JJ Chalmers was born on 20 December 1986 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of John Chalmers, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 2014 to 2015. He attended Strathallan School and studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating as a Bachelor of Education. He worked as a craft, design and technology teacher at Balerno Community High School in Edinburgh.

He joined the Royal Marines Reserves whilst working as a teacher. As a Royal Marine, he served in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, attached to 42 Commando. In May 2011, he sustained severe injuries in an IED blast; he suffered facial injuries and lost two fingers, and his right elbow disintegrated. He remained in the Royal Marines during his rehabilitation until 2016.

He hit the ground running in 2016 with a studio presenter role for the Rio Paralympics and since 2017 has anchored BBC One’s coverage of the Invictus Games. In 2016, he made history as the first disabled presenter to present across both the Olympic Games (BBC One) and Paralympic Games (Channel 4).

Before winning a gold medal at the Invictus Games and lighting up the Strictly ballroom, JJ was a craft, design and technology teacher, and he puts his broad range of DIY and restoration skills to good use as part of the Travelling Auctioneers team. The Travelling Auctioneers airs weekdays at 4.30pm on BBC One.

Chalmers lives in Edinburgh where he co-parents his two children, Hayley and James, with his former wife, Kornelia; the couple “separated happily” in 2024.