Keith Chegwin dies following battle with lung condition

Veteran TV and stage entertainer Keith Chegwin has died following a long term battle with a "progressive lung condition", according to his family.

Born in 1957, Chegwin had a fifty year career which spanned TV, film, theatre and more. He became famous in the '70s and '80s presenting TV shows Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and Cheggers Plays Pop. He was a regular on The Big Breakfast in the '90s and appeared as himself in Ricky Gervais' TV comedy show Extras.

His stint on Dancing on Ice took place in 2013 and he appeared in nudist gameshow Naked Jungle in 2000, Celebrity Big Brother in 2015 and was a regular in pantomime, starring in the Easter pantomime tour of Beauty and the Beast in March last year.

He also starred in the Imperial Ice Stars' Nutcracker on Ice, which ran at the London Palladium in 2013 and appeared in West End shows including Tom Brown's School Days and The Good Old Bad Old Days. Chegwin hosted the revived version of 1970s gameshow It's a Knockout and also starred as Fleance in the Roman Polanski movie Macbeth in 1971.

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.

"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."

Stars took to Twitter to pay their respects to the performer.

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

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.

#KeithChegwin RIP. #Childhood. Nx

Keith Chegwin seemed ageless … he came on @BBCRadio2 a lot. Sad loss

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 11, 2017

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

— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) December 11, 2017

Just seen the sad news that Keith Chegwin has died at the age of 60 after ill health. Keith was here at the Kings earlier this year in our Easter Pantomime Beauty and the Beast. #KeithChegwin pic.twitter.com/YVh12hU2DD

— Kings Theatre (@KingsTheatre) December 11, 2017