‘When I listened to all the research I had to take action’: Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford, 79, presents the show from home after going into self-isolation
The Loose Women panel was reduced during Wednesday’s edition of the show, after presenter Gloria Hunniford decided to self-isolate.
Gloria, 79, took part in the ITV show via video link from her home, explaining to her co-star Andrea McLean that she decided to stay home following government advice for the over 70s to self-isolate.
She added that her sons and grandsons, who are all working from home,had urged her to take precautions.
Working from home: The Loose Women panel was reduced during Wednesday’s edition of the show, after presenter Gloria Hunniford decided to self-isolate
Appeared via video link she reassured fans that she is healthy as is everyone in her household. ‘I’m feeling absolutely fine but things all changed for me last Sunday when more and more info came out,’ she said.
‘You know my work ethic I’ll crawl to the studio if I have to but when I realised my grandsons and sons are working from home, they put a bit of pressure on me’.
‘I am pre-diabetic, so when I listened to all the research I thought I had to take action,’ she explained, adding that her husband Stephen ‘had a very bad medical year last year and is still in recovery so we have to be very careful.’
Gloria said that she plans to remain at home for work for two to three weeks but will still go out into her community.
Still working: Gloria, 79, took part in the ITV show via video link from her home, explaining that she decided to stay home following government advice for the over 70s to self-isolate
‘I won’t go to the private shop, but we’ve got about four farm shops near where I live where it’s controllable’.
‘It’s a big problem right across the country, we need to try a bit more responsibly a bit more careful, but it’s not my style to stay at home’.
The TV star also said she is planning on seeing family members for Mother’s Day on Sunday, explaining: ‘My son said to me yesterday they’d like to come down, we’ve not knowingly been in touch with anyone who has the virus’.
Feeling good; ‘You know my work ethic I’ll crawl to the studio if I have to but when I realised my grandsons and sons are working from home, they put a bit of pressure on me’ she said
‘The boys said they’d like to come down, but if you say ‘you don’t want us to come down’ we won’t. Well am I going to say I won’t come on Mother’s Day? So my two sons are going to come down.
Loose Women has been broadcasting live without a studio audience this week for the first time in its 20 year history.
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s CEO, today gave an overview of ITV’s response to the coronavirus crisis on Wednesday, assuring viewers they will continue to produce shows where possible:
‘As a Public Service Broadcaster we remain committed to doing everything we can to continue to provide news, drama, entertainment and factual programmes to our viewers to keep them informed about this crisis and to offer them an escape from it,’ she said.
Kevin Lygo, ITV Director of Television added: ‘Our live Daytime output continues to evolve and contingency plans in place would allow us to air from alternative locations and in more nimble ways – such as guests appearing remotely via other studios or Skype and FaceTime.