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We have a stud wall separating ashower from a built-in wardrobe. Water from the shower has penetrated the grout and saturated the plasterboard shower-side.
The plasterboard on the wardrobe side seems okay, but there is a strong smell of damp in the wardrobe which makes it unusable. There are no visible signs of damp.
I know I should probably replace the plasterboard on the wardrobe side (shower will be done), but due to the way the built-in wardrobe has been fitted, this could be a fairly major job that I would rather not undertake unless absolutely necessary.
Is there a special paint that would seal the offending plasterboard wall or what about some sort of thin panelling to stop the smell?

you should get a dampmeter on the wardrobes side of the wall to see if it is damp! if it is the the least you shoud do is air it out so it can dry! (remove as much as you can so air can get to the entire wall)
Having said that PBoard is usually knackered once it gets damp o the core it loses its structural intregrety!

Thanks for this. The wardrobe has been stripped, other than shelves and fittings, for months and ventilation holes drilled in top and bottom fascias, but still smells fusty (and it's not my socks!). Have inspected plasterbaord from other side and it looks sound.