Television presenter Judith Chalmers, best known for hosting the long-running travel programme Wish You Were Here…?, has died at the age of 90, her family has confirmed.
The Cheshire-born broadcaster began her career at the BBC when she was just 13 years old. During the 1960s, she presented popular radio shows such as Woman's Hour and Family Favourites before moving on to host the ITV magazine programme Good Afternoon.
Chalmers also presented the BBC's Come Dancing from 1961 to 1965 and later hosted the Miss World contest on ITV during the 1980s. However, she was most widely recognised for her role on Wish You Were Here…?, which she presented from 1974 to 2003, taking viewers to travel destinations across the globe.
Her family told ITV News that Chalmers, who had been living with Alzheimer's disease in her final years, died peacefully at home on Thursday surrounded by her loved ones after becoming ill in recent weeks.
The family's statement read: "After living an extraordinary life that involved over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures all over the globe, Judy sadly passed away last night, surrounded by the family she loved so much after suffering with Alzheimer's for some years. We will miss her greatly but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories."
Family and Legacy
Chalmers was married to sports presenter Neil Durden-Smith from 1964 until her death, and the couple lived together in London. Her son, Mark Durden-Smith, followed in her footsteps and became a television presenter, working on shows such as ITV's I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Now!, This Morning, and rugby coverage for Prime Video, Channel 5, and ITV.
In 2008, Mark hosted a revival of his mother's show entitled Wish You Were Here…? Now & Then, which revisited locations from the original series to see how they had changed over the years.
In recognition of her services to broadcasting, Chalmers was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1994.
Her family's statement concluded with a tribute to her adventurous spirit and warmth, noting that she leaves behind a wealth of happy memories for all who knew her.
