Judith Chalmers, the beloved presenter of the long-running ITV travel series Wish You Were Here...?, has died at the age of 90. Her family confirmed she passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, surrounded by her loved ones, after a brief illness. She had been living with Alzheimer's disease in her final years.
A Career Spanning Six Decades
Chalmers hosted more than 500 episodes of the popular holiday programme from 1974 to 2003, becoming a familiar face to British viewers. Her family described her life as extraordinary, involving over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures around the world. They said she leaves behind 'a giant suitcase of the happiest memories'.
When she first took the role as launch presenter of Wish You Were Here...?, Chalmers had only travelled as far as France. As cheap package holidays to Europe boomed, her career soared, and she became renowned for her warm, approachable style and signature sun tan.
Early Career and BBC Roots
Born in 1935 in Gatley, Cheshire, Chalmers began her broadcasting career at the BBC at just 13, after her mother encouraged her to audition for BBC Children's Hour in Manchester. She made her television debut in 1956, presenting a women's afternoon magazine programme. By the 1960s, she worked as a BBC television announcer and hosted Come Dancing, the original ballroom dancing competition. From 1966 to 1970, she presented BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Her younger sister, Sandra, later became an editor of the same programme in the 1980s.
Memorable Moments and Tips
In 2008, Chalmers made headlines when she told Graham Norton that she never wore knickers on camera during Wish You Were Here...? to avoid visible panty lines. She quipped: 'After 30 years of Wish You Were Here...?, I was pantless all the time.'
Despite the glamour, she insisted the show was not a holiday. She once said: 'We get to spend so little time in the places we visit and have to work 14-hour days, so that I'm usually too exhausted to enjoy them as holiday destinations.' Her top travel tip was to pack light, though she admitted in 2019: 'I still take far too much. I'm ashamed whenever I see my heavy case coming off the carousel.'
Personal Life and Legacy
Chalmers is survived by her husband of 60 years, former sports presenter Neil Durden-Smith, 92, and their son Mark Durden-Smith, a TV presenter known for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and This Morning. Her family expressed that she will be greatly missed, but her warmth and joy live on through her work.
