Veteran broadcaster Gloria Hunniford has spoken candidly about navigating life after the profound loss of her husband, Stephen Way, who passed away last August after a courageous battle with illness.
Carving Out a New Life
The Loose Women panellist, who was married to Stephen for 26 years after tying the knot in 1998, described the grieving process as a conscious effort. "You have to do a head job every so often, it's painful," she revealed. "You have to carve out a new type of life, don't you? It's quite hard really, at the beginning, and then slowly, slowly you sort of get into a different rhythm."
Despite the heartache, the 85-year-old focuses on gratitude for the three decades of happiness they shared. "Some people never get 30 years of happiness, but I did," she said, reflecting on their time together. "So as much as he is a huge loss, I am very grateful that I had that time with him."
Faith, Family, and Finding Resilience
Gloria finds great comfort in still living in the home they shared for four decades, a place filled with cherished memories. Her resilience is fuelled by her strong, personal faith and the support system around her. "I believe I will see Caron again and I believe I will see Stevie again," she stated, referring to her late daughter, Caron Keating, who died from breast cancer in 2004, and her husband.
She emphasised that her family gives her a powerful reason to keep going. "We have to get on with life for the family, the children, your grandchildren, your friends who need you," she explained. Gloria adores her role as a grandmother and finds it "very healing" to watch her grandchildren flourish, especially her grandson Charlie who got married last year.
Work Ethic and the Prospect of New Love
Known for her boundless energy, Gloria attributes her vitality to a lifelong work ethic ingrained in her during her upbringing in Northern Ireland. She continues to host Rip Off Britain and politely ignores her sons' suggestions to retire to the family holiday home in France. "I love France and going on holidays, but I don't want to stay there," she asserted. "I worked my a**e off the whole time and I still work my a**e off."
When asked about the possibility of finding love again, Gloria was definitive that it is not currently on her mind. "It's too raw yet. It's only been just over a year," she said. However, she values the deep, long-standing friendships she has with male friends, including the singer Sir Cliff Richard, whom she has known for 55 years. "He's a very lovely friend, a good friend and very loyal," she said fondly.
Through faith, family, and an unwavering spirit, Gloria Hunniford is bravely building her new chapter, holding onto the love of the past while embracing the purpose of the present.
