Legendary TV presenter Judith Chalmers has died aged 90 after a battle with Alzheimer’s.
The Wish You Were Here…? star died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Thursday.
The travel icon had become seriously ill over the last few weeks, her family said.
“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,” they told ITV.
“We will miss her greatly but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories.”
Dementia UK told The Standard in a statement: "We're sorry to hear that TV presenter Judith Chalmers has died having lived with Alzheimer’s disease and send our condolences to her family.
“We hope her family are receiving the support they need at this difficult time."
“We urge families affected by dementia to reach out to our specialist Helpline. Staffed by dementia specialist Admiral Nurses, our Helpline offers support and guidance on all stages of dementia, including grieving for a loved one.”
Chalmers presented the ITV travel show Wish You Were Here...? for three decades and was given an OBE in 1994.
She also hosted ITV’s daytime magazine show Good Afternoon and presented BBC Radio shows Family Favourites and Woman’s Hour in the 1960s.
Born in Cheshire, the TV star began working for the BBC aged just 13 after being selected for BBC Northern Children’s Hour.
She presented ballroom dancing competition Come Dancing for the BBC from 1961 to 1965, before moving to ITV.
Chalmers started hosting Wish You Were Here...?, a series of 30-minute shows about travel and holidays, in 1974 and fronted the show until 2003.
She hit the headlines in 2008 when she revealed she never wore knickers when appearing on the show because she didn’t want the outline of them to be visible.
Chalmers said on Loose Women that she revealed the secret when interviewer Graham Norton asked 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 recalled.
“So I said I don’t take them, and he said, ‘You what?’”
The TV star said she made the decision after a wardrobe assistant told her she shouldn’t have 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 said.
She is survived by her husband former sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith, their two kids and six grandchildren.
Anyone affected by dementia can contact the Dementia UK Helpline by calling 0800 888 6678 or emailing helpline@dementiauk.org
