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Tommy Walsh made a poignant final wish during his last-ever TV appearance.
The Ground Force star died at age 69 after a ‘long illness,’ his family confirmed yesterday.
His final TV appearance was on the BBC One Show, Homes Under The Hammer, and the episode aired just days before his passing.
During the episode, Tommy visited a Grade II-listed cottage that was on the brink of collapse.
In fact, the cottage was in such poor condition that Tommy couldn’t even enter the building, fearing the cottage might collapse on him.
Still, the building had potential, and the mother-and-son duo, Shirley and Connor, snapped it up.
And it was while talking to the pair that Tommy made his heartbreaking final wish.
As they discussed the work that needed to be done on the house, Tommy told them ‘he was looking forward to seeing how it turned out’ while acknowledging it would take years for the cottage to be fully restored.
Sadly, the work wasn’t completed during the episode, and Tommy’s death means he was unable to see the cottage back in its pomp.
A source confirmed Tommy’s passing to Metro. His representative said: ‘He died peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his family.’
She also asked for people to respect his family’s privacy.
Since news of his death broke, fans and friends have come forward to pay tribute.
‘Working with Tommy Walsh on Ground Force was a delight,’ said Alan Titchmarsh.
‘Whether we were arguing over the ratio of plants to decking, battling clouds of sawdust that threatened to engulf my plants or collapsing in fits of giggles thanks to a chance remark.
‘Sometimes we only had to glance at one another to become convulsed with laughter and totally lose the plot.
‘The five years I worked with Tommy and Charlie on that literally ground-breaking programme were among the happiest of my life.
‘He was a force of nature, and I shall miss his company and his merciless teasing of “Mr T”. He was a complete one-off’.
Tommy’s Homes Under The Hammer colleague Martin Roberts also penned a fitting tribute to his colleague on Facebook.
‘I am so, so very sad to hear that my friend and colleague Tommy Walsh has just passed away,’ he wrote.
‘Heaven’s waiting room is currently having a makeover. God bless you, Tommy.’
‘Loved watching Tommy on TV throughout the years. RIP Tommy Walsh,’ added fan Elaine Grant, while @arighttweet wrote: ‘Can’t believe #TommyWalsh has died. RIP Tommy’.
In 2002, Walsh faced a cancer scare after discovering two benign lumps on his chest, having had a family history of breast cancer.
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, he was diagnosed with a lung tumour after a CT scan.