Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts has paid tribute to Judith Chalmers, his Wish You Were Here…? co-star, who has died aged 90
Martin Roberts has shared a tear-jerking tribute to Judith Chalmers. It comes just hours after the news emerged that the late ITV star had died aged 90. Homes Under the Hammer host Martin had worked with Judith on Wish You Were Here…? for nearly ten years, and has opened up about how “very sad” he is following her death today (May 22) at the age of 90.
Judith had been living with Alzheimer’s for “some years” prior to her death, and Martin has joined a host of celebrities paying their respects on social media. He posted: “Oh, so sad to hear of the passing of Judith Chalmers. I worked with her on Wish You Were Here…? for eight years and she lived up to her name – always completely charming.
“One of the most famous people in the UK, and yet she always had time to talk to anyone. One thing is for sure – she’s got a first-class ticket to heaven.”
Fans were quick to show their support for Martin, with one commenting: “Oh, that’s so sad. Met her a few years ago in a London restaurant and she was utterly charming.” Another agreed: “Aww, sad news. She was always so cheerful.” While a third simply wrote: “Lovely words Martin.”
Judith’s family announced her death in an official statement today, which 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.” Chalmers, who was born in Gatley, Cheshire, was just 13 when she began working for the BBC.
Alongside her sister Sandra, she was selected to perform on the BBC North programme Children’s Hour. Throughout the 1960s, she presented programmes such as Family Favourites and Woman’s Hour for BBC Radio and the dance show Come Dancing from 1961 to 1965.
In the 1970s, she moved to ITV to host their daytime TV show Good Afternoon. In 1974, aged 38, she started presenting holiday programme Wish You Were Here…?, where she remained until 2003. Not only would the show provide Chalmers with almost three decades on the TV, it also sparked the career of her son Mark Durden-Smith, who hosted spin off show Wish You Were Here…? Now and Then.
In 2009, Chalmers told The Independent how grateful she was for her time on the travel programme. She said the show allowed her to see “so much of the world and discover how different it is”.
She added that when she first started doing the show, a holiday consisted of “lying on the beach with lemons and oil” but she later became someone who “likes a bit of culture” too.
And holidays weren’t the only subject of conversation after Chalmers left Wish You Were Here…?. The ITV star later garnered national attention when she revealed that she was “pantless” during filming, as she didn’t want an obvious knicker line to be seen on TV.
In a 2008 episode of Loose Women, Chalmers said that she was asked by Graham Norton how many pairs of underwear she took on holiday.
After telling the Irish interviewer that she didn’t take knickers whilst filming her ITV show, she explained that the decision was taken after a wardrobe assistant told her she shouldn’t have a visible panty line. “So I’m sorry to reveal that after 30 years of Wish You Were Here, I was pantless all the time,” she laughed.
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