Judith Chalmers, the beloved presenter of ITV's Wish You Were Here, has died at the age of 90. The veteran TV star was a small-screen staple for decades, hosting family-friendly shows including Come Dancing and Wish You Were Here. However, in 2008, she made a cheeky revelation that sent the nation into a frenzy.
The Pantless Confession
During an appearance on Loose Women in 2008, Chalmers detailed how a once closely-guarded secret was leaked after chat show host Graham Norton asked her how many pairs of knickers she took on holiday. “Graham said, ‘Do you take one pair and wash them, two pairs and wash them, or one for every day of the week?’” she explained. “So I said I don’t take them, and he said, ‘You what?’” Chalmers added that the decision was made after a wardrobe assistant advised her to avoid having a VPL (visible panty line) on television. “So I’m sorry to reveal that after 30 years of Wish You Were Here, I was pantless all the time,” she quipped.
Impact and Legacy
The revelation proved to be inspiring for some, with Guardian columnist Tanya Gold giving going commando a go and writing in the publication: “I never thought I would write this sentence, but Judith's Chalmers' pants, or lack of them, have changed my life.” At the height of its popularity, Wish You Were Here’s viewing figures peaked at 18 million per episode, making it one of the most popular shows on television. In a 2019 interview with The Independent, Chalmers credited the programme with allowing her to see “so much of the world and discover how different it is”. “I love sitting in cafes, watching people go by,” she added.
Final Years and Passing
Chalmers’ death was announced on Friday (22 May) by her family, who said she passed away peacefully at home on Thursday (21 May) evening, surrounded by her loved ones. She had been living with Alzheimer’s in her final years. Her family said that the Cheshire-born star’s health had been declining for some time and that she became seriously ill in recent weeks, giving them time to be together with her.
