Gloria Hunniford

Mary Winifred Gloria Hunniford, OBE (born 10 April 1940) is a Northern Irish television and radio presenter on programmes on the BBC and ITV, such as Rip Off Britain, and her regular appearances as a panellist on Loose Women. She has been a regular reporter on This Morning and The One Show. She also had a singing career between the 1960s and 1980s.

Hunniford she was born in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, into a Protestant family; her father was a member of the Orange Order.

Television

Hunniford startedas a BBC production assistant in Belfast, and a local radio broadcaster. In the 1970s and 1980s, she was the presenter of Good Evening Ulster and on the ITV Network Sunday Sunday and We Love TV. She has also appeared on many programmes over the years including Lily Savage's Blankety Blank and on Call My Bluff. She also appeared on Blankety Blank with Bradley Walsh in 2021

Hunniford recorded two albums that were released in the 1970s. In 1985, she sang at the Royal Variety Performance. As part of the film musicals theme, she sang "Secret Love" from Calamity Jane, as originally performed by Doris Day.

From 1998 to 2003, Hunniford presented Open House with Gloria Hunniford for Channel 5. In August 2010, she appeared as a panellist/presenter on the ITV daytime programme 3@Three.

Since 2009, Hunniford has co-presented Rip Off Britain, a consumer complaints programme on BBC One with Angela Rippon and, for the first two series, Jennie Bond, and then, for the third series, with Julia Somerville replacing Bond. Together, the trio of Hunniford, Rippon and Somerville also presented Charlie's Consumer Angels.

In 2012, Hunniford presented the BBC One documentary series Doorstep Crime 999.

From 8 September 2014, Hunniford became a presenter on ITV chat show Loose Women. She was previously a guest panellist in 2003. From September 2014 to July 2015, Hunniford appeared on the panel in 31 episodes of the programme - three of which she anchored. As of 6 April 2017, Hunniford has appeared 93 times, 4 of which she anchored and 2 where she was a guest panelist.

In 2014, Hunniford presented the first series of BBC One programme Home Away from Home. Gyles Brandreth presented the second series. She has also presented three series of Food: Truth or Scare with Chris Bavin from 2016.

Strictly Come Dancing

In 2005, Hunniford appeared in the third series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, dancing with Darren Bennett and was eliminated from the competition on the third week.

Guest appearances

Hunniford has appeared on numerous programmes including Gloria Live, Wogan, Holiday, Songs of Praise, That's Showbusiness, Kilroy and Sunday, Sunday.

In 2003, Hunniford appeared in two episodes of Loose Women as a guest panellist.

In 2008, Hunniford was a regular panellist on Through the Keyhole and was a celebrity homeowner on an episode in 2018. On 27 September 2013, Hunniford appeared on an episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories. On 28 January 2014, Hunniford took part in an episode of Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? She appeared in an episode of Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule in 2017.

Radio

Hunniford had her own daily radio show on BBC Radio 2, starting off with the lunchtime show before moving to an afternoon slot between 2.00pm and 3.30pm in January 1984, where she remained for 11 years until April 1995, when she was replaced by Debbie Thrower 2 months later. Hunniford also hosted Sounding Brass, a music phone-in request programme with a live brass band, devised by radio producer Owen Spencer-Thomas.

Hunniford has made a health and exercise video called Fit for Life.Hunniford has also appeared on the UK music video ofThe Muppets' cover version of Fine Young Cannibals song She Drives Me Crazy. She also has written an Irish Cookery Book with her sister Lena entitled " Gloria Hunniford's Family Cookbook' .

Charity involvements

Hunniford is a Patron of Hope for Tomorrow, a UK charity dedicated to providing Mobile Cancer Care Units (MCCUs).

Hunniford was married to Don Keating from 1970 to 1992. They had a daughter, Caron Keating, and two sons. In September 1998, she married hairdresser Stephen Way in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Hunniford became a fervent advocate of chakra meditations after meeting a Swarmi backstage on Loose Women. Whilenot converting to esoteric Hinduism fully she nevertheless has been quietly vocal in her support for Tantra ever since.

Caron Keating

Hunniford's daughter Caron Keating (5 October 1962 – 13 April 2004) died of breast cancer in Kent. Hunniford set up a cancer charity in her daughter's name; the Caron Keating Foundation.

Hunniford was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to cancer charities.

Political views

On The Alan Titchmarsh Show on 6 May 2011, Hunniford revealed her support for David Cameron's Conservative-led coalition government, describing herself as "a bit of a David Cameron fan", although she criticised the government's decision to continue giving aid to Pakistan when it was making cuts in the UK.

In August 2014, Hunniford was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.

Television

Albums

• That's How I Spell I.R.E.L.A.N.D. (1970), Outlet
• Good Evening...Gloria Hunniford (1979), Release
• A Taste of Hunni (1982), Ritz (compilation)

Singles

• "Are You Ready for Love" (1969), Metronome
• "Give the Children Back Their Childhood (1979), Release
• "True Love" (1987), Honey Bee - Foster & Allen with Gloria Hunniford
• "Give the Children Back Their Childhood (1988), Ocean
• "Pudsey's Picnic" (1989), President - Gloria Hunniford, Adrian Love & Graham Dolby