A man who appeared as a contestant on Come Dine With Me tragically took his own life, an inquest was told.
Nicholas Paul Blything, 36, from Chester, was found dead at his home address on June 15, 2022. Fans of the popular Channel 4 competition show first heard the news of his death last year.
In honour of his memory, an episode of the show featuring Nicholas was aired on November 4 while a tribute to him was displayed following the end of the programme. An inquest into his death was held in Warrington on Monday, January 9, Cheshire Live reports.
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Area coroner Claire Welch confirmed that his body was discovered in a bedroom at his home on James Clarke Road, Winsford, by his brother Richard.
A Cheshire Police statement from Detective Sergeant Paul Davies, read out by area coroner Claire Welch, said: "Nicholas' brother Richard Blything had attempted to speak to him after his sister had raised concerns that Nicholas had not been in touch. It was Richard who found him and provided police with the formal identification.
"He had entered the property without the need of the key because it was unlocked and he had been around to see neighbours, who had a spare key. As he entered he couldn't hear the dog barking, which was unusual, and he found his brother in the top bedroom."
Two suicide notes were recovered from the property. It was revealed that Nicholas had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was suffering with mental health issues for 'a number of years'.
On April 8, Nicholas was sectioned under the Mental Health Act following an incident in North Wales where he told a friend that he 'might as well throw himself off a cliff'. Since then, he was receiving treatment and had been in contact with his GP as well as a local mental health team.
He also made a number of calls to the Crisis line. Statements from his family and medical professionals state that he had been 'improving' and there were no signs that he intended to take his own life.
A statement from Richard Blything, read out by Mrs Welch, said: "In recent months, subsequent to the incident in April and being sectioned by the mental health team, he had been depressed and anxious about his future. But once he started on anti-depressants, his mood had lifted.
"Richard was asked by the mental health team if he thought Nicholas would take his own life, to which he said 'no' because he genuinely never felt he would. In the days before he passed away, he was very buoyant.
"He collected the dog from his parents, collected plants for his garden, had been mowing his lawn, cleaning his home, sorting out his food shop, said he had a good weekend and that he was going to catch up with him (Richard) in the week. Richard said that it sounded like his brother was 'coming back to the best he had heard him for years'."
Mrs Welch highlighted that Nicholas had been in a 'dark place' in April but sowed signs of 'improving'. She noted that his brother said Nicholas was making plans for the future.
She added: "Taking into account the presence of a number of notes.... I am satisfied that there is no other explanation for him to have done what he did on that day in question."
She also said the nature of his death was evidence of an intent to take his own life and she concluded that Nicholas had died as a result of a suicide.
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