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Mary Winifred Gloria Hunniford,
OBE (born 10 April 1940) is a Northern Irish television and radio presenter, broadcaster and singer. She is known for presenting programmes on the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
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and
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
, such as ''
Rip Off Britain'', and her regular appearances as a panellist on ''
Loose Women
''Loose Women'' (previously known as ''Live Talk'' from 2000 to 2001) is a British talk show that broadcasts on ITV1 weekdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The show focuses on a panel of four female presenters who interview celebrities, talk about ...
''. She has been a regular reporter on ''
This Morning'' and ''
The One Show
''The One Show'' is a British television magazine and chat show programme. Broadcast live on BBC One weeknights at 7:00 pm, it features topical stories and studio guests. It is currently co-hosted by Alex Jones, Jermaine Jenas, and Ronan K ...
''. She also had a singing career between the 1960s and 1980s.
Early life
Gloria Hunniford was born in
Portadown
Portadown () is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about southwest of Belfast. It is in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area and had a population of a ...
,
County Armagh
County Armagh (, named after its county town, Armagh) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the southern shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and ha ...
,
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, into a
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
family; her father, a magician, was a member of the
Orange Order. In her teens, she spent some time in Canada, a period she considers very important in broadening her outlook.
Career
Television
After starting off as a singer, Hunniford worked as a production assistant for
UTV in
Belfast
Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...
then as a local radio broadcaster for the BBC; it was at UTV that she met her first husband Don Keating, a Catholic. In the 1970s and 1980s, she was the presenter of ''Good Evening Ulster'' and on the
ITV Network
ITV is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network. It was launched in 1955 as Independent Television to provide competition to BBC Television (established in 1936). ITV is the oldest commercial network in the UK. Since the passin ...
''Sunday Sunday'' and ''
We Love TV
''We Love TV'' is a British game show that aired on ITV from 14 September 1984 to 16 August 1986 and is hosted by Gloria Hunniford
Mary Winifred Gloria Hunniford, OBE (born 10 April 1940) is a Northern Irish television and radio presenter ...
''. She has also appeared on many programmes over the years including ''
Lily Savage's Blankety Blank
''Blankety Blank'' is a British comedy game show which started in 1979 and is still running today, albeit with some sizeable gaps.
The original series ran from 18 January 1979 to 12 March 1990 on BBC1, hosted first by Terry Wogan from 1979 un ...
''
and on ''
Call My Bluff
''Call My Bluff'' is a British panel game show based on the short-lived US version of the same name. It was originally hosted by Robin Ray and later, most notably, by Robert Robinson. Its most prominent panellist was Frank Muir.
Format
The g ...
''. She also appeared on ''
Blankety Blank
''Blankety Blank'' is a British comedy game show which started in 1979 and is still running today, albeit with some sizeable gaps.
The original series ran from 18 January 1979 to 12 March 1990 on BBC1, hosted first by Terry Wogan from 1979 un ...
with
Bradley Walsh
Bradley John Walsh (born 4 June 1960) is an English actor, comedian, singer, television presenter, and former professional footballer.
Walsh is known for his roles as Danny Baldwin in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (2004–2006), as ...
'' in 2021.
Hunniford recorded two albums that were released in the 1970s. In 1985, she sang at the
Royal Variety Performance
The ''Royal Variety Performance'' is a televised variety show held annually in the United Kingdom to raise money for the Royal Variety Charity (of which King Charles III is life-patron). It is attended by senior members of the British royal f ...
. As part of the film musicals theme, she sang "
Secret Love" from ''
Calamity Jane
Martha Jane Cannary (May 1, 1852 – August 1, 1903), better known as Calamity Jane, was an American frontierswoman, sharpshooter, and storyteller. In addition to many exploits she was known for being an acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickok. Late ...
'', as originally performed by
Doris Day
Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...
.
In 1995 Hunniford became one of the many presenters on the long-running BBC chat show series
Pebble Mill At One
''Pebble Mill at One'' is a British television magazine programme that was broadcast live on weekdays at one o'clock on BBC1, from 2 October 1972 to 23 May 1986, and again from 14 October 1991 to 29 March 1996. It was transmitted from the Peb ...
where she also presented a special one off episode interviewing 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
''3@Three'' was a topical TV live debate show on ITV. In the programme three topics are discussed each day at three o'clock by three rotating panellists. The first series of ten episodes aired on Monday-Friday between 2 and 13 August 2010. The sh ...
''.
[3@Three Presspack, ITV Press Centre, 26 July 2010](_blank)
Since 2009, Hunniford has co-presented ''
Rip Off Britain'', a consumer complaints programme on BBC One with
Angela Rippon
Angela May Rippon (born 12 October 1944)"Angela Rippon," ''Contemporary Authors Online'', Detroit: Gale, (2008) ''Gale Biography In Context'' is an English television journalist, newsreader, writer and presenter. Rippon presented radio and tele ...
and, for the first two series,
Jennie Bond
Jennifer Bond (born 19 August 1950) is an English journalist and television presenter. Bond worked for fourteen years as the BBC's royal correspondent. She has most recently hosted ''Cash in the Attic'' and narrated the programme ''Great Briti ...
, and then, for the third series, with
Julia Somerville
Julia Mary Fownes Somerville, (born 14 July 1947) is an English television news reader and reporter who has worked for the BBC and ITN.
Early life and education
Somerville was born in Wells, Somerset, the granddaughter of Admiral of the Fleet ...
replacing Bond. Together, the trio of Hunniford, Rippon and Somerville also presented ''Charlie's Consumer Angels''.
In 2012, Hunniford presented the
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...
documentary series ''Doorstep Crime 999''.
From 8 September 2014, Hunniford became a regular panellist on ITV chat show ''
Loose Women
''Loose Women'' (previously known as ''Live Talk'' from 2000 to 2001) is a British talk show that broadcasts on ITV1 weekdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The show focuses on a panel of four female presenters who interview celebrities, talk about ...
''. She was previously a guest panellist in 2003. She has guest anchored the show on 4 occasions between October 2014 and August 2016.
In 2014, Hunniford presented the first series of
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...
programme ''Home Away from Home''.
Gyles Brandreth
Gyles Daubeney Brandreth (born 8 March 1948) is an English broadcaster, writer and former politician. He has worked as a television presenter, theatre producer, journalist, author and publisher.
He was a presenter for TV-am's '' Good Morning ...
presented the second series. She has also presented three series of ''Food: Truth or Scare'' with
Chris Bavin from 2016.
In January 2022, Hunniford appeared on the
third series of ''
The Masked Singer
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' as "Snow Leopard". She was second to be unmasked.
''Strictly Come Dancing''
In 2005, Hunniford appeared in the
third series of the BBC's ''
Strictly Come Dancing
''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...
'', 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
''Wogan'' is a British television talk show which was broadcast on BBC1 from 1982 until 1992, presented by Terry Wogan. It was usually broadcast live from the BBC Television Theatre in Shepherd's Bush, London, until 1991. It was then broadcas ...
'', ''
Holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
'', ''
Songs of Praise
''Songs of Praise'' is a BBC Television religious programme that presents Christian hymns sung in churches of varying denominations from around the UK.
The series was first broadcast in October 1961. On that occasion, the venue was the Ta ...
'', ''
That's Showbusiness
''That's Showbusiness'' is a game show that aired on BBC1 from 20 May 1989 to 8 July 1996 and hosted by Mike Smith.
Format
In the first three series, the game was played with two teams of three with team captains Kenny Everett and Gloria Hunni ...
'', ''Kilroy'' and ''Sunday, Sunday''.
In 2003, Hunniford appeared in two episodes of ''
Loose Women
''Loose Women'' (previously known as ''Live Talk'' from 2000 to 2001) is a British talk show that broadcasts on ITV1 weekdays from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The show focuses on a panel of four female presenters who interview celebrities, talk about ...
'' as a guest panellist.
In 2008, Hunniford was a regular panellist on ''
Through the Keyhole
''Through the Keyhole'' is a British comedy panel game show created by the TV producer Kevin Sim and originally presented by Sir David Frost in the studio and Loyd Grossman on location. The location presenter goes around celebrities' houses and ...
'' 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
''Kate Garraway's Life Stories'' (formerly known as ''Piers Morgan's Life Stories'' until 2021) is a British television chat show on ITV1, presented by Kate Garraway and was formerly presented by Piers Morgan. Recorded in front of a studio aud ...
''. 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
''Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule'' is a British television comedy panel show created, written and presented by Harry Hill and produced by his company Nit Television for ITV. The series began on 2 March 2017 and follows Hill and a group of cele ...
'' in 2017.
Radio
Hunniford had her own daily radio show on
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...
, starting with the lunchtime show in January 1982 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
Debbie Thrower (born 17 November 1957 in Nairobi, Kenya) is an English journalist and broadcaster who presented BBC national news bulletins in the 1980s and ITV Meridian's flagship news programme ''Meridian Tonight'' (southern edition) from its ...
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.
Other work
Hunniford has made a health and exercise video called ''Fit for Life''. Hunniford has also appeared on the UK music video of
The Muppets
The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, burlesque, and self-referential style of variety- sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, they are the focus of a media franchise that encompasses ...
' cover version of
Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) was a British pop rock band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele, guitarist Andy Cox (both formerly of The Beat), and singer Roland Gift (formerly of the Akrylykz). Their self-titled 1985 ...
song
She Drives Me Crazy
"She Drives Me Crazy" is a song by English group Fine Young Cannibals, released in 1988 as the first single from their second and final album, '' The Raw & the Cooked'' (1989). Peaking at No. 5 on the British singles chart in January 1989, it ...
. She also has written an Irish recipe book with her sister Lena, ''Gloria Hunniford's Family Cookbook''.
Charity involvements
Hunniford is a Patron of Hope for Tomorrow, a UK charity providing Mobile Cancer Care Units (MCCUs).
Personal life
Hunniford was married to Don Keating from 1970 to 1992. They had a daughter,
Caron Keating
Caron Louisa Keating (5 October 1962 – 13 April 2004) was a Northern Irish television presenter.
Early life and education
Keating was born on 5 October 1962 in Fulham, west London, to an English father with southern Irish roots and a Northern ...
, and two sons. In September 1998, she married hairdresser Stephen Way in
Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in Kent, England, southeast of central London. It lies close to the border with East Sussex on the northern edge of the Weald, High Weald, whose sandstone geology is exemplified by the rock formation High Roc ...
,
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
.
Hunniford became an advocate of
chakra
Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...
meditations after meeting a swami backstage on Loose Women. While not converting to esoteric
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
fully she has supported
Tantra
Tantra (; sa, तन्त्र, lit=loom, weave, warp) are the esoteric traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism that developed on the Indian subcontinent from the middle of the 1st millennium CE onwards. The term ''tantra'', in the Indian ...
ever since.
In 2022, Hunniford suffered a fall at home, breaking a bone under her eye. As a result she did not take part in the
Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Caron Keating
Hunniford's daughter
Caron Keating
Caron Louisa Keating (5 October 1962 – 13 April 2004) was a Northern Irish television presenter.
Early life and education
Keating was born on 5 October 1962 in Fulham, west London, to an English father with southern Irish roots and a Northern ...
(5 October 1962 – 13 April 2004) died of
breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...
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
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(OBE) in the
2017 Birthday Honours
The 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as pa ...
for services to cancer charities.
Political views
On ''
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
''The Alan Titchmarsh Show'' is a British daytime chat show presented by Alan Titchmarsh. It was first broadcast on ITV on 3 September 2007 until 14 November 2014 and aired on weekday afternoons. The show's main focus is the "Best of British" the ...
'' on 6 May 2011, Hunniford revealed her support for
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He previously served as Leader o ...
'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
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' opposing
Scottish independence in the run-up to September's
referendum on that issue.
Filmography
;Television
Discography
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
See also
*
List of Strictly Come Dancing contestants
The following is a list of ''Strictly Come Dancing'' contestants to date along with their age at the time of competing, professional partners, competition finish, number of dances, highest and lowest scores, total scores and average scores. This ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunniford, Gloria
British memoirists
British philanthropists
British radio DJs
BBC Radio 2 presenters
People from Portadown
British women radio presenters
Radio personalities from Northern Ireland
Television presenters from Northern Ireland
People educated at Portadown College
1940 births
Living people
UTV (TV channel)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Women autobiographers