GLORIA Hunniford sparked concern as she revealed her shock weight loss since the death of her beloved husband.
The TV presenter returned to work on Loose Women weeks after Stephen Way died aged 85 after “heroically fighting his illness”.
Fighting back tears, Gloria said: “It’s a heartbreaking situation to lose your partner.
“One minute you know what your life is, then you wonder what your life is going forward.
“I want to thank all of you at home and here on Loose Women for the messages. They were just fabulous. I can’t tell you how much they mean.
“The messages have really sunk into my soul.”
Host Charlene White asked Gloria to reassure viewers about her health after looking noticeably thinner.
Gloria said: “When your partner is ill, because of the anxiety and worry – of course I’ve lost weight. You don’t eat properly and you’re always thinking about them.
“But I’m fine. Struggling through lots of things but trying to get back to work.
“I’ve been working since I was 7. I’ve always worked. I know where I am with it, whereas I don’t know where I am with the emotion and grief. I’m glad to be back.”
She added: “I’m determined not to cry today.”
One worried fan wrote on X: “Sadly how losing her husband has taken its toll on Gloria, bless her.. she’s lost a lot of weight.”
Another said: “Gloria looks so tiny.”
In a statement when her husband died last month, devastated Gloria, 84, paid tribute to the “kind, generous, and caring man”.
She 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.”
She 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.”
