Life of ‘Del Boy billionaire’ who is keeping Wilko alive

The 'Del Boy billionaire' who saved Wilko's brand name with a last-minute offer grew up on a council estate and couldn't read until he was 27.

The Range founder Chris Dawson, 71, now lives the high life with luxuries including a £250,000 Bentley, Rolls Royce and 30-acre mansion.

The entrepreneur has agreed to take on Wilko's brand name in a £5million deal. It will see The Range take on the Wilko website - but all shops will close for good.

Chris says he's exactly like Only Fools and Horses' Del Boy. He said about the programme: "I actually had that life. You think, b***** me, I’ve said that, done that."

Chris opened his first The Range superstore at Sugar Mill business park in Plymouth in 1989. It now boasts 210 stores around the UK and Ireland.

He owns a £250,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith coupe that sports £35,000 DE11 BOY number plates.

Chris - now worth £2.25 billion - was raised in poverty in Hooe, Plymouth. He was 27 before he learnt to read - and he still can't write.