Keith Chegwin’s ex-wife Maggie Philbin leads tributes

Tributes have been paid to the ‘utterly lovely’ TV presenter Keith Chegwin who has died at the age of 60 following a long illness. 

The star, best known for hosting children’s game show Cheggers Play Pop, died at home after battling a progressive lung condition. 

Big Breakfast’s Gaby Roslin led the tributes to the presenter today saying: ‘No. I can’t bear the news. Not him. 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.’

Chegwin was previously married to fellow TV presenter Maggie Philbin, whom he had met on Swap Shop.

Philbin paid tribute to her former husband, saying: ‘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 life and soul of the party despite being on portable oxygen and made sure he knew how much he meant to us all.  

Keith Chegwin has died today aged 60 after battling a ‘long-term battle with a progressive lung condition’

‘Cheggers’ became a household name presenting Swap Shop and Cheggers Plays Pop in the 1970s followed by Saturday Superstore in the 1980s

Keith Chegwin with co-stars Richard Orford, Pete Smith, Gaby Roslin, Dannii Minogue, Lily Savage ( Paul O’Grady ) and Mark Little on the Big Breakfast in 1995

‘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. 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.’  

A statement from 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, 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.

His poignant last tweet was in September and told his fans: ‘Still not right. I will be back – But not for a bit yet. I’m so sorry’

‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank Severn Hospice for the kindness, support and care they have shown us all over the last few weeks.

‘Keith was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. We would respectfully ask to be left to mourn his passing in private.’

Chegwin was known for hosting programmes including children’s game show Cheggers Plays Pop, as well as Swap Shop. 

Celebrities from the worlds of sport, business and entertainment posted touching messages online after the news broke. 

Broadcaster Tony Blackburn said: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to hear that my friend Keith Chegwin has died. He was one of the nicest people I have ever known and over the years we did shows together and became great friends. Keith RIP.’

Keith Chegwin and his son Ted pictured Bob the Builder Gala Charity Performance. His son and daughter Rose were with him when he died

TV presenter Philip Schofield tweeted: ‘I’m so stunned to hear that the utterly lovely @keithchegwin has died. Can’t get my head round this. One of my original Saturday morning heroes. Sending all my love to his family.’  

BBC TV antiques expert David Harper said: ‘Very sad to hear Keith Chegwin has died. I first met him ten years ago and last heard from him only a few weeks ago. He was just as you saw him on TV. Funny, friendly, warm and utterly charming.’

Comedian Paddy McGuinness said: ‘Such sad news. Very much a part of my childhood. RIP Keith Chegwin.’ 

TalkSport presenter Geoff Peters tweeted: ‘Sad news, taken too young. A huge part of our childhoods with Swap Shop and especially Cheggers Plays Pop. RIP.’

Boxer Frank Bruno tweeted: ‘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 Chegwin.’ 

NME journalist Nick Levine‏ added: ‘RIP Keith Chegwin. I interviewed him once and he was really funny and self-deprecating. He also kept the interview going much longer than he was supposed to. A real pro.’ 

Meanwhile entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne said the entertainer was ‘too young to go’, calling the news ‘so sad’.  

Loose Women’s Sherrie Hewson tweeted: ‘So very sad to hear the news about Keith Chegwin. Lovely, talented man. RIP.’  

Chegwin started his career as an actor but became a household name as a TV presenter of shows such as Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Cheggers Plays Pop and Saturday Superstore.

He made no secret of his battle with alcoholism but staged a comeback in recent years when he was a regular on reality TV.

He also returned to TV as a popular host of Channel 4’s Big Breakfast in the 1990s.

The larger-than-life character was known for his enthusiasm and laughter, whown here having stripped for a new Channel 5 game show: ‘Naked Jungle’, later describing it as the ‘worst career move’ of his ‘entire life’

He went on to make infamous Channel 5 nudist game show Naked Jungle, appearing naked except for a hat, and also starred as himself in Ricky Gervais show Extras. 

He took part in Dancing On Ice in 2013 and Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, when he came fourth and said while his experience in the house had been a ‘nightmare’ from beginning to end, he ‘actually quite enjoyed it’.  

As an actor, Chegwin appeared in films, TV dramas and adverts.

He enjoyed roles in films including Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Macbeth and in 2004, Shaun Of The Dead. 

The larger-than-life character leaves two children and his wife Maria.

He had been cared for at a hospice in recent weeks. His last tweet was in September and told his fans: ‘Still not right. I will be back – But not for a bit yet. I’m so sorry’.

Born in Walton, Liverpool, Keith, known to millions as Cheggers, started out as a child actor.

Keith Chegwin and his first wife Maggie Philbin with their newborn daughter Rose, who was at his side when he died last night

Chegwin took part in Dancing On Ice in 2013 and Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, when he came fourth

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