Inside Gloria Hunniford’s ‘tremendously happy’ 25-year marriage with late husband Stephen Wray

Gloria Hunniford has remembered her "tremendously happy" 25-year marriage as her husband Stephen Wray has died aged 85.

News of Wray's death was announced on Wednesday after he died aged 85 on Tuesday. Last year, Wray had been left with partial eye sight following a second stroke.

His family and Hunniford had shared loving tributes to the late star, with the Loose Women star praising their marriage. We take a look at what Hunniford has said about their wonderful marriage and happy lives together.

Gloria Hunniford pays tribute

Hunniford, 84, 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."

Wray was described as a "wonderful husband, father and grandfather", with Hunniford adding: "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."

In a statement, 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."

Read more: Gloria Hunniford speaks of 'enormous void' as husband Stephen Way dies aged 85 (Wales Online, 1-min read)

Marriage milestone

Last year, Hunniford and Wray celebrated a huge marriage milestone as they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They tied the knot in a romantic ceremony at St Peter’s Church in Hever, Kent, on 6 September 1998. Marriage celebrations then continued at the beautiful Hever Castle.

In September, the lovebirds returned to the castle to mark the special occasion. The Loose Women star looked back fondly on their marriage.

"I can remember walking into the church, filled with family and friends, and the candles all lit – it was wonderful. We’ve often said we would love to live it all over again," she told HELLO! in September last year.

Their wedding was a showbiz affair with many of their friends from the starry world in attendance. Sir Cliff Richard, Esther Rantzen, Anthea Turner and Barbara Windsor led the celebrity wedding guests at the occasion a little more than 25 years ago.

Unlikely proposal

It was love almost immediately for Hunniford and Wray when they first crossed paths at a London event where they laughed and chatted for hours. In her autobiography My Life in 2017, the TV star remembered how her husband popped the question.

Hunniford, who had never learned to swim when she was growing up, said Wray asked her to marry him in a swimming pool. Looking back, she recalled Wray said she was "looking so vulnerable" and clung onto him so tightly in the pool that he "better propose" during their sun-soaked holiday to Barbados.

Secrets to happy marriage

Having been married happily for 25 years, of course they had a few secrets to making it a huge success. Gloria has spoken openly of her love and admiration for her husband as well as their secrets to a long-lasting and happy marriage.

Celebrating 25 years last year, she previously told HELLO! magazine: "Of course, there is physical attraction, but our relationship is full of kindness and humour. We enjoy talking to each other. Talk, talk, talk – that is a wonderful thing."

The Loose Women star had also praised her husband for being "so supportive" in the past, especially after her daughter Caron died from breast cancer and grief had consumed her in 2004.

She told The Belfast Telegraph in 2014: "Stephen's a lovely man and so supportive of me in every way. It's very important to look after your relationship, especially when it's a second marriage, and my concession is that I don't work every day so we have time together."

She shared her daughter with her ex and first husband Don Keating, who died in 1997, as well as their sons Paul and Michael.