Gloria Hunniford has 'no intention of stopping' after decades of broadcasting
Presenter Gloria Hunniford has said she has “no intention of stopping” after decades of broadcasting.
The Northern Irish TV and radio personality, aged 86, launched her broadcasting career in the 1970s and became the first woman to have her own daily radio show on BBC Radio 2.
The Portadown-born broadcaster presented it continuously for 13 years, before going on to become one of the first female broadcasters to host her own TV chat show, ‘Sunday, Sunday’.
Over the years she has become known for fronting the hit BBC One consumer show ‘Rip Off Britain’ as well as appearing on ITV’s ‘Loose Women’, with her decades-long career in broadcasting marked by BBC Four with an upcoming special night of programmes.
The TV tribute will feature a number of BBC archives over the course of Hunniford’s career and air on August 8 at 8pm.
She said: “After so many decades, I feel truly blessed to still be working in an industry I adore – and I can’t wait to roll back the years and watch some of the highlights again.
“It’s a privilege at 86 to still be fronting TV shows and connecting with so many viewers – I love every minute and have no intention of stopping.”
Hunniford had her first taste of showbiz as a four-year-old magician’s assistant in her father’s variety shows before going on to tour Ireland as a singer when she was seven.
She launched her career in television as a production assistant in the 1970s before going on to front a number of series including ‘Pebble Mill at One’.
She has also been a news reviewer for ITV’s ‘This Morning’, hosted ‘The One Show’ and appeared on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘The Masked Singer’.
Hunniford was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to cancer charities through breast screening services and cancer support in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2017.
The programming comes months after she received the Freedom of the City of London, recognising her contribution to entertainment and campaigning work as a breast cancer charity ambassador.
BBC Four’s tribute night is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at 8pm.