A COMEDIAN from Leigh has paid tribute to Dale Winton, one of Britain’s favourite TV personalities.

Stand-up comic Phill Jupitus is one of many celebrities who took to Twitter to pay tribute to the much-loved TV presenter.

He posted online: “So sad about Dale Winton!

“Such a gorgeous flirt, vivacious presenter, and he was brilliant on Buzzcocks!

“And man, he loved his soul music. Met him in HMV once and he hit on me.”

Dale Winton sadly died on Wednesday night at the age of 62.

The circumstances surrounding his death has not yet been revealed. The star once hosted a show, called Touch the Truck, which was filmed at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock.

The show was aired on Channel 5 in 2001 and involved a group of 20 contestants holding onto a stationary truck and the last person left touching the truck won it.

Winton started his career as a DJ in clubs in Richmond in 1972.

In 1982, he moved to London and began his working on the London club circuit, where he worked as DJ at weekends.

This led him to the United Biscuits Radio Network where he did a variety of jobs, before getting his own morning show.

From 1993 to 2000, the presenter hosted Dale’s Supermarket Sweep during the daytime on ITV.

In 2007, Supermarket Sweep was revived after a ?five-and-half-year absence.

Comedian Les Dennis tweeted: “So sad and shocked to hear that Dale Winton has died. He was a lovely, warm man who posed charm. RIP”

Fellow funny man Julian Clary also tweeted: “Terribly sad to hear the lovely Dale Winton has died. Kind, sweet, truthful man.”