Shropshire Star

Tributes paid to "nice guy" Cheggers

One of the organisers of a Shropshire food and drink fair has paid a glowing tribute to television presenter Keith Chegwin, who died this week.

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Keith Chegwin opening Whitchurch Food and Drink Festival in May

Chegwin, affectionately known as "Cheggers" to his fans, officially opened Whitchurch Food and Drink Festival in May this year.

Town centre manager Zoe Dean said she was shocked to hear about his death on Monday following a long illness.

She said the former Multi-Coloured Swap Shop presenter was delightful to work with, and would be sadly missed.

Chegwin, who also hosted the children's gameshow Cheggers Plays Pop and later went on to front Channel 4's Big Breakfast show, moved to Shropshire earlier this year and was a familiar face in and around Whitchurch.

Miss Dean said the star never asked for a fee to open the event, and really seemed to be enjoying himself.

"He was amazing, so friendly and full of energy, he was a pleasure to have at the event," she said. "The crowd loved him."

Miss Dean said there was no sign that he was at all unwell when he appeared at the event, and he even talked about performing in a pantomime in the town.

"We're so shocked," she said. "He was just like he came across on television, a really nice guy.

"He didn't charge us, he just wanted to support a local event, he came along, had a nice time and did a bit of shopping.

"A lot of people said they had seen him out and about in town, and he was just the same with them, really friendly."

Chegwin, who was 60, moved to his home between Whitchurch and Wem in February this year.

His second wife Maria, daughter Rose and son Ted were by his side when he died during the early hours of Monday.

He had been suffering some time with the lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The family thanked Shropshire-based Severn Hospice, which provided nursing support for the star in his final weeks.

His ex-wife, former Swap Shop co-presenter Maggie Philbin, said she had seen him at the wedding of his older sister, DJ Janice Long, just two months ago.

"He was still trying to be the life and soul of the party. despite being on portable oxygen, and made sure he knew how much he meant to us all."