Gloria Hunniford opens up about her husband's passing

The 84-year-old had been married to Stephen Way for over 25 years when he sadly passed away aged 85 in August, after suffering a series of debilitating strokes.

The TV presenter, who is from Portadown, shared how hard it has been to overcome the grief of losing Stephen.

"One minute you know what your life is, and the next minute you think 'what is this life going forward?' So many people would recognise that," she said. Gloria thanked her fans and Loose Women colleagues for the support they have offered during the difficult time. "I want to say this very sincerely because I want to thank all of you, all of you at home and these women, whether you're behind the scenes or upfront on the panel, because the messages were just fabulous.

"And I can't tell you how much they mean in the end, you know. I've read them and re-read some of them, [I'm] trying my best to reply to them, which will take me some time."

Gloria admitted that should wouldn’t have been able to get through the past few weeks without the support of her friends and family. "My family, and again we all recognise this, and you at home have got lovely families - it's amazing how sometimes your children become the parents because they obviously start to worry about you and everything.

"But the letters and the cards and the messages have honestly really sunk in to my soul. So thank you very much and thank all of you and all at home,” she said.

The veteran broadcaster promised to open up more about Stephen’s passing.

"I'll tell you more as we go along, in the weeks [ahead]. I'm determined not to cry today. I'm trying not to cry,” she said.

Gloria dismissed concerns some fans expressed about her health. “The thing is that obviously when your partner is ill - the anxiety and the worry and all of that. So of course I've lost weight because you don't eat properly and you're always thinking about the other person.

"But I am fine, thank you very much, indeed. And my two sons, Paul and Michael, when they come to visit, they watch what I eat.

"They go 'you haven't finished your chicken'. And I think, please don't watch me while I eat, I'm hungry, I'm going to eat it, you know? But I am fine."

Despite continuing to work through her grief Gloria said she was eager to get back to work.

"I have worked since I was seven," she said. "I started to sing when I was seven at a time when there was no television and, which I know you'll say 'that's a heck of a long time ago'.

“But the thing is that work, I know. I like work. I've always worked, and I think Denise [Welch, fellow Loose Women panellist] will recognise this. I know where I am with work, whereas all the emotional stuff and the sadness I don't know where I am with that."

She added: "So I'm really glad to be back. I'm really glad to see you - and you and you and you and you and you."