Earlier this week, Entertainment South Wales was sad to hear of the death of TV presenter and actor, Keith Chegwin at the age of 60.
Back in 2013, Andy Howells interviewed Keith ahead of his appearance as Drosselmeyer in Nutcracker on Ice at Wales Millennium Centre.
Known affectionately to many of his fans as “Cheggers”, Keith had been a familiar face on television since the 1970s, presenting Multi Coloured Swap Shop, Saturday Superstore and Cheggers Plays Pop! In recent years he had appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice.
Here, in way of a tribute, is Andy’s interview with Keith, in which he recalls his career and discusses his role in Nutcracker on Ice.
“I started when I was 10,” Keith Chegwin told Andy Howells as he recalled the beginning of his entertainment career. “Basically, I enjoyed copying anything Des O Connor did! I used to come out with a straw hat and a cane singing much to the annoyance of my family.
“We were on holiday and we went to see a seaside show. A guy got up and said “Is there anyone here who’d like to sing? We’ve got a talent competition!” I remember running down the aisle and my mother shouting “come back here!”. I got on stage and was spotted by this talent scout who got me to join a concert party and we used to sing in clubs and we eventually formed a group called The Chegwin’s.”
Keith Chegwin performing alongside Olga Sharutenko in The Imperial Ice Stars presentation of The Nutcracker on Ice.
Keith’s appearance on TV’s Junior Showtime brought him to the attention of agent June Collins (Phil Collin’s mother) who invited Keith to attend stage school in London. Numerous TV and film roles followed including appearances with Peter Sellers, Ronnie Barker and Clive Dunn.
“When I got to 18 years old, it was like what do I do now? So, I wrote to the BBC suggesting a Michael Parkinson type show for kids. They wrote back and said, “We don’t like the idea but pop in”.
“Two hours later, I was at the Beeb. It was my lucky day because they turned around and said, “We’ve got a new show happening have you done any presentation?” I told them a lie and said “Yes”. I was on Swap Shop in parks on cold winter mornings swapping stuff with kids.
“My producer in those days was Roger Gale. We turned up in Cardiff Arms Rugby Ground on November 8, 1976 and I said “no-one’s going to turn up for this are they?” He looked at me and said, “You haven’t presented a thing in your life, have you?” I went “No,” and he went “Oh My God! I’ll teach you to be a presenter!” That man made my career everything it is.”
Keith went on to present the game show Cheggers Plays Pop concurrently with Swap Shop and later Saturday Superstore. His other presenting work has included The Big Breakfast, GMTV and competed on the TV show Dancing on Ice with professional dancer Olga Sharutenko. The pair captured the nation’s hearts with their fun and energetic routines.
Keith Chegwin (left) with fellow artistes in rehearsal of Nutcracker On Ice at Wales Millennium Centre in 2013. Picture: Andy Howells
Keith recalled his earlier acting skills by returning to ice with Olga as he skated as Drosselmeyer with The Imperial Ice Stars in The Nutcracker on Ice at The Wales Millennium Centre in November 2013.
Keith said of his role as Drosselmeyer “This is the highlight of my career, playing with 26 of the world’s top skaters. Between them they have 250 gold, silver and bronze medals for the Commonwealth Olympic Games.
“They’ve put me through a gruelling course but I’m absolutely loving it. I’m flying and doing tricks and really on the edge of the blades. It’s a real compliment to be taken seriously for this role. I’ve had to drag up all the things in the past that I’ve done because I’m not allowed to talk!
“I’ve had to incorporate all my acting skills to make the character more believable. They tell me they’ve had the best reaction ever at the Wales Millennium Centre, so I can’t wait to get on that stage!”