The beloved ITV travel show presenter died peacefully at home on Thursday evening, with her family by her side
Judith Chalmers, the beloved broadcaster who became a household name as the host of ITV’s long-running travel show Wish You Were Here…?, has passed away at the age of 90.
Her family announced on Friday that she passed away peacefully at home on Thursday evening (May 21), surrounded by her nearest and dearest, having battled Alzheimer’s disease in her later years.
They disclosed that her condition had gradually worsened over time, and that she had become critically ill in the preceding weeks, allowing family members to gather at her bedside.
A Gatley, Cheshire native, Chalmers demonstrated extraordinary talent from an early age, joining the BBC at just 13 years old. She went on to become a familiar voice on Family Favourites and Woman’s Hour throughout the 1960s before making the move to television, where she fronted ITV’s daytime magazine programme Good Afternoon.
Her most celebrated role came in 1974 when she took the helm of Wish You Were Here…?, the half-hour travel programme that cemented her status as one of Britain’s most recognisable television personalities. She continued to front the show until 2003 and was awarded an OBE in 1994, reports the Daily Record.
She is survived by her husband, former sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith, and their two children.
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