At 84, Gloria Hunniford remains a vibrant force on TV, but her relentless work ethic is more than just dedication. It’s a poignant escape from personal grief.

At the remarkable age of 84, broadcasting icon Gloria Hunniford remains a vibrant force in the entertainment industry, continuing to shine as a much-loved showbiz star.

Her illustrious career began when she was just seven years old when she took to the stage in her native Ireland and earned her first paycheck as a singer.

Since that early start, Gloria has immersed herself in the world of show business and has rarely paused her demanding schedule.

Today, she is a familiar presence on the popular daytime program Loose Women, where she engages in lively discussions with her co-hosts on various topics, from current affairs to personal anecdotes.

Additionally, she co-presents the BBC’s Rip Off Britain, a show dedicated to uncovering scams and holding fraudsters accountable. This further showcases her commitment to championing justice.

Gloria and Stevie were together for 30 years and married for 26. (Image: )

Her weekly television appearances testify to her resilience and unwavering passion for broadcasting.

However, Gloria’s relentless work ethic extends beyond her professional obligations; it is a crucial lifeline.

It has been more than twenty years since she endured the heartbreaking loss of her beloved daughter, Caron Keating, who bravely fought cancer.

This devastating event left an indelible mark on Gloria’s life, and more recently, after sharing three meaningful decades, she faced the heart-wrenching farewell to her cherished husband, Stephen Way.

Gloria Hunniford TV Presenter with daugther Caron Keating . (Image: Daily Mirror)

“Work makes me feel safe, because I have a structure, I know what I’m supposed to be doing,” she confided to The Mirror.

For Gloria, detaching herself momentarily from grief through work is therapeutic; she shared: “As long as you can take yourself away from grief for an hour, it helps clear your mind for a little while.”

She pointed out: “I’ve worked since I was seven, and for me, doing things and keeping busy is good for my head. To do nothing would be miserable for me. My way of coping wouldn’t be for everybody, and I’m sure it’s quite controversial, but I love work.”

Gloria, who approaches her 85th birthday on April 10, navigates through a period strewn with poignant firsts without her beloved Stevie.

She had been with the businessman since the mid-1990s, and they married in 1998, six years after she split from Don Keating, the father of her three children.

“Some of my worst times when Caron passed and also when Stevie passed were if I was at home on my own,” she shared. “And suddenly your mind wanders, and you think, ‘What happened there, for goodness’ sake?’”