Judith Rosemary Locke Chalmers (10 October 1935 – 21 May 2026) was an English television and radio presenter. She began broadcasting for the BBC as a teenager and went on to present a wide range of programmes, including Family Favourites, Woman's Hour, Come Dancing and ITV's daytime magazine shows. Chalmers was best known for presenting the ITV travel series Wish You Were Here...? from 1974 to 2003. Her later work included appearances on programmes such as Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine and Celebrity Taste of Italy. She was appointed OBE in 1994.
Early life
Judith Rosemary Locke Chalmers was born on 10 October 1935 in Gatley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, and grew up in Cheadle. Her father, David, was an architect, and died when Chalmers was 17. She had a younger sister, Sandra Chalmers.
Career
Chalmers began broadcasting for the BBC when she was 13, after being selected for BBC Northern Children's Hour by producer Trevor Hill. Her younger sister Sandra, who was later editor of Woman's Hour, also performed on Children's Hour. Chalmers presented many programmes from Manchester, including Children's Television Club, which later developed into Blue Peter based in London. She spent some time at secretarial college in Manchester in the early 1950s.
In the 1960s, Chalmers presented two major BBC radio programmes: Family Favourites, and Woman's Hour. She also appeared as the original Susan in The Clitheroe Kid, and was a foil for Ken Dodd in his radio show. Chalmers presented ballroom dancing competition programme Come Dancing for the BBC from 1961 to 1965. She began presenting ITV's holiday programme Wish You Were Here? in 1974 and continued in the role until 2003. and also presented associated UK beauty pageants such as Miss United Kingdom. Chalmers presented BBC Radio 2's mid-morning show from 1990 to 1992, taking over from Ken Bruce, who returned to the programme following her departure in 1992.
In 2013, Chalmers took part in an episode of the BBC Two series Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, with her son, Mark. Her television appearances in later years included contributions to shows such as Good Morning Britain, and Lorraine. Chalmers also took part in Channel 5's Celebrity Taste of Italy.
In 2022, at the age of 86, Chalmers was appointed Heathrow Express's new chief smile officer, a role intended to keep travellers happy.
Personal life and death
Chalmers was married to sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith from 1964 until her death. The couple had two children, including television presenter Mark Durden-Smith, and six grandchildren.
She was appointed an OBE in 1994.
Filmography
{| class="wikitable"
|+ As herself
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 1956–1958
| The Northern Scene
| Presenter
|-
| 1961–1965
| Signpost
| Presenter
|-
| 1960
| The Ken Dodd Show
| 1 episode
|-
| 1962
| Come Dancing
| Compere; 1 episode
|-
| 1962
| It's a Square World
| 1 episode
|-
| 1963–1967
| Juke Box Jury
| 5 episodes
|-
| 1964
| Television Club
| 1 episode
|-
| 1964
| Viewpoint
| 1 episode
|-
| 1965–1970
| Seeing and Believing
| Presenter
|-
| 1966–1969
| Know Your Onions
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1968
| Doddy for Christmas
| Television film
|-
| 1968
| Theatre 625
| 1 episode
|-
| 1970
| Call My Bluff
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1970
| Not a Word
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1973–1981
| Good Afternoon!
| Presenter
|-
| 1974–2003
| Wish You Were Here...?
| Presenter
|-
| 1974–2001
| This Is Your Life
| 7 episodes
|-
| 1974
| The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs
| 1 episode
|-
| 1975–1978
| It's a Knockout
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1978–1979
| Celebrity Squares
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1979–1985
| Give Us a Clue
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1979–1985
| Miss World
| Presenter
|-
| 1980
| Night of One Hundred Stars
| Television film
|-
| 1981
| Family Fortunes
| 1 episode
|-
| 1981
| It'll Be Alright on the Night
| 1 episode
|-
| 1981
| The Generation Game
| 1 episode
|-
| 1981–1982
| The Pyramid Game
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1981–1983
| Punchlines
| 5 episodes
|-
| 1981–2002
| Blankety Blank
| 5 episodes
|-
| 1983
| An Audience with Kenneth Williams
| Television special
|-
| 1983
| Octopussy: The Royal Premiere
| Television special
|-
| 1985
| A View to a Kill: The Royal Premiere
| Television special
|-
| 1986
| Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go On
| Television film
|-
| 1986
| Looks Familiar
| 1 episode
|-
| 1986
| Duty Free
| 1 episode
|-
| 1987
| Des O'Connor Tonight
| 1 episode
|-
| 1987
| The Home Service
| Presenter
|-
| 1987
| Wogan
| 1 episode
|-
| 1988
| Through the Keyhole
| 1 episode
|-
| 1990
| Open Air
| 1 episode
|-
| 1990
| What's My Line?
| 1 episode
|-
| 1994
| Surprise! Surprise!
| 1 episode
|-
| 1993, 1995
| Noel's House Party
| 1 episode
|-
| 1997
| Call My Bluff
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1997
| Smillie's People
| 1 episode
|-
| 1998
| So Graham Norton
| 1 episode
|-
| 1998
| Rex the Runt
| Judith Poodle (voice); 2 episodes
|-
| 1999
| Heroes of Comedy
| 1 episode
|-
| 1999
| Wetty Hainthropp Investigates
| Television short
|-
| 2001
| Bob Martin
| 1 episode
|-
| 2003
| Life Beyond the Box: Margo
| Television film
|-
| 2003
| The All New Harry Hill Show
| 1 episode
|-
| 2003
| Wish You Were Here...? Today
| 1 episode
|-
| 2003–2008
| BBC Breakfast
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2004
| Back to the 70's
| 1 episode
|-
| 2004
| Saturday Brunch
| 1 episode
|-
| 2004
| The Best of 'So Graham Norton'
| Guest
|-
| 2004–2005
| This Morning
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2005
| Castle in the Country
| Reporter
|-
| 2005–2006
| The Paul O'Grady Show
| Guest / Guest presenter; 2 episodes
|-
| 2006
| Another Audience with Shirley Bassey
| Television special
|-
| 2007
| Children's TV on Trial
| 1 episode
|-
| 2007
| Points West
| 1 episode
|-
| 2007
| That's What I Call Television
| 1 episode
|-
| 2007
| The Strictly Come Dancing Story
| Television film
|-
| 2008
| An Audience with Neil Diamond
| Television special
|-
| 2008
| Comedy Classics
| 1 episode
|-
| 2008–2009
| Loose Women
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2009
| All Star Family Fortunes
| 1 episode
|-
| 2010
| 30 Years of 'An Audience With...'
| 1 episode
|-
| 2010
| All Star Mr & Mrs
| 1 episode
|-
| 2013
| Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
| 1 episode
|-
| 2016
| Being Mavis Nicholson: TV's Greatest Interviewer
| Television film
|-
| 2016
| Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
| Film role
|-
| 2017
| A Celebrity Taste of Italy
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2017
| Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule
| 1 episode
|-
| 2018
| Ooh You Are Awful: TV We Used to Love
| Television film
|-
| 2018
| Top of the Box
| 1 episode
|-
! colspan="4" | Sources:
|}