Last year we said goodbye to some of our best known and well-loved celebrities - from George Michael and Carrie Fisher to Prince and David Bowie.

And in 2017 the sad news has continued, with the losses of some big characters such as Keith Chegwin, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Here are 11 celebrities we have lost in 2017 and what they were best remembered for.

Sir Bruce Forsyth

Sir Bruce Forsyth

TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth died, on August 18, at the age of 89 from bronchial pneumonia.

His career spanned more than 75 years from acting, singing, dancing, screen writing, presenting and comedy and in his later years he was best-known for co-presenting Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2013.

Sir Bruce Forsyth and wife Lady Wilnelia

He also hosted several game shows, including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right and You Bet!

He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity, which followed a years-long public campaign to award him a knighthood which he received in October 2011 and he became Sir Bruce Forsyth CBE.

His last full TV appearance, before his failing health, was for a Strictly Children in Need Special in 2015.

Keith Chegwin

Keith Chegwin

TV presenter Keith Chegwin died on December 11, aged 60 following a long-term battle with a progressive lung condition.

The TV presenter and comic, from Bootle, becoming a household name presenting programmes such as Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Cheggers Plays Pop and, in the 1980s, Saturday Superstore.

He also regularly appeared in pantomimes, such as in the March 2016 with the Easter pantomime tour of Beauty and the Beast. [15]

Keith Chegwin promoting his appearance in a pantomime performance of Cinderella at a photo call in Reading. The television presenter has died at the age of 60.:

His more recent TV appearances included, Dancing on Ice in 2013, and he took part in the fifteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother and later Celebrity MasterChef in 2015.

In a statement following his death Chegwin’s family said: “We are heartbroken to share the news that Keith Chegwin sadly passed away following a long-term battle with a progressive lung condition, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which rapidly worsened towards the end of this year.

“Keith died peacefully at home shortly after midnight on the 11th of December. His wife Maria, his daughter Rose and his son Ted were by his side.”

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson

Tara Palmer Tomkinson

Socialite and TV personality Tara Palmer-Tomkinson died on February 7, aged only 45, from a perforated ulcer.

Despite her troubled life, in which she struggled with an addiction to cocaine which led to her nasal septum collapsing, she wasn’t one to shy away from TV appearances.

She took part in many game shows and was crowned runner up in I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2002 and was also a contestant on a celebrity Christmas edition of Blind Date later that year.

She went on to present I’m a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here Now in 2005 and other shows such as, Top of the Pops and Animals Do the Funniest Things.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson

In tributes after her death the TV star was remembered by many, including Prince Charles who was her godfather and a recurring message from those who knew her was her generous personality.

This was shown throughout her career in particularly in 2007, when she gave tickets to see her compete in Comic Relief Does Fame Academy for the BBC to ‘ordinary people’ unlike others who gave their free tickets to celebrities.

She invited the policeman who found her stolen car, the locksmith who helped when she was locked out of her house and her parents’ local shopkeepers.

Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington

Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington died on July 20, aged 41, after taking his own life.

The band frontman was an American singer, songwriter, and actor - and appeared in cameo roles in several films, including Crank, Crank: High Voltage and Saw 3D.

He also served as the lead singer for bands Dead by Sunrise and Stone Temple Pilots.

Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington

Linkin Park was on tour when news of the singer’s death emerged and had a show booked for the following week with Blink 182 and had released a new music video just hours earlier.

He also filmed an episode of James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” just six days before his death which his family allowed to be aired on October 12 this year.

His death shocked friends and family and coincided with the birthday of his late friend Chris Cornell’s - who had committed suicide months earlier.

Hugh Hefner

Playboy Magazine and Playboy Enterprises founder, 86 year-old Hugh Hefner married former Playboy Playmate of The Month Crystal Harris, 26 years old, on December 31, 2012 at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles,

Founder of Playboy and self professed ladies man Hugh Hefner died aged 91, on September 27, of natural causes.

Known for his notorious lifestyle, which included throwing wild parties at his LA Playboy mansion and living with a string of young girlfriends, he actually started out as a typewriter.

But in 1953 he took out a loan to launch Playboy and later the same year published the first issue, which featured Marilyn Monroe - and the rest is history.

Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, pictured with wife, passed away on September 27 at the Playboy Mansion. He was 91 years old.

He married three times: his college sweetheart Mildred Williams in 1949, Playmate Kimberley Conrad in 1989, and Crystal Harris - 61 years his junior - in 2012.

But along the way had a catalogue of Playboy Bunny girlfriends many of who would live with him in his mansion.

Scousers including Amanda Harrington, Danielle Lloyd and Louise Glover all featured in Playboy.

Liz Dawn

Liz Dawn

Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn, died at the age of 77 on September 26.

The Weatherfield cobbles legend became famous for her role as Vera Duckworth, which she played for 34 years.

Her role in the soap saw her win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 British Soap Awards.

The Coronation Street legend died peacefully at home
The Coronation Street legend died peacefully at home

She was also awarded an MBE in the 2000 Queens Birthday Honours.

Liz made her last appearance on Corrie in January 2008, when Vera Duckworth died in her sleep.

Following her death her family released an emotional statement which said she “died peacefully at home with her loving family around her”.

Sir Roger Moore

Sir Roger Moore

Actor Sir Roger Moore died on May 23, at the age of 89, after a short battle with cancer.

He was best known for his acting role as 007 secret agent James Bond in seven films, including Live and Let Die, from 1973 to 1985.

He was also the oldest actor to play Bond: he was 45 when he debuted, and 58 when he announced his retirement on December 3, 1985 and also still holds the title for the longest serving Bond.

The English actor enjoyed a stellar show business career spanning over six decades.

Sir Roger Moore

But was best known for his acting role as 007 secret agent James Bond in seven films, including Live and Let Die, from 1973 to 1985.

He was also the oldest actor to play Bond: he was 45 when he debuted, and 58 when he announced his retirement yet he still holds the title for the longest serving Bond.

He also was a huge supporter of a variety of charities such as UNICEF, animal charity Peta and Royal British Legion - all who paid tribute to Sir Roger and his help.

And it was his charity work that led to his knighthood in 2003.

John Heard

Actor John Heard
Actor John Heard

Actor John Heard died on July 21, at the age of 72, after suffering a heart attack.

His acting appearances included an array of TV shows and films but arguably his most memorable was his role in the Home Alone series.

In 1990, John Heard starred as Peter McCallister, the father of Kevin McCallister -played by Macaulay Culkin.

The film was one of the biggest hits of the year, and he reprised his role in the sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

He also had roles in the Sopranos and CSI Miami.

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry

Pioneer of the rock scene Chuck Berry, died aged 91, on March 18, from x

The singer and guitarist was a huge influence to the rock and roll scene with songs such as “Maybellene” (1955), “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) and “Johnny B. Goode” noted as just some of his most successful work.

And his eye for music was recognised when he was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986.

Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry

He was cited for having “laid the groundwork for not only a rock and roll sound but a rock and roll stance.”

Berry is included in several of Rolling Stone magazine’s and was ranked fifth on its 2004 and 2011 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Michael Bond CBE

Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond who has died at home aged 91

Children’s author Michael Bond died aged 91, on June 27, from natural causes.

He was best known for his series of fictional stories for children, featuring the character of Paddington Bear the first book of which was published in 1958.

Since it’s release more than 35 million Paddington books have been sold around the world in nearly twenty countries and translated into over forty languages.

His characters have also features in Blockbuster films such as the animated film Paddington Bear, voiced by Ben Wishsaw, the sequel of which was released in November and on television.

The most recent adaptation of the Paddington Bear character was in this years Marks and Spencer’s Christmas advert.

His last published book was in 2017 - a writing career of 59 years.

He was honoured for his services to Children’s literature in the 1996 Birthday Honours OBE and awarded a CBE in 2015.

Leon Bernicoff

Leon Bernicoff met his wife, June, in 1955 with the couple marrying five years later

Gogglebox star Leon Bernicoff died aged 83 after a short illness on December 23.

The retired teacher, from Allerton, and his wife June were one of the first couples to join the show’s cast when it launched in 2013.

He died in hospital, Channel 4 and production company Studio Lambert said in a statement issued on behalf of his family.

They paid tribute to the television favourite’s “unique personality and sharp wit”.

Bernicoff and June Bernicoff from TV show Gogglebox.

A devoted Everton fan, Bernicoff met June in 1955 with the couple marrying five years later.

They met at Alsager teacher training college (Leon is from Liverpool while June comes from Tredegar in South Wales) and have been married for 53 years.

Leon, taught history at Dingle Vale Secondary Modern, Gateacre Comprehensive, Yew Tree Comprehensive in Dovecot, Croxteth Comprehensive and Clubmoor Comprehensive.