Cheggers was ‘always full of life’
MAGGIE Philbin has hailed her ex-husband and Multi-Coloured Swap Shop co-star Keith Chegwin as a “one-off” after his death at the age of 60.
The couple were married from 1982 to 1993 after Philbin joined the line-up of Swap Shop in 1978.
Chegwin, often known as Cheggers, died at home yesterday after battling a progressive lung condition.
In a statement on her website, Philbin said: “I am sure you will have seen the heartbreaking news about Keith, who died earlier today.
“It is incredibly sad. Keith was a one-off – full of life, generous and with a focus on things that mattered – his family.
“I saw him two months ago at his sister Janice’s wedding, where he was still attempting to be the life and soul of the party, despite being on portable oxygen, and made sure he knew how much he meant to us all. 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 his father Colin.
“Keith was loved by everyone who knew and worked with him.”
She added: “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.”
In his last message on Twitter, posted on September 28, Chegwin let fans know he was not well, tweeting: “Still not right. I will be back – But not for a bit yet. I’m so sorry.”