TV presenter Judith Chalmers has sadly passed away, aged 90, surrounded by her family who said she lived an “extraordinary life”.
The travel icon leaves behind her husband, their two kids and six grandchildren and previously said her family were her “greatest joy”.
Judith had previously told The Sun that meeting her husband – former sports broadcaster Neil Durden-Smith – was the one day that changed her life.
The pair met at BBC Broadcasting house where he was based as a producer as Judith worked on holiday programme Holiday Hour.
She said at the time: “Durders invited me to a party and when everyone else went off to dinner, we were still talking. We met and married in three- and-a-half months.”
The Wish You Were Here…? star was happily married to Neil from 1964 until her death after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Neil, 92, was a naval officer before he moved into radio and television, becoming a commentator and producer from the 1960s to the 1990s – he received an OBE in 1997.
The couple went on to have two children, son Mark and daughter Emma, and lived together in London.
Judith’s family told ITV following her death: “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.”
Mark Durden-Smith followed in his parents footsteps and embarked on a career in presenting on the same year his father was awarded an OBE.
The 57-year-old is known as one of the country’s most versatile presenters and launched Channel 4‘s topical breakfast show RI:SE in 2002 and was a familiar face on the ITV shows This Morning and Lorraine between 2010 and 2014.
He was also one of the original presenters on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now and hosted the programme on and off between 2003 and 2008.
But he is perhaps best known for his sports presenting and commentary and was one of the hosts for the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
He has also had stints presenting Sky shows including The Match and Double or Nothing as well as Channel 5‘s rugby union coverage.
Mark married Rachel Morse in December 2004 and the couple have three children together.
Judith said previously that her family were the “greatest joy and the reason for us to keep on living for as long as we can”.
She became seriously ill over the last few weeks, and passed away surrounded by family on Thursday.
The star presented the ITV series from 1974 until 2003, and she was given an OBE in 1994.
She hosted ITV’s daytime magazine show Good Afternoon, and presented BBC Radio programmes Family Favourites and Woman’s Hour in the 1960s.
She presented ballroom dancing competition programme Come Dancing for the BBC from 1961 to 1965, before moving to ITV.
Aged just 13, she began working for the BBC after being selected for BBC Northern Children’s Hour.
