Chegwin has emergency Christmas surgery

TV personality Keith Chegwin was rushed to hospital on Christmas Day for emergency surgery to remove his appendix, his agent said today.

Chegwin was about to sit down for his Christmas lunch with wife Maria and their six-year-old son Ted at their home when he suffered severe pain.

He was taken to hospital in Northamptonshire and underwent surgery last night.

Chegwin, aged 46, had been suffering pain for the past two weeks as he travelled around the country for GMTV’s On Your Doorstep presenting cheques to people around the country.

His agent Tony Fox said: “Keith Chegwin was rushed in to hospital yesterday. He had struggled throughout working on GMTV this week giving out large chunks of money but yesterday morning things got too difficult for him and he had an operation for acute appendicitis on Christmas evening.

“He has been going around the country for GMTV giving out prizes to different people, arriving on different people’s doorsteps and handing them cheques, making people’s Christmas dreams come true. The irony is his Christmas is ruined.

“He’s disappointed because he has a six-year-old son Ted who was looking forward to Christmas and his Christmas has been ruined.”

Mr Fox did not know how long Chegwin would be in hospital.

“He’s OK. He’s obviously sore and recovering and likely to be in there for a few more days,” added Mr Fox.

Chegwin started his career in children’s television and is famous for shows including Cheggers Plays Pop, Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore on BBC in the seventies and eighties.

He presented Channel 4’s Big Breakfast in the Nineties and has recently appeared on ITV’s GMTV.