Judith Chalmers
Encyclopedia
Judith Chalmers OBE
(born 10 October 1936) is an English
television presenter who is best known for presenting the travel programme Wish You Were Here...?
in the 1970s and 1980s, where she often appeared in a bikini.
, and educated at Withington Girls' School
, an independent day school in the city.
Prior to Wish You Were Here...?, Chalmers presented ballroom dancing competition programme Come Dancing
for the BBC
from 1961 to 1965. Recently her television appearances have been limited to short spots on chat show programmes such as This Morning
and Graham Norton
's chat show vehicles. Chalmers has also promoted the Holiday Property Bond since 1990, and has been accredited for contributing towards its success.
In the 1960s, she presented two major BBC radio programmes: Family Favourites
and Woman's Hour
. Judith also appeared as the original Susan in The Clitheroe Kid
, and was a foil for Ken Dodd
in his radio show.
During the 1970s, Chalmers regularly presented ITV's daytime magazine programme Good Afternoon and its successors, which included Afternoon Plus and A Plus.
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. Chalmers was also presenter of 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.
More recently, in 2011 Judith can be seen on a television commercial for the Circulation Booster V3.
They have two children Mark and Emma and live in North London
. Their son, Mark Durden-Smith
, is also a television presenter. Chalmers also has six grandchildren. She was made an OBE
in 1994. In spite of this honour, however, she was voted no. 88 on the list of 100 Worst Britons.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 10 October 1936) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television presenter who is best known for presenting the travel programme Wish You Were Here...?
Wish You Were Here...?
Wish You Were Here...? is a British television show that was first broadcast on 7th January 1974 on ITV. It was a series of 30 minute shows about travel and holidays. The show was broadcast during peak viewing hours and had gained a significant viewing audience in the UK...
in the 1970s and 1980s, where she often appeared in a bikini.
Early life and career
Chalmers was born in StockportStockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, and educated at Withington Girls' School
Withington Girls' School
Withington Girls' School is an independent day school in Fallowfield, Manchester, United Kingdom, providing education for girls between the ages of seven and eighteen. Withington Girls' School is a member of the Girls' Schools Association and a MyDaughter school. Withington is consistently ranked...
, an independent day school in the city.
Prior to Wish You Were Here...?, Chalmers presented ballroom dancing competition programme Come Dancing
Come Dancing
Come Dancing was a BBC TV ballroom dancing competition show that ran on and off from 1949 to 1998, becoming one of television's longest-running shows....
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
from 1961 to 1965. Recently her television appearances have been limited to short spots on chat show programmes such as This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
and Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
's chat show vehicles. Chalmers has also promoted the Holiday Property Bond since 1990, and has been accredited for contributing towards its success.
In the 1960s, she presented two major BBC radio programmes: Family Favourites
Family Favourites
Successor to the wartime show Forces Favourites, Family Favourites was broadcast at Sunday lunchtimes on the BBC Light Programme, BBC Radio 2 and the British Forces Broadcasting Service until 1980...
and Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
. Judith also appeared as the original Susan in The Clitheroe Kid
The Clitheroe Kid
The Clitheroe Kid was a long-running BBC radio comedy show featuring diminutive Northern comedian Jimmy Clitheroe in the role of a cheeky schoolboy, who lived with his family at 33 Lilac Avenue in an un-named town in the north of England. Jimmy's best friend was Ozzie, alias Oswald Higginbottom, a...
, and was a foil for Ken Dodd
Ken Dodd
Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”...
in his radio show.
During the 1970s, Chalmers regularly presented ITV's daytime magazine programme Good Afternoon and its successors, which included Afternoon Plus and A Plus.
In the 1980s Chalmers was a regular host of the Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
contest on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, also presenting the associated UK beauty pageants such as Miss United Kingdom and the British Beauty Championships. Chalmers was also presenter of BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
's mid-morning show from 1990 to 1992, taking over from Ken Bruce
Ken Bruce
Kenneth Robertson Bruce is a British broadcaster known for his programme on BBC Radio 2, which is broadcast on weekdays from 9:30am until 12 noon.-Early life and career:...
, who took over the show again following Chalmers's departure from the station in 1992.
More recently, in 2011 Judith can be seen on a television commercial for the Circulation Booster V3.
Personal life
Chalmers is married to sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith.They have two children Mark and Emma and live in North London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Their son, Mark Durden-Smith
Mark Durden-Smith
Mark Durden-Smith is a British television presenter. He began his presenting career as host of Sky Sports live rugby union coverage, which included weekly English Premiership fixtures, domestic and European cup competitions and Internationals Tests, including the English home Six Nations matches...
, is also a television presenter. Chalmers also has six grandchildren. She was made an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1994. In spite of this honour, however, she was voted no. 88 on the list of 100 Worst Britons.