Published: 15:20 BST, 29 September 2026 | Updated: 15:20 BST, 29 September 2026
Gloria Hunniford has shared her overwhelming joy after becoming a great-grandmother for the very first time. The beloved television presenter, 86, announced her happy family news during Tuesday’s broadcast of the popular ITV daytime talk show Loose Women, delighting viewers and her fellow panelists alike as she shared intimate photographs of her first meeting with her newborn great-grandson, Freddie.
Speaking candidly on the panel, the veteran broadcaster revealed that the arrival of the new family member brought forth "tears of joy," while also stirring deeply emotional reflections of her late daughter, Caron Keating. Caron, a treasured television presenter best known for her work on the iconic children’s series Blue Peter, tragically passed away from breast cancer in 2004 at the young age of 41 following a courageous seven-year battle against the disease. Had she lived to see this milestone, Caron would have been a grandmother to little Freddie.
Freddie was born in the early hours of Sunday morning, arriving at 4:30 am to Gloria’s grandson Charlie—Caron’s eldest son—and his wife, Nicole. Charlie, now 32, and his younger brother Gabriel, 29, were left behind alongside their father, Russ Lindsay, when Caron passed away more than two decades ago. The continuous growth of the family through the arrival of the next generation has brought profound comfort and happiness to the household.
Sharing the wonderful news with the Loose Women audience, Gloria expressed the depth of her emotions. "I’m very, very happy today because this beautiful boy Freddie was born at 4.30am on Sunday morning," she told the panel, her voice filled with warmth and pride. "He was born to my lovely grandson, first son of Caron, who as you know died from cancer, so Charlie and his lovely wife Nicole have had a baby."
She continued to describe the emotional impact of the birth, emphasizing the profound sense of renewal it brought to her family after enduring such profound loss in the past. "This is such a joy, the growth of the family and new life," Gloria said. "I couldn’t be happier and I could weep even now. There were tears of joy."
Caron Keating remains a deeply cherished figure in British television history and within the hearts of viewers. She captured the nation’s affection as a dynamic and charismatic presenter when she joined the Blue Peter team in the 1980s, becoming one of the programme’s most memorable faces. Following her devastating death, her family channeled their grief into creating a lasting legacy in her honor, establishing The Caron Keating Foundation to support cancer-related charities and provide vital assistance to patients and their families across the United Kingdom.
Throughout Caron’s prolonged illness, her resilience and outlook left an indelible mark on those closest to her. Gloria has frequently spoken about how her daughter’s extraordinary optimism served as a guiding light for the entire family during the darkest periods of her diagnosis and treatment. In previous interviews, the presenter reflected on Caron’s refusal to let the illness define her daily existence. "Caron never talked about losing her battle—she only ever talked about life," Gloria recalled. "Her whole attitude to cancer was positivity. We all tapped into that, and she became the teacher."
Navigating life after such a significant loss requires immense emotional resilience, and Gloria has previously opened up about the deliberate steps she takes to honor Caron’s memory and keep her spirit alive for the sake of her grandsons, Charlie and Gabriel. During past discussions on television regarding how families cope with milestone events and anniversaries following a bereavement, Gloria shared insights into her personal approach to grief and remembrance.
"The first one [milestone] is agonising," Gloria explained during a previous discussion. "When we lost Caron, I was determined in my own head, that her children, Charlie and Gabriel would mark occasions like Mother’s Day, like Christmas, like her birthday. But on the date of her passing I try to keep it quite light."
By ensuring that special days continue to be recognized and celebrated with warmth rather than solely enveloped in sorrow, the family has managed to preserve Caron’s memory as a vibrant, guiding presence in their lives. The arrival of baby Freddie marks a magnificent new chapter for the family, bridging the past and the future as Charlie steps into fatherhood and Gloria embraces her historic new role as a great-grandmother.
Alongside Caron, Gloria is a mother to two sons, Paul and Michael, whom she shared with her first husband, Don Keating. Gloria and Don were married for 22 years before their separation in 1992, and he passed away five years later in 1997. Over the decades, Gloria has navigated both immense personal triumphs in her glittering broadcasting career and profound personal heartbreaks, remaining a pillar of strength for her family.
As congratulations poured in from friends, colleagues, and viewers following her Loose Women announcement, Gloria’s radiant smile and visible emotion captured the true essence of a family celebrating the miracle of new life and the enduring power of love across generations.
