Beloved Greater Manchester-born presenter Judith Chalmers has died at 90
RIP.
themanc.comJudith Chalmers, the long-time host of Wish You Were Here…, has passed away at age 90 in May 2026. This breaking news has been reported by multiple outlets, with family statements confirming she died peacefully at home after living with Alzheimer’s in recent years.[1][2][3]
Key points
- Who she was: Judith Chalmers OBE, renowned for presenting Wish You Were Here…? on ITV from 1974 to 2003.[2]
- Age and dates: Born Judith Rosemary Locke Chalmers on 10 October 1935; died 21 May 2026 at age 90.[4]
- Survivors and family: Survived by her husband Neil Durden-Smith and their two children, including Mark Durden-Smith.[3][2]
- Health in later years: Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, which contributed to reduced public appearances.[2][3]
Context and tributes
- Coverage highlights her career spanning more than six decades in broadcasting and the global travel-show format she helped popularize.[3][2]
- Public tributes and official statements have appeared across major outlets, with follow-up features and memorials noting her impact on travel programming.[4][2]
Illustration
- If you’d like, I can compile a brief timeline of her career milestones and notable episodes of Wish You Were Here…, or pull a short tribute montage from credible sources.
Would you like me to summarize her career milestones in a timeline or provide a short obituary-ready write-up? I can also fetch additional obituaries or tributes from specific outlets if you have a preferred source.
Citations:
- Reports of death and age.[1][2][3][4]