Dale Winton DIDN’T kill himself and was found dead by his assistant after saying he ‘didn’t feel well’, claims Gloria Hunniford

SHOWBIZ legend Dale Winton died alone in his bed 30 minutes after complaining of feeling unwell, his close friend Gloria Hunniford has claimed.

Dale passed away aged 62 last month and had apparently enjoyed a cup of coffee with his personal assistant just a short while beforehand, she said.

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Lifting the lid on her pal's tragic final moments, Gloria insisted Dale did not take his own life - despite her hearing rumours that he had.

Although there is yet to be a formal inquest into Dale's death, Gloria said on Loose Women: "He had his assistant in the house and had a cup of coffee and a chat, he was fine.

"He then said, 'Do you know what, I'm not feeling great', so went upstairs for a bath or a shower.

"She thought it was a bit quiet, so went upstairs in half an hour's time and sadly found him dead in his bed."

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Gloria was also very keen to stress that Dale "did NOT take his own life".

She added: "I just think it's so sad when people say he took his own life.

"This has really upset me in the intervening time - so many people have said, 'It's such a shame he committed suicide'.

"But he didn’t. He did not commit suicide and I'm keen to set the record straight."

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Gloria continued: "Dale had a lot of things going wrong. He had a lot of pain from arthritis, a heart complaint and had a really bad chest infection. He had asthma as well."

Gloria told her fellow panellists and viewers that a coroner's report into Dale's death is due in the next "two weeks", with fellow Loose Women star Jane Moore saying he died of "natural causes".

She added: "We will then know whether he died from a heart complaint."

Gloria joined a whole host of famous faces at a memorial service held for Dale in London last week.

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Speaking about the funeral, she described the atmosphere "almost as a wedding".

Gloria explained: "Dale was such a well-loved man and everyone who went to the celebration - because that is what is was - had a chance to say their own goodbye.

"It was a humanist service and David Walliams read a song. It just meant so much.

"It almost had the atmosphere of a wedding."

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