Keith Chegwin, affectionately known as Cheggers, was a big part of my childhood – growing up in the 70s and 80s, I could be found clued to Multicoloured Swap Shop, starring both him and Noel Edmonds, and Cheggers Plays Pop.
When he died on December 11th 2017, I felt a tug of sadness. I thought back to when I first met him. Well, I actually sat inside his house a while before I met him.
My boyfriend at the time (I was 17) lived just round the corner from Keith and knew him and his daughter’s nannie, Maria (who he went on to marry some years later) well. Keith had even taken him in to Going Live, the Saturday morning show he was appearing in at the time with Philip Schofield, and he’d had a scene in that. He couldn’t wait for me to meet Keith too and gushed what a funny, kind man he was.
Of course, the time we went round (it hadn’t exactly been arranged), Keith wasn’t there, but Maria made us welcome and we sat and chatted to her. Though, admittedly, I was disappointed not to meet one of my childhood television heroes, and wondered if I would actually ever get to meet him.
When I did, it was unexpected; we were just walking down Newbury high street and there he was. He stuck out his hand in greeting. I went to take his, but before I did, he whipped his hand away, stuck his thumb on his nose and wiggled his fingers, cheekily saying, “Na-nana-naa-nah!”
I could feel my face heating, my hand still mid-air. I didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
Ever the professional, Keith clearly saw my discomfort and apologised. He let out a giggle, and I felt myself joining in. “I just can’t help myself,” he said. “It’s a curse!” He swiftly changed the subject and asked me questions about myself, taking an interest in what I had to say. He knew just how to put people at ease and by the time we parted, I’d almost forgotten our initial greeting.
I met Keith several times after that and each time, he made me smile and laugh. He’s been described by many as a ‘television legend’. He certainly was, but Keith was more than that – he was one of the most genuine people you could ever meet.
I had a perm and wore dangly earrings when I first met Keith. At least stripy tops are in (ish!).
Esther Chilton 
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