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Broadcaster Gloria Hunniford honoured for her work with cancer charities

Gloria Hunniford has been honoured for her services to cancer charities
Gloria Hunniford has been honoured for her services to cancer charities Gloria Hunniford has been honoured for her services to cancer charities

TELEVISION presenter Gloria Hunniford, who lost her daughter Caron Keating to cancer, is to be honoured for her services to cancer charities.

The Portadown-born host is to get an OBE in Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honours List.

A familiar face on the small screen, Ms Hunniford (77) has spent 70 years in show business.

But it is her commitment to cancer charities through breast screening services and cancer support following her daughter's death more than 10 year's ago that have earned the broadcaster an OBE.

Ms Keating lost her battle with breast cancer in 2004, just hours after she was brought home for the last time to see her family, including her two young sons.

After Caron's death, Ms Hunniford and her sons Paul and Michael set up the Caron Keating Foundation where she serves as administrator of the foundation.

It provides grants to all types of cancer charities in the UK, financing professional carers and support groups and counselling services.

It also helps fund pieces of machinery for faster detection, drivers to take cancer patients to and from treatment centres and complementary therapies to help with pain control.

Ms Hunniford has previously said she would "never get over losing Caron" but added: "Ultimately, you have to pull yourself together for the rest of your family."

The presenter began her career aged seven as a singer alongside her father who worked in advertising but also performed as a magician.

Her television career began on shows such Good Evening Ulster and Sunday, Sunday, before going to London to work on We Love TV and Open House With Gloria Hunniford.

In recent years, she had been host of Loose Women, This Morning, Rip Off Britain, Home Away From Home and Food: Truth Or Scare.