Judith Chalmers, Wish You Were Here...? host, dies at 90

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

"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.

She presented radio programmes such as Woman's Hour and Family Favourites in the 1960s, before going on to present the ITV magazine show Good Afternoon.

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

Chalmers was best known for her role on Wish You Were Here...?, which she presented from 1974 to 2003, looking at various travel destinations around the world.

She was married to her husband, sports presenter Neil Durden-Smith, from 1964 until her death, and the couple lived together in London.

Mark Durden-Smith, the couple's son, 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.

In 2008, Mark Durden-Smith hosted a new version of Wish You Were Here...?, called Wish You Were Here...? Now & Then, which saw locations from the show's original series revisited to see how they had changed.

Source: Press Association