Born:
April 10, 1940
in
Portadown, Co, Armagh
Best Known For:
Her long broadcasting career.
Early-life:
Born Mary Winifred Gloria Hunniford in Portadown, Northern Ireland, on April 10, 1940, into a Protestant family. Named after actress Gloria Swanson, Hunniford was originally a singer. She was popular in her native Northern Ireland and also worked in Canada before returning home to work as a BBC production assistant in Belfast, and as a local radio broadcaster. In the 1970s and 1980s she was the presenter of Good Evening Ulster and on ITV's Sunday Sunday and We Love TV.
Career:
Hunniford was the first woman to have her own daily radio show on BBC Radio 2. As a TV presenter and celebrity, Hunniford has appeared on numerous programmes including Gloria Live, Wogan, Holiday, Songs of Praise, Kilroy and Open House with Gloria Hunniford, and more recently, Rip Off Britain and Doorstep Crime. She has released a health and exercise video called Fit for Life. In 2005, she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Darren Bennett.
Quote:
"Always buy a good pair of shoes and a good bed as if you aren't in one you are in the other."
Trivia:
Following the death of her daughter, former Blue Peter presenter Caron Keating, from breast cancer in 2004, Hunniford set up The Caron Keating Foundation, which raises money to support people affected by cancer.