Gloria Hunniford

Gloria Hunniford was born Mary Winifred Gloria Hunniford on April 10, 1940, in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. She began her career as a singer and later transitioned into broadcasting, starting as a production assistant for UTV in Belfast before moving to BBC as a local radio broadcaster. Her early television presence included hosting “Good Evening Ulster,” “Sunday Sunday,” and “We Love TV.” Hunniford’s career also involved recording two albums in the 1970s and performing at the Royal Variety Performance in 1985, where she sang “Secret Love.”

From 1998 to 2003, Hunniford hosted “Open House with Gloria Hunniford” on Channel 5. Since 2009, she has been a co-presenter on the BBC One consumer complaints program “Rip Off Britain,” working alongside Angela Rippon and Julia Somerville. She became a regular panellist on ITV’s “Loose Women” in 2014, having previously made guest appearances. Her television work also includes presenting “Doorstep Crime 999” in 2012, “Home Away from Home” in 2014, and “Food: Truth or Scare” with Chris Bavin starting in 2016.

Beyond her media career, Hunniford is actively involved in charity work. After the loss of her daughter, Caron Keating, to breast cancer in 2004, she established the Caron Keating Foundation. In recognition of her contributions to cancer charities, particularly through breast screening services and cancer support, Hunniford was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours. She also serves as a patron for Hope for Tomorrow, a charity providing Mobile Cancer Care Units, and The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks.