Veteran broadcaster Gloria Hunniford has shared an intimate account of her 'painful' grieving process, fifteen months after the tragic death of her beloved husband, Stephen Way.
The 85-year-old Loose Women panellist, who married the businessman in 1998, said his passing in August 2024 created 'the most enormous void, not only in my life, but our entire family'.
Navigating Life After Loss
In a new, candid interview, Gloria spoke about the profound difficulty of navigating widowhood, a pain compounded by the earlier loss of her daughter, Caron Keating, to cancer in 2004 at just 41 years old.
'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 and a different situation.'
Reflecting on her three decades with Stephen, she expressed profound gratitude amidst her sorrow. 'Stephen and I had 30 years together. Some people never get 30 years of happiness, but I did, so as much as he is a huge loss, I am very grateful that I had that time with him. I was very lucky and have been very lucky in my life.'
No Thoughts of New Love
When questioned about the possibility of finding love again, Gloria was unequivocal, stating that the idea is not something she can currently entertain.
'It’s not even in my head. It’s too raw yet. It’s only been just over a year,' she told The Mirror. 'But I like having male friends who I’ve had for decades, I like talking to them.'
She specifically praised the long-standing support of Sir Cliff Richard, a friend of 55 years, whom she described as 'wonderful' and 'incredibly loyal'.
A Family's Tribute to a 'Giant of a Man'
Following Stephen's death, a family statement honoured his memory, noting he had 'heroically' fought his illness. Gloria added her own heartfelt tribute, calling him a 'gentleman and a giant of a man'.
She said, 'He was an incredibly kind, generous, and caring man, with a delightfully quirky sense of humour, which remained till the end. We had a tremendously happy 25-year marriage and did so many beautiful and exciting things together that I will always cherish.'
The couple's romance began after Stephen, who owned a hairdressing salon in New Bond Street, Mayfair, broke the news of her first husband Don Keating's death to her in 1997. They met at a London event and married the following year in Kent after Stephen proposed during a holiday in Barbados.
