Matthew Strachan, the English composer and singer-songwriter who wrote the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? theme tune has died ‘suddenly’ at home aged 50.
Strachan wrote the theme tune for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? alongside his father, Keith in 1998 and went on to win 12 awards for his music, including 10 for the show’s soundtrack.
His body was found by paramedics who were called to a residential address at Chudleigh Road, Twickenham, around 11:03am.
Strachan’s death comes less than a month after he was handed a 10-month suspended sentence for setting fire to his own home in a suspected suicide attempt in March last year.
The term, suspended for two years, included alcohol and mental health requirements.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We sent an ambulance crew, two medics in cars, and a hazardous area response team. Sadly, a person died at the scene.’
Scotland Yard said Strachan was declared dead at the scene and that the sudden passing was not being treated as suspicious.
The West London Coroner said they had opened an investigation into the composer’s death on September 8.
‘A post mortem has taken place and we are awaiting toxicology and histology results.
‘Once we have the results the pathologist will be able to finalise their report and hopefully ascertain the cause of death,’ they said in a statement.
Strachan’s father Keith told the BBC his son was ‘loved by his family and he will be sadly missed. He was a warn, funny and talented human being’.Fellow composer Daniel Pemberton took to Twitter to pay tribute to him.
He wrote: ‘Very sad news today. I learnt that Matthew Strachan has died. He will forever be known as the composer (along with his dad!) of the groundbreaking WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE.
‘But for me he was always more than that. He was someone who chased a magical dream..’
Another composer and friend of Strachan, Dirk Marks, said: ‘Goodbye dear friend and massive talent Matthew Strachan. A gentle, kind, talented, and wickedly funny Prince.’
A friend told The Sun: ‘Matthew was a troubled soul but an incredibly gifted man.
‘He was gentle and kind but endured an ongoing struggle with his inner demons. It is tragic he couldn’t be at peace.’
Strachan’s iconic theme also appeared in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire directed by Danny Boyle. And it features in the current edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, which was relaunched with new host Jeremy Clarkson in 2018
