Former Wish You Were Here…? presenter Judith Chalmers dies aged 90

Chalmers had been living with Alzheimer’s in her final years

Judith Chalmers has died aged 90 (PA)

Television presenter Judith Chalmers, who hosted the travel show Wish You Were Here…?, has died aged 90, her family told ITV News.

The family’s statement said Chalmers, who had been living with Alzheimer’s in her final years, died peacefully at home on Thursday surrounded by her family, after she had become ill in recent weeks.

It 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.

Neil Durden-Smith and Judith Chalmers (Ian West/PA)

“We will miss her greatly but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories.”

The Cheshire-born presenter began her career at the BBC aged just 13, where she went on to present radio programmes such as Woman’s Hour and Family Favourites in the 1960s, before going on to present ITV magazine show Good Afternoon.

She also presented the BBC’s Come Dancing from 1961 to 1965, and the Miss World contest on ITV in the 1980s, as well as the BBC’s Children’s Television Club which later became Blue Peter.

Her TV appearances were reduced in her later years, however she made appearances on shows such as ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the BBC’s The Graham Norton Show and Channel 5’s Celebrity Taste of Italy.

Mark Durden-Smith, her son with her husband, sports presenter Neil Durden-Smith, is also a TV presenter, having worked on shows such as ITV’s

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Now!, This Morning,

and rugby coverage on Prime Video, Channel 5 and ITV.