Ground Force star Tommy Walsh dies aged 69 ‘after a long illness’

Tommy Walsh has died aged 69 (Picture: Steve Meddle/Shutterstock)

TV icon Tommy Walsh, best known for BBC series Ground Force, has died aged 69 after a ‘long illness’.

His representative told Metro: ‘He died peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his family.’

She also asked for people to respect his family’s privacy.

Walsh was well known for his DIY shows, becoming a houseshold name working with the likes of Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock.

Along with Ground Force, which pulled in millions of viewers at its peak, he was known for Challenge Tommy Walsh, Homes Under the Hammer and Flip That House.

His football club Old Parmiterians FC paid tribute on X, saying he would be ‘sorely missed’.

‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tommy Walsh,’ they wrote. ‘A Parmiters boy he played for the club for many years in goal but made a great career as a TV personality in shows such as Ground Force. He will be sorely missed. RIP Tommy.’

In 2002, Walsh faced a cancer scare after discovering two lumps on his chest, having had a family history of breast cancer.

Those turned out to be benign, but in 2022 he was diagnosed with a cancerous lump in his throat.

He underwent surgery and was expected to make a full recovery but two years later was diagnosed with a lung tumour after a CT scan.

Add as preferred source