The popular actor passed away on December 11 with his family gathered around him.
His family shared a statement 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.”
Chegwin will be remembered for hosting children’s programmes in the 1970s and 1980s.
The entertainer also went on to star in a host of reality TV series.
His influential career spanned five decades.
Who was Keith Chegwin?
Chegwin was born in Walton, Liverpool, on January 17, 1957.
Chegwin – known by his nickname Cheggers – took a keen interest in entertainment from a young age.
He attended stage school with his twin brother, where he successfully auditioned for TV and film roles.
As a child actor, aged 10, he starred in films such as Roman Polanski’s Macbeth, and TV shows The Liver Birds and Z-Cars.
Early on in his career he performed in a number of West End productions such as Tom Brown’s School Days and Captain Pugwash.
Chegwin became a household name when he switched his career from acting to TV presenting.
He presented popular children’s shows Cheggers Plays Pop, Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore.
Chegwin’s career started to struggle in the late 1980s and 1990s while he was battling with alcoholism.
He talked about his problems in his semi-autobiography Shaken But Not Stirred.
The legend took a career break, but returned to TV with the Big Breakfast.
Chegwin made “the worst career move” in his life presenting Naked Jungle, a Channel 5 nudist gameshow.
He said: “It’s the worst career move I made in my entire life. If I could turn the clock back, I would.”
More recently, he started to make fun of himself, appearing in Ricky Gervais’ Extras.
Cheggers also started drifting towards reality TV.
He was scheduled to take part in the seventh series of Dancing on Ice, but was forced to withdraw due to breaking three ribs and fracturing his shoulder during training.
In 2013 he successfully joined the show.
He continued down the reality path and took part in Celebrity MasterChef.
The popular entertainer also starred in Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, where he finished in fourth place.
He said the experience had been a “nightmare” from beginning to end, but he had “actually quite enjoyed it”.
The actor was married twice.
In 1982 he wed presenter Maggie Philbin.
Together they had a daughter, Rose.
Later he married Maria Anne Fielden, and had son Ted.
Chegwin had been battling a “progressive lung condition” for a long time.
In recent weeks Chegwin had been cared for at Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury.
In September he apologised to his fans on Twitter.
He Tweeted: “Still not right. I will be back – But not for a bit yet. I’m so sorry.”
He passed away on December 11, 2017.
