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Judith Chalmers, British TV presenting legend, dies aged 90
The popular broadcaster died at home surrounded by family.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
- Tilly Pearce
Published: Friday, 22 May 2026 at 1:58 pm
TV presenter Judith Chalmers has died at the age of 90.
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The popular host, who was most famed for presenting the travel show Wish You Were Here…?, died peacefully at home on Thursday (21 May), surrounded by family.
In a statement released by her family announcing her death, it was confirmed that she had been living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The official 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."
Judith Chalmers, pictured in 1979. Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
The family added to ITV News that Chalmers’s health had been in decline for some time, although she fell seriously ill in recent weeks, giving her family time to be with her.
Judith’s presenting career started when she was just 13 years old, when in 1956 she landed a job on BBC Northern's Children's Hour.
During the 1960s, she became a radio host, presenting Family Favourites and Women’s Hour, as well as presenting Come Dancing in 1961 – the TV dancing competition that has since been revived with a celebrity spin in Strictly Come Dancing.
After hosting Come Dancing for four years, Chalmers would become a regular face of ITV Daytime television, and hosted Miss World during the 1980s.
But her biggest title was presenting the travel show Wish You Were Here…? for ITV, a show she stayed with for its entire run from 1974 until its end in 2003.
Judith Chalmers and her husband Neil Durden-Smith at the Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie premiere.
At the end of her time on the show, Chalmers would largely retire from presenting, though still made appearances on panel shows and celebrity specials of TV favourites including Blankety Blank, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Loose Women and A Celebrity Taste of Italy.
In 2016 she made one of her last appearances on screen as a special guest cameo in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
Over this period, she hosted 191 episodes of the getaway favourite, and was joined on-screen by co-hosts including Chris Kelly, Anthea Turner and John Carter.
She was married to former sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith, with the pair tying the knot in 1964.
Together they had two children, son Mark – who has also become a broadcaster and TV personality – and daughter Emma.
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Chalmers is survived by her husband, her two children and her grandchildren.
Authors
Tilly PearceFreelance Writer
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
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