Tarrant mourns war hero father

Chris Tarrant spoke yesterday of his devastation at the loss of his war hero father.

Basil Tarrant, who was in his 80s, died at Battle Hospital in Reading, Berkshire.

The Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? presenter said he had long acknowledged he owed much to his father, who would 'always be his hero'.

He added: 'The family, who have lost a much husband, father and grandfather, ask that their privacy is respected.' Mr Tarrant, who held the Military Cross, was at both Dunkirk and D-Day.

He commanded his own platoon and stormed Juno beach with the Canadian 3rd Division at the age of 24.