Main content

Gloria Hunniford

Kirsty Young's castaway is broadcaster Gloria Hunniford.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the broadcaster Gloria Hunniford. She's one of our most popular interviewers and presenters and for 40 years has been a warm, but always incisive, figure on our radio and television airwaves. She grew up in Northern Ireland and first of all thought her career lay in singing - as a young girl she would spend several evenings each week singing in local church halls. Although she moved in to broadcasting, those early years lay the foundation for the success and gave her a confidence performing in front of a crowd and a genuine interest in people and their lives.

She was among the vanguard of women who tried to have it all - to combine motherhood with a fulfilling career. Her eldest daughter, Caron Keating, followed her into the profession and shared Gloria's ready warmth and wit. But Caron was just 41 when she died from breast cancer and Gloria's moving account of her experiences has now touched tens of thousands of people.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Miss You Nights by Cliff Richard
Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Luxury: Family photographs

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Dec 2006 09:00
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Arnold Wesker

Next

Anthony Horowitz

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • James Galway

    Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)

    • James Galway and the Chieftains in Ireland.
    • RCA.

  • Van Morrison

    Have I Told You Lately

    • The Best of Van Morrison.
    • Polydor.

  • Doris Day

    Move Over Darling

    • A Portrait of Doris Day.
    • Stylus.

  • Frederick Loewe

    Overture from the Soundtrack of Gigi

    Orchestra: MGM Studio Orchestra Conductor: Andre Previn

    • Gigi:Original soundtrack.
    • CBS.

  • Frank Sinatra

    New York, New York

    • Frank Sinatra: My Way.
    • Reprise.

  • Neil Diamond

    September Morn

    • The Greatest Hits of Neil Diamond.
    • Columbia.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Cliff Richard

      Miss You Nights

      • Cliff Richard:40 Golden Greats.
      • EMI.

  • John Barry

    The Beyondness of Things

    • The Beyondness of Things.
    • London.

  • Book Choice

    • War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

  • Luxury Choice

    • Family photographs

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Gloria Hunniford

Broadcasts

  • Christmas Eve 2006 11:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 29 Dec 2006 09:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast