Blankety Blank viewers heartbroken as they find out winner died aged 39

Heartbreaking.

Nathanael Hill, from Liverpool, won the show's main prize during the episode which featured Rob Beckett, Lucy Beaumont, Jack Dee, Omid Djalili, Dame Kelly Holmes, and Steph McGovern.

Not only did he win the show, Nathanael also won the heart's of the nation, with viewers flocking to social media to share their appreciation of him.

Heartbreakingly, as the credits rolled, a memorial message appeared explaining that Nathanael had sadly died aged just 39.

The tribute showed a photo of Nathanael on horseback with the caption: "Nathanael Hill 1985-2025."

The former RAF-veteran sadly passed away in April, just months after filming the popular show hosted by Bradley Walsh.

Nathanael served a number of tours of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as working on Operation Red Flag.

While deployed in south-central Asia, he was injured by a roadside bomb which resulted in him being medically discharged.

Four years later, he was diagnosed with late-onset type 1 diabetes. Later on, a blood clot was discovered in his leg which resulted in him contracting sepsis three times.

After surviving sepsis, he underwent an above-knee amputation and had used a prosthetic leg since.

An inspiration to all who knew him and all who watched the show, tributes poured in for Nathanael online.

One person wrote: "Who knew you could get sad at the end of an episode of Blankety Blank? RIP Nathanael."

Another wrote: "Well I don't normally bother with the credits at the end of #blanketyblank but that was a sad way to finish a jolly show."