Stephen Way passed away yesterday afternoon. He was 85 and had been ill for some time.
Gloria, who is from Portadown, said he was a “giant of a man who will leave the most enormous void” in her life.
Mr Way’s death was announced in a statement from his family.
It said: “It is with huge sadness and very heavy hearts that we share the passing of Stephen Way, Gloria’s beloved husband, who lost his battle yesterday afternoon. Stephen had been heroically fighting his illness… but always with great tenacity and a positive spirit.”
Gloria (84) said: “Stephen was a gentleman and a giant of a man, who will leave the most enormous void not only in my life, but our entire family.
“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.”
Stephen Way was described as a “wonderful husband, father and grandfather”.
Gloria added: “It’s a great shock and words cannot express my sadness at this time. A bright shining light has dimmed, and he shall be missed at every turn.”
Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Way arriving for the ITV Palooza held at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London November 12, 2019. Photo credit: Ian West/PA Wire
Last September, Gloria and Stephen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by making an emotional trip back to where they got married on September 6, 1998.
The couple were wed at St Peter’s Church in Hever in Kent, followed by celebrations at Hever Castle.
Gloria’s late daughter, Caron Keating, is also buried in the graveyard at the church, and the family gathered there on April 13 this year to mark the 20th anniversary of her death.
Speaking to Hello! Magazine upon returning to their wedding location, Gloria gave some tips on the secret to a happy marriage.
She noted that “love, laughter and good conversation” is key, adding: “Of course, there is physical attraction, but our relationship is full of kindness and humour. We enjoy talking to each other. Talk, talk, talk – that is a wonderful thing.”
The couple’s wedding, which was also covered by Hello! at the time, was attended by many famous faces, among them Sir Cliff Richard, Esther Rantzen, Anthea Turner and Barbara Windsor.
Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Way attend a memorial service for the late Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey on September 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
“My close friend Cliff did a reading, and James Galway, the world-famous musician, who comes from Northern Ireland like myself, played the flute, alongside his wife Jeanne,” Gloria continued.
“The vicar, the Rev. Canon Roger Royle, said: ‘You know it’s a very classy wedding when the cabaret is James Galway and Cliff Richard.’”
Last May, Stephen – who is Gloria’s second husband – had been left partially blind after suffering a second stroke.
Gloria, who hails from Portadown, also suffered a health scare last year, when she was rushed to hospital with life-threatening sepsis of the kidney.
After the ordeal, in an interview she showered Stephen with praise for helping her recover thanks to his cooking.
In 2004, Gloria’s daughter, Caron Keating, passed away from breast cancer, aged 41.
She had also been a television presenter, who joined the Blue Peter team in the 1980s.
Gloria and her other children Paul and Michael helped set up the Caron Keating Foundation in her memory, which has supported cancer patients and their families for two decades.
The presenter said that setting up the foundation was a way to deal with the loss of Caron, creating something positive out of an unimaginable tragedy.
Gloria enjoyed a career spanning over five decades in television and radio, becoming an on-screen favourite with fans of one of ITV’s biggest daytime shows.
Gloria was also made OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours back in 2017 in recognition of her contribution to charity work.
She was the first woman to have her own daily show on BBC Radio 2 and went on to present Holiday, Songs of Praise and The Heaven and Earth
News Catch Up: Wednesday 14 August