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Celebrity Bake Off star Gloria Hunniford is paying a heartfelt tribute to her late daughter Caron Keating by appearing on the show in her honour.
More than 20 years after Caron’s passing, Gloria shared how the pain of losing her remains ever-present, but her memory continues to inspire her work and advocacy.
Taking part in this year’s Stand Up to Cancer special, the broadcaster, 85, revealed that raising money for cancer research is a way to honour her daughter’s legacy.
Caron, a beloved Blue Peter presenter, tragically died of breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 41.
When asked why she had signed up the Channel 4 show, Gloria told the Mirror: ‘Unfortunately, I lost my daughter to cancer. To lose a child is the worst thing that can happen to you.’
She continued: ‘So giving something back has a wonderful mending process because you are giving back in the name of the person you loved, who you do love, and have lost.
Celebrity Bake Off star Gloria Hunniford has paid a heartfelt tribute to her family while reflecting on the devastating loss of her daughter, TV presenter Caron Keating
More than 20 years after Caron’s passing, Gloria shared how the pain of losing her remains ever-present, but her memory continues to inspire her work and advocacy (pictured together in 2003)
‘It’s very prevalent in my mind, and in my actions all the time. When you do something positive against something so deeply negative, it’s very healing.’
Gloria also mentioned that her daughter was a ‘very special girl, with a great sense of humour.’
The star will appear in this Sunday’s final episode of Celebrity Bake Off, competing for the coveted Star Baker title alongside actor Jim Howick, comedian Jamali Maddix, and model Ellie Goldstein.
It comes after Gloria held back tears as she talked about her late daughter Caron on Loose Women in 2021.
She discussed how she tries to ‘keep her alive in spirit’ on her birthday and other milestones for the sake of Caron’s sons Charlie and Gabriel.
During a discussion about how to deal with milestones in your life after you lose a loved one, Gloria said: ‘The first one [milestone] is agonising.
‘When we lost Caron – and her anniversary was just last week – 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.’
Caron died aged 41 in April 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer
She went on to explain how balloons left over from her 80th birthday helped mark the special occasion.
She said: ‘The ’80’ balloon was really big so I thought I’m going to let them off for Caron.
‘So when the boys were there we said ‘let’s send these to mum’ – we cut them loose and they went so high because they were filled with helium.
‘So we have fun times – we’ve been know to tie balloons to the gravestone, to send rockets off with little messages in them…’
She added: ‘I always think of the phrase ‘people never die if they live on the lips on the living’.
‘And that’s why I always like to talk about Caron to keep her alive in spirit and for her two boys.
‘It’s really important for me that they learn – cause they’re now in their 20s and I think for parents, grandparents in my case, you have to remind them that these days should be thought of.’
Gloria built up The Caron Keating Foundation in the wake of her daughter’s death.
