Ground Force star Tommy Walsh has died aged 69 following a 'long illness'.
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Walsh → die → illness
The TV star’s death was confirmed by his agent Debbie Schiesser on Monday who told Daily Mail: 'Tommy died peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his family.
'
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Tommy → confirm → family
As this has only just happened, we would ask everyone to please respect the family's privacy.'
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we → happen → privacy
The presenter worked alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock on the BBC garden makeover programme Ground Force from 2007 until it ended in 2015.
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it → work → 2015
It was one of the biggest shows of its time, pulling in 12 million viewers at its peak.
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It → pull → peak
Tommy also worked on Homes Under the Hammer and Flip That House with Tommy Walsh.
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Tommy → work → Walsh
His most recent television appearances included BBC makeover show Clean It, Fix It hosted by Mark Wright, which ended last year.
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which → include → Wright
While the cause of death has not been revealed, Tommy had previously battled lung and throat cancer.
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Tommy → reveal → cancer
Ground Force star Tommy Walsh has died dead aged 69 following a 'long illness'.
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Walsh → die → illness
The presenter worked alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock on the BBC garden makeover programme Ground Force from 2007 until it ended in 2015.
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it → work → 2015
In 2024, Tommy had said he was 'happy' and 'not in any pain' as he shared a positive health update amid a lung cancer battle.
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he → say → battle
Tommy revealed at the time that he was nearly in remission, saying the cancer was 'slowly shrinking and disappearing' as he continued a radiotherapy treatment called SABR.
He had previously battled throat cancer.
Father-of-three Tommy, who was married to wife Marie for over 30 years, first discovered a lump in his body during a cancer awareness campaign in 2022.
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who → reveal → 2022
He said at the time: 'I went to my GP about an unrelated issue and while I was there, he discovered this lump in my throat that he was a bit concerned about.
'
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he → say → that
He said it may be nothing but that he would rather I went and got it checked and, unfortunately, it turned out to be cancerous.
uncertain
it → say → ?
'I had to go in straight away and have surgery to remove it.
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I → have → it
I am now fully recovered and even back playing football.'
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I → play → football
Two decades earlier, he had a breast cancer scare after finding two lumps on his chest.
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he → have → chest
Due to his family history, a doctor told him to see a consultant at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, the same hospital where his sister had a lumpectomy to remove cancerous and normal breast tissue.
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sister → tell → tissue
He said: 'I just buried myself in my work and then went along for the day surgery where the lumps were removed under a general anaesthetic.
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lumps → say → anaesthetic
Tommy pictured with his wife Marie in 2017.
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Tommy → picture → 2017
The couple had been married for more than 30 years
Tommy played for Old Parmiterians FC before he found fame.
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he → play → fame
On Monday, the club paid tribute on X
When Changing Rooms met Ground Force 2: Anna Ryder Richardson, Andy Kane, Carol Smillie, Tommy Walsh and Charlie Dimmock pictured in 2000
Fans also shared their tributes on X as they wrote: 'We felt like we knew you'
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we → pay → you
Ground Force was one of the biggest shows of its time, pulling in 12 million viewers at its peak (pictured in 2004)
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Force → pull → 2004
'It was only then that it sort of hit me that this could actually be serious and I could have breast cancer, like my relatives.'
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I → hit → relatives
Those test results showed that the lumps were benign, but Tommy admitted it was 'a bit of a wake-up call' about the disease.
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it → show → disease
Tommy has been a regular face on TV screens since starring in Ground Force.
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Tommy → star → Force
He was a working builder before getting the role after he was encouraged to audition for a TV producer.
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he → work → producer
The show became a hit worldwide and Tommy and his co-stars were even invited to the White House to meet the US President George W Bush after making two US series, including a special in New York in wake of 9/11.
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Tommy → become → 9/11
It was cancelled in 2015.
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It → cancel → 2015
BBC Director-General Mark Thompson stated the series had reached its 'natural life' and claimed the public had grown tired of derivative makeover shows.
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public → state → shows
Tommy played for Old Parmiterians FC before he found fame.
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he → play → fame
On Monday, the club posted on X: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tommy Walsh.
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we → post → Walsh
'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.
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he → play → Force
He will be sorely missed.
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He → miss → ?
Fans also shared their tributes on X as they wrote: 'We felt like we knew you'.
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we → share → you
,
'The thing I remember most about Tommy Walsh is that for a while Wilko stores stocked Tommy Walsh brand nails, screws and brackets.
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stores → remember → nails
We felt we knew you',
'RIP Tommy Walsh a devoted @WestHam fan.
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Walsh → feel → you
He joined the presenter line-up in 2021 and stepped down in 2024.
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He → join → 2024
Tommy was replaced on the show by Owain Wyn Evans.
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Tommy → replace → Evans
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