The Chase star Paul Sinha has revealed that a close friend has died from the coronavirus, just days after he reported showing symptoms himself.

Last night the UK entered a government-enforced lockdown in an effort to combat the disease, which has claimed more than 16,700 lives worldwide, including 335 in the UK.

Over the weekend Sinha revealed that it is "likely" he has contracted COVID-19 and now he has taken to social media to pay tribute to close friend Jon Jacob after learning that he had passed away.

"Woken up to the news that Jon Jacob, my friend and quiz teammate for the last decade, has succumbed to corona," Sinha wrote on Twitter.

"Farewell mate, we smashed Sunday afternoons. And you'll always be the Greatest Classical Music Quizzer ever."

Sinha, known as 'The Sinnerman' on the ITV quiz show, revealed last year that he is battling Parkinson's disease.