Gloria Hunniford - Biography

Biography

Hunniford was born in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, into a Protestant family; her father was a member of the Orange Order. Named after actress Gloria Swanson, Hunniford was originally a singer. She was popular in her native Northern Ireland, worked in Canada and has made many records. She returned to Northern Ireland as a BBC production assistant in Belfast, and a local radio broadcaster. In the 1970s and 1980s she was the presenter of Good Evening Ulster and on network ITV Sunday Sunday and We Love TV.

Hunniford had her own daily radio show on BBC Radio 2, starting off with the lunchtime show before moving to the early afternoon slot in 1985 where she remained for 10 years. She also hosted Sounding Brass a music phone-in request programme with a live brass band, the idea devised by radio producer Owen Spencer-Thomas.

Hunniford has appeared on numerous programmes including Gloria Live, Wogan, Holiday, Songs of Praise, That's Showbusiness, Kilroy, Open House with Gloria Hunniford and Sunday, Sunday. She has won awards including TV Personality of the Year and Best Dressed Female, and has made a health and exercise video called Fit for Life. In 2005, she appeared on the BBC's pro-celebrity ballroom dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing, dancing with Darren Bennett.

In August 2010, she appeared as a panellist on ITV's new show 3@Three.

From December 2010, Hunniford has appeared in Rip Off Britain, a consumer complaints programme on BBC Television along with Angela Rippon and Jennie Bond.

Hunniford is the presenter of BBC One documentary series Doorstep Crime 999, which ran from 20 February - 2 March 2012.

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