Judith Chalmers facts for kids

Judith Chalmers is a famous English television presenter. She was born on October 10, 1935. Many people know her for hosting the travel show Wish You Were Here...?. She presented this popular show from 1974 to 2003.

Early Life and School Days

Judith Chalmers was born in Gatley, Cheshire, England. Her father worked as an architect. Her mother was a medical secretary. Judith had a sister named Sandra Chalmers. Both sisters went to Withington Girls' School. This was a private school near Manchester.

Starting Her Career in Broadcasting

Judith began working for the BBC when she was just 13 years old. She was chosen for the BBC Northern Children's Hour. Her younger sister, Sandra, also performed on this show. Sandra later became editor of Woman's Hour.

From Children's Hour to Blue Peter

Judith presented many shows from Manchester. One show was Children's Television Club. This show later became Blue Peter. Blue Peter is a very famous children's TV show. In the early 1950s, Judith also attended a secretarial college.

Radio and TV in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Judith Chalmers hosted two big BBC radio shows. These were Family Favourites and Woman's Hour. She also played the first Susan in The Clitheroe Kid. She worked with comedian Ken Dodd on his radio show. From 1961 to 1965, Judith also presented Come Dancing. This was a popular ballroom dancing competition on the BBC.

Hosting Travel Shows and More

During the 1970s, Judith often presented ITV's daytime shows. These included Good Afternoon and Afternoon Plus. In 1974, she started hosting Wish You Were Here?. This was a holiday travel program. She continued to host it until 2003. She worked with Chris Kelly and later John Carter on the show.

Miss World and Radio 2

In the 1980s, Judith was a regular host for the Miss World contest. She also presented other beauty pageants in the UK. From 1990 to 1992, she hosted the mid-morning show on BBC Radio 2. She took over from Ken Bruce.

Later TV Appearances

In 2001, Judith appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. In 2013, she was on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. She appeared with her son, Mark. More recently, she has made short appearances on chat shows. These include Good Morning Britain and Lorraine. In 2017, she took part in Celebrity Taste of Italy on Channel 5.

Personal Life

Judith Chalmers has been married to Neil Durden-Smith since 1964. He is a sports commentator. They live in north London. They have two children, including TV presenter Mark. Judith also has six grandchildren. In 1994, she was given an OBE. This is a special award in the UK.