The broadcasting world has lost a true icon. Judith Chalmers, the beloved presenter of the long-running ITV travel show Wish You Were Here...?, passed away at the age of 90. Her family confirmed the news on Friday, stating that she died peacefully at her north London home, surrounded by loved ones, after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.
A Life in Television
Chalmers began her broadcasting career with the BBC at just 13 years old. She went on to present radio programmes such as Woman's Hour and Family Favourites in the 1960s before moving to ITV in the 1970s. Her defining role came in 1974 when she became the lead presenter of Wish You Were Here...?, a travel programme that brought exotic destinations into the homes of millions of viewers in a primetime Monday slot. She hosted the show until 2003.
In 1994, Chalmers was awarded an OBE for her services to broadcasting. She also appeared alongside her son, Mark Durden-Smith, in an episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip in 2013.
Motherly Advice for the Small Screen
Mark Durden-Smith, who followed his mother into television, has often credited her with providing invaluable broadcasting tips. 'The main advice she always gives me is to slow down, to speak more slowly and to smile more,' he told The Mirror in 2008. 'She gives broadcasting tips, rather than holiday tips.'
Mark initially worked as a researcher for Clive Anderson Talks Back before getting his big break co-hosting the Channel 4 show RI:SE alongside Liz Bonnin, Colin Murray, and Edith Bowman. He later presented I'm a Celebrity Extra Camp with the late Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and filled in on This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby. More recently, he has covered the Aviva rugby premiership highlights for ITV.
Family Tributes
Chalmers' family released a statement expressing their grief. 'After living an extraordinary life that involved over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures across the globe, Judy sadly passed away last night, surrounded by the family she loved so much after suffering from Alzheimer's for some years,' they said. 'We will miss her greatly, but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest memories.'
She is survived by her husband, former cricketer Neil Durden-Smith, and her two children, Mark and Emma.
