Gloria Hunniford has announced the death of her husband of more than 20 years, Stephen Way.
The veteran broadcaster, 84, wed the businessman in 1998, and she said he would leave ‘the most enormous void, not only in my life, but our entire family’.
In a statement today, his family 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 Hunniford and Stephen Way at the Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 22, 2023
Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Way at We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum on June 7, 2023
Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Way at the Woman of the Future Awards at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in London on November 8, 2007
A family photo of Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Way in their back garden in Kent last summer
Mr Way was 85, Hunniford’s agent confirmed.
Hunniford 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.’
(From left) Stephen Way, Gloria Hunniford, Christopher Biggins and Neil Sinclair attend the World Premiere Charity Gala of Another Mother’s Son, at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on March 16, 2017
A family photograph of Stephen Way on his 84th birthday last summer
An undated family photograph of Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Way on holiday in France
Gloria Hunniford and Stephen Wray arriving at Sir John Mills 90th birthday party at London’s Dorchester Hotel on February 22, 1998
Mr Way was described as a ‘wonderful husband, father and grandfather’ and Hunniford 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.’
It was Mr Way who broke the news of the death of her former husband Don Keating as she came off stage after hosting a TV chat show in 1997, she revealed that year.
When they started dating, he owned an hairdressing salon in New Bond Street, Mayfair.
More to follow