TV legend Cheggers dies at 60
To kids who grew up with Swap Shop, he’ll always be Cheggers – EX-WIFE AND CO-PRESENTER MAGGIE PHILBIN
Tributes were last night paid to TV star Keith Chegwin who died at the age of 60 after a long battle with a lung condition
KEITH Chegwin, one of the best-loved children’s TV hosts of the 70s and 80s, died at home aged 60 yesterday after battling a lung condition.
The Scouse star – affectionately known as Cheggers – shot to fame on the BBC show Multi-Coloured Swap Shop at the age of 17.
But he later suffered a public battle with alcoholism and struggled with breathing difficulties for many years.
Keith died at home in Shropshire with second wife Maria and children Ted and Rose at his bedside.
His family said: “We are heartbroken to share the news that Keith Chegwin sadly passed away following a long-term battle with a progressive lung condition, which rapidly worsened towards the end of this year.
“Keith died peacefully at home. His wife Maria, his daughter Rose and his son Ted were by his side.
“Keith was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend.”
The TV star also leaves behind his sister – Radio 1 DJ Janice Long – his twin brother Jeff and dad Colin.
Maggie Philbin, Keith’s ex-wife and co-star, said yesterday: “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. He was still attempting to be the life and soul of the party despite being on portable oxygen and we made sure he knew how much he meant to us all.”
A former 60-a-day smoker, Cheggers died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which causes progressive scarring of the lungs, making them stiffer and breathing increasingly difficult.
In a heartbreaking last tweet in September, the star posted: “Still not right. I will be back – but not for a bit yet. I’m so sorry.”
Keith met Tomorrow’s World host Maggie on Swap Shop in 1978. The pair were married in 1982 and became the
golden couple of showbiz. They even released a single together, I Wanna be a Winner, which reached No15 in January 1982 – but the couple eventually divorced in 1993. Maggie said: “Keith was loved by everyone who knew and worked with him. I was immediately struck by his fun, energy and kindness. He leaves us all with very special memories.” Keith married Maria Fielden in 2000. Yesterday, celebrity tributes for the star flooded in. Swap Shop host Noel Edmonds said he was a “legend”, adding: “I’ve lost my first real telly chum. He was an extraordinary showman. “I never saw Keith flustered or lost for words, upset or angry. I never heard Cheggers say a bad word about anyone. Like all true professionals, he possessed the knack of reinventing himself time and time again.”
DJ Tony Blackburn, who worked with Keith on Radio 1, said: “He was the nicest person I’ve ever met.
“He was as you saw him on TV. He was very honest and that was his charm. We used to stay up all hours of the night chatting and having a laugh. We were like a couple of brothers.”
Comedian Ricky Gervais, who cast Keith in his shows Extras and Life’s Too Short, tweeted: “So sad to hear about the death of the lovely and funny Keith Chegwin. RIP you National Treasure.”
TV host Lorraine Kelly said he was a “kind, funny, brave man who seized the day”. X Factor host Dermot O’Leary posted: “Grew up watching Cheggers Plays Pop. Never anything other than lovely, with that trademark laugh/gasp.”
Keith was born in the Walton district of Liverpool on January 17, 1957.
His career began on youth talent show Junior Showtime, where he was spotted by dance teacher June Collins, mother of rock star Phil.
Keith attended the prestigious Barbara Speake Stage School in London with his brother Jeff.
He started as an actor, appearing in films, TV dramas and ads, including Roman Polanski’s 1971 version of Macbeth and The Adventures of Black Beauty in 1972.
His big break was Swap Shop, followed by Saturday Superstore with Mike Read.
Keith spoke freely about battling alcoholism in the 80s, writing a book about it called Shaken But Not Stirred in 1995.
He had given up drinking in 1992, after an appearance on ITV’s This Morning, aged 34. He had said: “I am an alcoholic. It’s a disease. The moment I have a drink, then bang, I am gone. It won’t be a couple of gin and tonics, it would be two bottles.”
In 1993, he joined The Big Breakfast as a reporter, and later said working on the Channel 4 show was the happiest time of his professional life.
In recent years, Cheggers staged a comeback on reality TV.
He bared all as the host of Channel 5’s Naked Jungle in 2000, which he said was his “worst career move”.
He took part in Dancing On Ice in 2013 and Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, describing the latter as a nightmare which he’d “actually quite enjoyed”.