Gloria Hunniford's autobiography to John Blake

Singer and presenter Gloria Hunniford is publishing a new autobiography with John Blake this October.

Hunniford, who previously published two memoirs on her daughter Caron’s tragic death from cancer in Next to You with Penguin in 2006 and Always with You with Hodder in 2008, as well as a book on grandparenting with Vermillion in 2010, will now concentrate on telling her own story.

The autobiography, hoping to provide "a true insight into a much-loved star", will cover her career as a child singer in Ireland, from the age of seven, starting out in broadcasting after making a record in her home country of Northern Ireland before heading over to London in the 80s and becoming the first woman to have a daily radio programme, and presenting on BBC Radio 2 continuously for 13 years.

Hunniford, who now regularly appears on the "Loose Women" panel and in BBC programme "Rip Off Britain", said: “I think of myself as having had nine lives – from my early childhood days in Ireland, to emigrating in my teens to Canada and progressing to the hallowed corridors of the BBC and beyond, as well as meeting some of the biggest Hollywood names. I’m thrilled to be telling my story in full for the very first time."

Rosie Virgo, m.d. at John Blake Publishing acquired world rights from Laurie Mansfield at Laurie Mansfield Associates.

Virgo said: “This is a huge story from a lady who is a great national treasure. Gloria's story started as a child in Ireland growing up with no television or inside bathroom to the household name that she is today."