FAREWELL TO CHEGGERS
TV’s Keith Chegwin dies at the age of 60
BUBBLY TV entertainer Keith Chegwin’s Multi-Coloured Swap Shop co-stars paid tribute to him yesterday after his death at the age of 60.
Noel Edmonds described him as “my first real telly chum” and called him a “true legend”, while John Craven said he was “bubbly, positive, full of fun”.
Maggie Philbin, who was his wife from 1982 to 1993 after joining the Swap Shop line-up in 1978, said he was a “one-off”.
Chegwin, often known as Cheggers, posted his last message on Twitter on September 28.
Letting fans know he was unwell, he wrote: “Still not right. I will be back – but not for a bit yet. I’m so sorry.”
The celebrity’s family announced his death yesterday, saying: “We are heartbroken to share the news that Keith Chegwin sadly passed away following a long-term battle with a progressive lung condition, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which rapidly worsened towards the end of this year.
“Keith died peacefully at home shortly after midnight on the 11th of December. His wife Maria, his daughter Rose and his son Ted were by his side.”
Liverpool-born Chegwin, who started out as a child actor, made no secret of his battle with alcoholism but staged a comeback in recent years when he was a regular on reality TV.
Generous
In a statement on her website, Philbin said: “I am sure you will have seen the heartbreaking news about Keith. It is incredibly sad. Keith was a one-off, full of life, generous and with a focus on things that mattered – his family.”
Philbin said she last saw Chegwin at the wedding of his sister, the radio broadcaster Janice Long.
“I saw him two months ago at his sister Janice’s wedding, where he was still attempting to be life and soul of the party, despite being on portable oxygen,” she said.
“Our daughter Rose flew home from San Francisco to be with him over the last few weeks and I know he was surrounded by so much love from his second wife Maria, their son Ted, his sister Janice, his twin brother Jeff and father Colin.
“Keith was loved by everyone who knew and worked with him.
“I first met him when we did a film about windsurfing when I joined Swap Shop in 1978 and was immediately struck by his fun, energy and kindness.
“He drove me home to Leicestershire from that freezing lake in Staines, insisting it was on his own way home [He lived in Twickenham]. He leaves us all with very special memories.”
Chegwin became a household name as a TV presenter of shows such as Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Cheggers Plays Pop and Saturday Superstore.
He sparked controversy in 2000 with a TV gameshow in which he and several contestants appeared completely naked.
The TV star wore nothing but a hat in Naked Jungle on Channel 5. He later described it as the “worst career move” of his life. He took part in Dancing On Ice in 2013 and Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, when he came fourth.
TV presenter Craven, who appeared on Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore with Chegwin, said: “I never saw Keith without a smile. He was always bubbly, positive, full of fun.” This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield tweeted that the star was, “One of my original Saturday morning heroes.”
TV presenter Gaby Roslin said: “I was blessed to work with Keith Chegwin on the Big Breakfast and he was a happy and joyous man. So generous and kind. Bye, bye Cheggers. So, so sad. My love to his family.” Former heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno said: “Saddened to hear this, what a great guy!
“I worked with him a lot over the years, a great entertainer, you will be missed RIP Keith.”
DJ Tony Blackburn said he was “absolutely devastated” to hear of his friend’s death, adding: “He was one of the nicest people I have ever known and over the years we did shows together and became great friends.”
In his statement Edmonds said: “I’ve lost my first real telly chum and I’m certain I’m not alone in shedding tears for a true telly legend.
“I never saw Keith flustered or lost for words. In fact, now I think about it, I never saw him upset or angry.
“I never heard Cheggers say a bad word about anyone.
“He was a very generous performer. Keith was indeed larger than life but he never stole the spotlight.
“The greatest achievement for any TV performer is for the viewers to regard you as a friend and today millions will be grateful for Keith’s contribution to their childhood memories and, like me, they will mourn the passing of a friend.”