Presenter Judith Chalmers was a small-screen staple for decades, best known for hosting family-friendly shows including Come Dancing and Wish You Were Here. But in 2008, the veteran TV star – who has sadly died aged 90 – made a cheeky revelation that sent the nation into a frenzy. As one of the main hosts of ITV’s Wish You Were Here, Chalmers spent 29 years visiting holiday hotspots across the UK, and jetting around the world to explore destinations a little further afield. When the primetime show’s 29-year run finally came to an end in 2003, Chalmers was in her seventies – but that didn’t stop her from going on to share a hilarious confession that sparked plenty of chatter, and even think-pieces in broadsheet newspapers. During an appearance on Loose Women in 2008, Chalmers detailed how a once closely-guarded secret was leaked after chat show host Graham Norton asked her how many pairs of knickers she took on holiday. Judith Chalmers guided the nation’s holiday choices for 29 years (ITV)“Graham said, ‘Do you take one pair and wash them, two pairs and wash them, or one for every day of the week?’” she explained. “So I said I don’t take them, and he said, ‘You what?’”Chalmers added that the decision was made after a wardrobe assistant advised her to avoid having a VPL (visible panty line) on television. “So I’m sorry to reveal that after 30 years of Wish You Were Here, I was pantless all the time,” she quipped. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 dayNew subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.The revelation proved to be inspiring for some, with Guardian columnist Tanya Gold giving going commando a go and writing in the publication: “I never thought I would write this sentence, but Judith's Chalmers' pants, or lack of them, have changed my life.” At the height of its popularity, Wish You Were Here’s viewing figures peaked at 18 million per episode, making it one of the most popular shows on television. Chalmers in 2010 (Getty)In a 2019 interview with The Independent, Chalmers credited the programme with allowing her to see “so much of the world and discover how different it is”. “I love sitting in cafes, watching people go by,” she added. Chalmers’ death was announced on Friday (22 May) by her family, who said she passed away peacefully at home on Thursday (21 May) evening, surrounded by her loved ones. She had been living with Alzheimer’s in her final years.Her family said that the Cheshire-born star’s health had been declining for some time and that she became seriously ill in recent weeks, giving them time to be together with her.