TV PRESENTER KEITH Chegwin has died aged 60 after a long battle with illness.

His family said he died peacefully shortly after midnight. His wife Maria, his daughter Rose and his son Ted were by his side.

“We are heartbroken to share the news that Keith Chegwin has 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,” they said.

The family thanked Severn Hospice for the “kindness, support and care” the staff had shown to them over the last few weeks.

They described Chegwin as a “loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend”.

Chegwin was best known in his early career for hosting children’s game show Cheggers Plays Pop. He later presented a segment called Down Your Doorstep on the popular The Big Breakfast morning show and worked for seven years for GMTV.

He also appeared as himself in an episode of the sitcom Extras.

The presenter has spoken openly about his struggle with alcoholism and marked 20 years of sobriety in December 2012.

In his last message to fans on Twitter in September, Chegwin had said: “Still not right. I will be back – but not for a bit yet. I am so sorry.”