View source for Judith Chalmers

{{Short description|British television presenter (born 1935)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Judith Chalmers
| honorific_suffix   = {{post nominals|GBR|OBE}}
| image              = 
| imagesize          = 
| caption            = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age |df=yes|1935|10|10}}
| birth_place        = [[Gatley]], [[Cheshire]], England
| years_active       = 1948–2017
| occupation         = Television presenter
| spouse             = [[Neil Durden-Smith]] (m. 1964–present)
| children           = 2, including [[Mark Durden-Smith]]
}}

'''Judith Rosemary Locke Chalmers''' (born 10 October 1935)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk|title=FreeBMD Home Page|publisher=FreeBMD.com}}</ref> is an English retired [[television presenter]] who is best known for presenting the travel programme ''[[Wish You Were Here...?]]'' from 1974 to 2003.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|title=Judith Chalmers OBE {{!}} Travel Broadcaster {{!}} Gordon Poole Agency|url=https://www.gordonpoole.com/talent/judith-chalmers-obe/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=Gordon Poole Agency Ltd|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Early life==
Chalmers was born in [[Gatley]], [[Cheshire]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 February 2015|title=Sandra Chalmers obituary|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/feb/09/sandra-chalmers|access-date=16 December 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Her father was an architect and her mother a medical secretary.<ref name="TheTimes">Sandra Chalmers Obituary in ''The Times'' p 56,  27 February 2015</ref> She had a sister, [[Sandra Chalmers]]. Both siblings were educated at [[Withington Girls' School]], an independent day school in [[Fallowfield]] near [[Withington]], [[Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 February 2015|title=In Memoriam: Sandra Locke Chalmers [Class of 1958]|url=https://www.wgs.org/2015/02/sandra-locke-chalmers-1958/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=Withington Girls' School|language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
Chalmers began broadcasting for the [[BBC]] when she was only 13, after being selected for BBC Northern ''Children's Hour'' by producer Trevor Hill.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speaking to you at Home|url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/pioneering-women/speaking-to-you-at-home/bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/pioneering-women/speaking-to-you-at-home/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref> Her younger sister Sandra,  who was later editor of ''[[Woman's Hour]]'', also performed on ''Children's Hour''.<ref>Sue McGregor [https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/feb/09/sandra-chalmers "Sandra Chalmers obituary"], ''The Guardian'', 9 February 2015</ref> Chalmers presented many programmes from Manchester, including ''Children's Television Club'' which later metamorphosed into ''[[Blue Peter]]'' based in London.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speaking to you at Home|url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/pioneering-women/speaking-to-you-at-home/bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/pioneering-women/speaking-to-you-at-home/|access-date=17 December 2021|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref> She spent some time at secretarial college in Manchester in the early 1950s.<ref name="Debretts">[http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/c/14019/Judith+CHALMERS.aspx Miss Judith Chalmers, OBE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014604/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/c/14019/Judith+CHALMERS.aspx |date=3 December 2013 }}, Debretts.com. Retrieved 19 November 2013.</ref>

In the 1960s, Chalmers presented two major BBC radio programmes: ''[[Family Favourites]]'' and ''Woman's Hour''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Family Favourites 1 August 1945|url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/august/family-favourites/bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/august/family-favourites/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/> She also appeared as the original Susan in ''[[The Clitheroe Kid]]'', and was a foil for [[Ken Dodd]] in his radio show.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clitheroe Kid|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2021/50/bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2021/50/clitheroe-kid%20/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Ken Dodd Show, From 20/10/1963|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b050cx7p|access-date=16 December 2021|website=BBC|language=en-GB}}</ref> Chalmers presented ballroom dancing competition programme ''[[Come Dancing]]'' for the BBC from 1961 to 1965.<ref name="auto1"/>

During the 1970s, Chalmers regularly presented [[ITV (network)|ITV]]'s daytime magazine programme ''Good Afternoon'' and its successors, which included ''Afternoon Plus'' and ''A Plus''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Good Afternoon - Mary Berry Simnel Cake|url=https://www.facebook.com/ThamesTVArchive/videos/398500834305678/|language=en|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref> She started presenting ITV's holiday programme ''[[Wish You Were Here?]]'' in 1974 and continued in this role until 2003, initially working alongside [[Chris Kelly (TV presenter)|Chris Kelly]], and later with John Carter.<ref name="auto1"/>

In the 1980s Chalmers was a regular host of the [[Miss World]] contest on ITV, also presenting the associated UK beauty pageants such as [[Miss United Kingdom]] and the British Beauty Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beautiesofuniverseandworld|date=29 July 2020|title=Miss World 1985|url=https://rodriguezmatute.home.blog/2020/07/28/miss-world-1985/|access-date=16 December 2021|website=MISS WORLD HISTORY|language=en}}</ref> Chalmers presented [[BBC Radio 2]]'s mid-morning show from 1990 to 1992, taking over from [[Ken Bruce]], who took over the show again following Chalmers's departure from the station in 1992.<ref name="auto1"/>

In 2001, Chalmers appeared on ''[[Lily Savage's Blankety Blank]]''.<ref name="blanketyblank">{{cite episode|series=Lily Savage's Blankety Blank|airdate=18 February 2001|network=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. Repeated 25 August 2016 on [[Challenge TV]]}}</ref> She took part in an episode of the [[BBC Two]] series ''[[Antiques Road Trip#Celebrity series|Celebrity Antiques Road Trip]]'', with her son [[Mark Durden-Smith|Mark]], in 2013.<ref>[http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/10547884.TV_presenter_Judith_Chalmers_battles_under_the_hammer_at_Stroud_Auction_Rooms/ "TV presenter Judith Chalmers battles under the hammer at Stroud Auction Rooms"], ''Stroud News & Journal'', 15 July 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.</ref>

Her television appearances in later years have been limited to short spots on chat show programmes such as ''[[Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme)|Good Morning Britain]]'', ''[[Lorraine (TV programme)|Lorraine]]'' and [[Graham Norton]]'s chat shows.<ref>{{cite web|title=Judith Chalmers on Benidorm|date=18 September 2015|author=Good Morning Britain|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNa606nEKYc|language=en|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Judith Chalmers on the Joys of Travel {{!}} Lorraine| website=[[YouTube]] | date=5 January 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E84fW1Dp36Q|language=en|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 2 - The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Wednesday - Graham Norton sits in for Chris with special guest Judith Chalmers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t0g74|access-date=16 December 2021|website=BBC|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2017, Chalmers took part in Channel 5's ''Celebrity Taste of Italy''.<ref name="auto1"/>

In 2022, at the age of 86, Chalmers was appointed Heathrow Express's new chief smile officer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/cruise-news/stars-on-board-travel-icon-judith-chalmers|title=Stars on board: TV icon Judith Chalmers talks travel|last=Holland|first=Kaye|date=8 August 2022|website=World of Cruising}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Chalmers has been married to sports commentator [[Neil Durden-Smith]] since 1964.<ref>{{cite web |title=ATV Icon: Judith Chalmers |url=https://www.atvtoday.co.uk/164466-icon/ |website=[[ATV Today]] |access-date=10 August 2025 |date=26 July 2025}}</ref> The couple live in north [[London]] and have two children, including television presenter Mark Durden-Smith.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark Durden-Smith|url=https://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/awards-hosts-presenter/mark-durden-smith|access-date=16 December 2021|website=www.speakerscorner.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> Chalmers has six grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 September 2009|title=My Life In Travel: Judith Chalmers|last=Lam|first=Sophie|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/my-life-in-travel-judith-chalmers-1789702.html|access-date=16 December 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>

Chalmers was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in 1994.<ref name="auto1"/>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chalmers, Judith}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English radio DJs]]
[[Category:English reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:English television presenters]]
[[Category:English voice actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 2 presenters]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Stockport]]
[[Category:People educated at Withington Girls' School]]
[[Category:Beauty pageant hosts]]
[[Category:English women radio presenters]]
[[Category:English women television presenters]]