What did Keith Chegwin die of? What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? The incurable lung disease with no cure
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The heartbroken family of Keith Chegwin confirmed that the star died last night after a ''long-term battle with a progressive lung condition."
And it's now emerged that he was suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - an incurable disease that grows progressively worse.
Around 6,000 people a year are diagnosed with IPF, which, according to the British Lung Foundation, causes fibrosis or scarring of the lungs, making the organ stiffer and breathing more difficult.
As was the case for Keith, the condition worsens over time, and there is no cure.
Smoking is thought to be a contributing cause, along with pollution, acid reflux, certain viruses and genetics.
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(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Men are more at risk than women, and 85 per cent of those diagnosed are over 70.
Symptoms include a cough that doesn't go away, shortness of breath and 'clubbing' in the fingers and toes which sees the size, shape and texture of the nails change.
Treatment can be offered to slow down the progression of the disease, and in some cases a lung transplant may be offered.
Sufferers can ease their symptoms by quitting smoking, exercising and eating well.
In a statement confirming his passing, 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."
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"Keith was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. We would respectfully ask to be left to mourn his passing in private."
Raised in Liverpool with his twin brother Jeff and sister Janice Long, he first rose to fame in the seventies, fronting popular TV shows including Cheggers Plays Pop and Multi-Coloured Swap Shop alongside Noel Edmonds and his future wife Maggie Philbin.
The trio released single I Wanna Be A Winner in January 1982, which reached number 15 in the charts.
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His career went off the boil in the late eighties and early nineties as he did battle with alcoholism, but he bounced back in 1992 when he sat on Richard and Judy's sofa and admitted he was an alcoholic.
He then quit the booze and landed a gig fronting Down Your Doorstop on The Big Breakfast, which involved him hollering "Wake up you beggars, it's Cheggers!" at sleeping folk.
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In 1998 he fronted a rebooted version of It's a Knockout, then dropped his trousers for Naked Jungle in 2000 - a point that he once hinted was an all-time low.
"My only regret was dropping my pants for Channel Five. I'd never take my clothes off again. Never. Worst career move," he told the Daily Post in 2003.
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The noughties saw him make a string of appearances in Celebrity Big Brother , Celebrity Masterchef and Dancing On Ice.
In 2003 he appeared in Fear Factor, and in 2015 he came fourth in CBB .
He was previously married to Swap Shop presenter Maggie Philbin, who he had daughter Rose with.
However, their marriage subsequently collapsed and he admitted he was an alcoholic before quitting drinking for good.
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"I very rarely see her," he said of his ex in 2003. "Really it's just the occasional phone call about Rose. It's 11 years down the line.
"So it's very difficult to answer that one. I think Maggie and I both realised years ago - and it wasn't drink, even though everyone said it was - that it just didn't work.
"There are always people you gel with, then think, 'Oh, time to move on'. And that's exactly what we did.
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"The newspapers were searching for a reason, but Maggie and I have always said we wouldn't talk about each other - end of story."
He then went on to marry Maria Chegwin and the pair had son Teddy.
Today, Maggie released a touching statement about her ex, recalling their fateful first meeting and revealing that she last saw him two months before his tragic passing.
"It is incredibly sad. Keith was a one-off - full of life, generous and with a focus on things that mattered - his family," she wrote on her website.
"I saw him two months ago at his sister Janice's wedding, where he was still attempting to be life and soul of the party despite being on portable oxygen and made sure he knew how much he meant to us all.
"Our daughter Rose flew home from San Francisco to be with him over the last few weeks and I know he was surrounded by so much love from his second wife Maria, their son Ted, his sister Janice, his twin brother Jeff and his father Colin.
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"Keith was loved by everyone who knew and worked with him.
"I first met him when we did a film about windsurfing when I joined Swap Shop in 1978 and was immediately struck by his fun, energy and kindness.
"He drove me home to Leicestershire from that freezing lake in Staines, insisting it was on his own way home. (He lived in Twickenham).
"He leaves us all with very special memories."
On the subject of his drinking, Keith once admitted that the first four years of sobriety were tough.
"I don't drink at all now. It's been 11 years - I'm very lucky. The first three or four years were difficult but, as time's gone on, it's become a lot easier. I don't go into a hotel and ask them to remove or empty the mini bar like I used to," he said in 2003.
"When I'd just got sober I was doing the Big Breakfast and was on the road for two-and-a-half years and sat in hotels staring at the mini bar.
"Everyone thought I was fine but I wasn't actually. The nights were murder. As a result of that I haven't slept through a night since - not for 11 years. I'm awful, I go to bed for an hour and wake up."
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At the peak of his addiction, he said he would drink two and a half bottles of whisky a day, along with mouth wash and even Night Nurse.
"I used to wake up at 3am or 5am for a drink you see, so my body just got used to that over the years," he said.
"When you stop drinking your tolerance level to it goes up, not down. Now - although I haven't put it to the test - if I went back to the drink it would probably take three bottles. That's never out of my mind."
DIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS: LUNG CONDITION WITH NO CURE
Around 6,000 people a year are diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the disease that killed Keith Chegwin.
According to the British Lung Foundation the disease causes fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, which makes them stiffer so it is difficult to breathe.
As in Chegwin's case, IPF worsens over time. Its cause is unknown and there is no cure.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, a cough that does not go away and "clubbing" in the fingers and toes - a change in the size, shape and texture of the nails.
Around 85% of people diagnosed are over 70, and men are more at risk.
Smoking, exposure to certain pollution, acid reflux, some viruses and genetics may increase the risk.
Treatment can alleviate the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Stopping smoking, exercising and eating a balanced diet can help the shortness of breath.
Medication can slow the growth of fibrosis. In some cases a lung transplant may be recommended.