‘My pal Cheggers was telly genius’
KEITH Chegwin has been hailed a “TV genius” and a “wonderful” pal by his Big Breakfast co-star Vanessa Feltz.
The children’s TV favourite died last week, aged 60.
In a heartfelt tribute, Vanessa revealed there was a side to Cheggers his fans didn’t see.
She said: “What a lot of people didn’t understand about Keith is that he was really clever.
“He knew how to make live television work in a way that most people don’t. Most people do what they’re told and stand where they’re told to stand. But he wasn’t like that.
“He was always kicking it up a notch and doing something unexpected. He was a real TV genius.”
At the Television and Radio Industries Club Christmas lunch, she added: “When we were on The Big Breakfast he was incredibly creative. We’d think we were coming on from the right and he’d say ‘No, get under the desk… come over the shelf…say this, do that’.
“He was always directing himself while on air. It was really exciting working with him.”
Keith and Vanessa worked on a string of projects together. “One time he came to my house as a milkman and made me bathe in milk for something we were working on.
“My daughter was only about five and when she saw Keith Chegwin at the door dressed as a milkman she nearly jumped out of her skin!
“Another time we did a TV tribute to Barbara Windsor and we sang and danced together on live TV to Things Ain’t What They Used To Be. It culminated in me doing a running jump into his arms. Fortunately, I’d lost a lot of weight at the time.”
Keith was a friend to Vanessa when her first marriage fell apart in 2000.
She said: “I was heartbroken and my life was in shreds and tatters. And Keith was so nice about it. He was very comforting and really funny.
“He was just a lovely guy. The kind of guy you want in your corner if things go wrong. I really liked him a lot.”
Keith and Vanessa helped make The Big Breakfast a ratings hit for Channel 4.
After leaving the show Cheggers went on to star in Life’s Too Short and Extras, which were both penned by Ricky Gervais.
And in recent years he entertained viewers on reality shows including Dancing On Ice and Celebrity Big Brother.
Keith, famed for fronting Cheggers Plays Pop, died from a progressive lung condition.
Fans and many of his loved ones had no idea he was unwell.
Vanessa said: “I heard the news on the radio and I was devastated. I didn’t realise he was ill. I’m very sorry. He was much too young.
“He was a good friend. It wasn’t all about himself. He wasn’t fake or showbizzy – he was real. And that’s unusual.
“I will really miss him.”