Ground Force star Tommy Walsh died aged 69 after a long illness, with his final television appearance airing just days before his death. His agent, Debbie Schiesser, confirmed the news in a statement, saying: "Tommy died peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his family. As this has only just happened, we would ask everyone to please respect the family's privacy."
Final Appearance on Homes Under The Hammer
Walsh made his last TV appearance on the latest series of Homes Under The Hammer, an episode that aired on Tuesday, November 3. In the instalment, he visited Halesowen in the West Midlands to inspect an auction lot featuring a "unique" and "special" Grade 2 listed cottage that was in need of a complete restoration.
Walsh had joined the BBC property and renovation show in 2021, adding to a television career that included past stints on Ground Force and Challenge Tommy Walsh.
Health Battles and Cancer Diagnosis
Before his death, Walsh faced cancer. In 2002, he discovered two lumps in his chest, which turned out to be benign and were successfully removed. In 2022, during his participation in a cancer awareness campaign, he became aware of his own diagnosis after consulting his GP.
At the time, he shared: "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. 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. I had to go in straight away and have surgery to remove it. I am now fully recovered and even back playing football!"
Despite his recovery, Walsh disclosed in late 2023 that he was grappling with lung cancer. He broke the news to attendees at a charity event in November, detailing that doctors had found a "three-centimetre tumour in the lung" and that he had an emergency appointment scheduled for a CT scan the next day.
