Television star Keith “Cheggers” Chegwin has died at the age of 60 following a long battle with a progressive lung condition, according to a statement from his family.
After being cared for at a hospice in recent weeks, Chegwin passed away at home shortly about midnight today with his wife and two children by his side, reports BBC News.
The presenter became a household name as host of Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and Cheggers Plays Pop in the 1970s, followed by Saturday Superstore in the 1980s, the Daily Mail says. He also appeared in Ricky Gervais’s mockumentary Life’s Too Short and the 2015 Celebrity Big Brother, in addition to being a Big Breakfast reporter.
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He last tweeted in September, telling fans: “Still not right. I will be back - But not for a bit yet.”
ITV News describes him as a “larger-than-life character” who infamously presented the Channel 5 nudist gameshow Naked Jungle, where he appeared naked except for a hat.
Friends and former colleagues shared their sorrow over his death, and their fond memories of Cheggers, on social media.
DJ Tony Blackburn, who co-hosted Swap Shop with Cheggers, was one of the first to pay his respects.