Keith Chegwin Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

The Unscripted Charm of a British TV Icon

Keith Chegwin was born on January 17, 1957 — a birthday that would come to mark the beginning of a life in show business defined by warmth, spontaneity, and reinvention. 

With his high-pitched Liverpudlian accent, infectious laugh and gleeful energy, Chegwin — affectionately dubbed “Cheggers” — became a fixture in British households. His birthday and exuberant personality helped make him something like a recurring Saturday-morning guest in the nation’s living rooms.

From Stage Child to Saturday-Morning Staple

Chegwin’s journey began in Walton, Liverpool, where he grew up alongside a twin brother, Jeff, and an elder sister who also rose to prominence in entertainment.

His earliest forays into performance came through stage and film. As a child actor he appeared in productions by the Children's Film Foundation and secured a role in the 1971 cinematic adaptation of Macbeth — playing Fleance under the direction of Roman Polanski. 

He also trained at stage school — a path that, combined with early exposure to talent shows and stage productions, laid a foundation in acting, singing, and performance. 

But it was television, not classical theatre or film, that would define his legacy. By the mid-1970s, Chegwin transitioned into presenting: his natural flair for improvisation and charisma made him a perfect fit for children’s entertainment on Saturday mornings. 

“Cheggers” — A Name Synonymous with Childhood Saturdays

The defining era of Chegwin’s career began when he became a presenter on Multi‑Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982), a show that revolutionised children’s television in the UK with live broadcasts, viewer interaction, and energetic segments like “Swaparama.” 

Buoyed by that success, he went on to front Cheggers Plays Pop (1978–1986), a music-based gameshow that blended pop performances with games and youthful exuberance. This cemented Chegwin’s status as a beloved household name — a sort of honorary big brother for a generation of young viewers. 

His signature style was all ad-lib laughter, spontaneous charm, and no reliance on scripted lines. As one tribute noted after his death: “no-one had ever written a word for him.”

Beyond television, Chegwin also explored music — he released singles on record labels and even worked as a radio DJ, including a stint on BBC Radio 1 on Tony Blackburn’s weekend morning show.

Reinvention, Risk, and Reality — A Career of Peaks and Valleys

As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s, Chegwin faced challenges. His TV presence receded, partly due to personal struggles. In his own semi-autobiographical book “Shaken But Not Stirred,” he candidly addressed his battle with alcoholism. 

Yet Chegwin was nothing if not resilient. He repeatedly reinvented himself — hosting segments on shows like The Big Breakfast, launching his own web-based bingo site, and even appearing on game and reality shows to reconnect with audiences.

Perhaps most controversially, in 2000 he presented Naked Jungle on Channel 5 — a one-off nudist game show in which Chegwin appeared nude except for a hat. He later described it as “the worst career move” of his life.

Still, even after setbacks, Chegwin found ways back into the public eye — cameo roles, radio work, reality TV. Each comeback reminded people of the infectious energy that made him famous in the first place.

The Personal Side: Family, Relationships, and Home

Chegwin’s personal life was anchored by relationships and a commitment to family. In 1982 he married TV presenter Maggie Philbin, with whom he had a daughter. The marriage lasted until 1993.

Later, he married Maria Anne Fielden (often referred to as Maria Fielden), and they had a son together. The family settled first in Hampshire, later moving to a country home in Shropshire — a quieter life, closer to family and removed from the spotlight.

Chegwin’s broader family also included his elder sister (a broadcaster herself) and a twin brother. The entertainment legacy carried on: his nephew made waves in a popular comedy series, a testament to the family’s creative roots.

Financial Success and Final Years — A $6 Million Legacy

According to publicly available estimates, at the time of his death Chegwin’s net worth stood at around US$ 6 million.

That wealth reflected a diversified career — from acting and presenting to radio work, music, game show hosting, and even entrepreneurship with ventures like his online bingo site. His ability to evolve with changing times and formats spoke to a resilience and adaptability rare among entertainers.

In his later years, Chegwin returned to more low-key but meaningful work: he appeared in pantomimes, made occasional TV appearances, and continued engaging with fans nostalgic for the Britain of his Saturday-morning heyday.

A Final Curtain — Illness, Death, and a Lasting Smile

On December 11, 2017, Chegwin passed away at his home in Shropshire after a long battle with a lung disease, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 

While his laughter no longer echoes through TV sets, the warmth, joy and spontaneity he brought to generations of children — and adults — endures. As one obituary put it, Chegwin was “a born entertainer with natural likability.” 

He may have left this world, but for many he remains forever “Cheggers”: the cheeky-grinned presenter who made Saturday mornings feel like a friend had dropped by.

Why Keith Chegwin Still Matters

Years after his passing, Keith Chegwin’s story continues to resonate — not just as nostalgia, but as a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and authenticity.

• He showed that a career path doesn’t have to be linear: from child actor to pop singer, DJ to children’s presenter, reality star to entrepreneur.

• He was unapologetically himself: ad-libbing, laughing, embracing mistakes — whether it was a nudist game show or a late-career comeback.

• He proved that audiences respond to honesty and heart more than polish: generations remembered him not for scripted grace, but for spontaneous warmth.

For those writing celebrity profiles, business retrospectives, or cultural pieces, his life is a reminder: real influence often comes from being real.