The Chase star Paul Sinha has said his close friend and fellow quiz teammate has died from coronavirus.
Paul, who stars in the hit TV gameshow as his alter-ago Sinnerman, paid tribute to his pal Jon Jacob who died after contracting COVID-19.
Woken up to the news that Jon Jacob, my friend and quiz teammate for the last decade, has succumbed to corona.
“Farewell mate, we smashed Sunday afternoons. And you'll always be the Greatest Classical Music Quizzer ever. (second from left).”
The tragic news comes just days after Paul himself declared he was showing symptoms of the novel virus.
The 49-year-old quiz master, who also battles Parkinson's disease, said over the weekend he had started social distancing too late and had been struck down by an illness.
"Although I can't be sure and I can't be tested it seems likely I have Coronavirus," he tweeted.
"Started social distancing a few days too late. Anyone upsets me; I'll be around to sneeze in your home."
Paul's health had been deteriorating two years prior to his Parkinson's diagnosis last June - but he said he wouldn't allow the disease to change him.
He told The Guardian: "The thing that has changed most since the diagnosis is that I've lost my fear.
"I've always been one of those comics who doesn't say much on panel shows because I’m terrified of saying the wrong thing or offending the wrong person.
"But now, I've lost all that. I've got the exaggerated carpe diem that a lot of people get with their diagnosis."
In the UK, government have advised anyone over 70 or with underlying health conditions must self-isolate for 12 weeks.
Groups of people over their 70s or with underlying health conditions have been proven to be most at risk amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
