TV presenter Keith Chegwin dies aged 60

QRadio News

TV presenter Keith Chegwin has died aged 60 after a "long battle" with a progressive lung condition, his family said.

In a statement, Chegwin's 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.

"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 started out his career as an actor after being spotted by Phil Collins' mother, June Collins, as a child.

He appeared in several children's TV shows and ads, including for Pepsi and Cadbury Creme Eggs.

In the mid 1970s he moved away from acting and became a household name as he presented programmes such as Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and Cheggers Plays Pop.

In the 1980s he presented Saturday Superstore.

He and Swap Shop co-presenters Noel Edmonds and Maggie Philbin released the pop single, I Wanna Be a Winner, which reached number one in 1982.

During the late 1980s and 1990s his career petered off due to alcoholism, which he detailed in semi-autobiographical book, Shaken But Not Stirred.

Following an appearance on Richard and Judy show, This Morning, in 1992, he stopped drinking which rebooted his career.