Tommy Walsh's history of health woes: Ground Force star battled two bouts of cancer and discovered benign lumps in his chest years before he died aged 69 following a long illness

Ground Force star Tommy Walsh suffered a string of health woes throughout his life before he passed away aged 69 following a 'long illness' on Monday.

While his cause of death has not been revealed, the star battled two bouts of cancer and discovered benign lumps in his chest over the course of two decades.

His passing was confirmed by his agent who told the Daily Mail: '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.'

Tommy's first cancer scare came in 2002 after he discovered two benign lumps within his chest. His family have a history of breast cancer.

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.

Those test results showed that the lumps were benign but Tommy admitted it was 'a bit of a wake-up call' about the disease.

Ground Force star Tommy Walsh suffered a string of health woes throughout his life before he passed away aged 69 following a 'long illness' on Monday

While his cause of death has not been revealed, the star battled two bouts of cancer and discovered benign lumps in his chest over the course of two decades

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.

'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.' 

20 years later, Tommy discovered a lump in his throat, which was subsequently removed, during a cancer awareness campaign in 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.

'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.'

One year later, Tommy shocked viewers when he appeared on an episode of Pointless with his slimmed-down appearance.

After battling a string of health woes, fans were overjoyed to see Tommy back on screens and looking healthy. 

Sadly, Tommy was left battling another diagnosis just a year later. 

Tommy confirmed that doctors had found a three-centimetre tumour in his lung in November 2023.

Tommy's first cancer scare came in 2002 after he discovered two benign lumps within his chest (seen in 2004 with Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock)

20 years later, Tommy discovered a lump in his throat during a cancer awareness campaign in 2022 (seen in 2020)

One year later, Tommy confirmed that doctors had found a three-centimeter tumour in his lung in 2023. Tommy had not confirmed if he had got rid of the cancer before his death (seen 2024)

He underwent an emergency CT scan the following day and by June 2024 Tommy revealed the tumour was 'shrinking' following treatment. 

Tommy told the Daily Mirror: 'I had to have this new treatment called SABR, and what it is is radiotherapy which targets it to an exact spot without damaging the organs around it. So they used that, and it shrank.

'It is now not anywhere else. It is going away. Because it is shrinking, it will shrink down to nothing and disappear. I will then just have to have annual checks. It has worked for me really well.'

Before his death, Tommy never confirmed if he successfully overcame the tumour.

Father-of-three Tommy, who was married to wife Marie for over 30 years, shared children Charlotte, Natalie and Jonjo.

Tommy has been a regular face on TV screens since starring in Ground Force. 

His most recent television appearances included BBC makeover show Clean It, Fix It hosted by Mark Wright, which ended last year. 

He worked alongside Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock on the BBC Two garden makeover programme Ground Force from 1997 until it ended in 2005. 

Sharing his condolences after the news of Tommy's death, Alan wrote: 'Working with Tommy Walsh on Ground Force was a delight.

'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.'

Fans also shared their tributes on X as they wrote: 'We felt like we knew you.'

'Such sad news rip Tommy,' 'The thing I remember most about Tommy Walsh is that for a while Wilko stores stocked Tommy Walsh brand nails, screws and brackets. RIP (Tommy and Wilko),'

'Rest in Peace Tommy Walsh. We felt we knew you,' 'RIP Tommy Walsh a devoted @WestHam fan. Well known for his roles on Ground force and other DIY related tv shows,'

'Had the pleasure of meeting Tommy Walsh at a charity do once. He was surprisingly down to earth and VERY funny.'