Dear me. Goodnight Dale. An unassuming gentle man, lively company, a pleasure to write for. I will henceforth always salute your regular spot outside Pat Val’s Marylebone High Street. God Bless."
Dale’s passing was confirmed by his agent Jan Kennedy on Wednesday evening.
She said in a statement: "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."
Further details about his death are not known at the time of writing.
Dale Winton ‘worried’ when TV career would end
