Anna Raeburn

Anna Raeburn (born 3 April 1944) is a British broadcaster and journalist who is famous for her role as an "agony aunt", giving advice on relationships and more general life problems. She is principally known for her work on Capital Radio in London. She currently writes the weekly blog 'Annalog'.

Early life

She went to the all-girls Kirby Grammar School in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. She moved to London when aged 17.

Magazines

She worked for Cosmopolitan.

Radio

Raeburn has a unique style of broadcasting, frequently using voice modulation to enhance the listening experience. Raeburn is quoted on LBC 97.3 as saying "it's radio; let the words create the picture".

Raeburn built her reputation in the 1970s and 1980s on a popular late night problem phone-in show on Capital Radio, called Anna And The Doc. The journalist Vincent Graff said of the show: “If you were a baffled teenager trying to find your way in the world, Anna and the Doc gave you the roadmap.” She also had an afternoon advice show on Talk Sport in the late 1990s. In the early 1990s, Raeburn presented an afternoon show on LBC Crown FM. In 2006, she returned to the station's current incarnation - LBC 97.3 - in the same slot.

The show primarily featured listeners ringing in with everyday problems to which Raeburn, often with the assistance of a professional guest, applied her life philosophy in an effort to guide them to a solution.

Her show was usually in two parts; the first would be guest interviews on psychosocial issues and/or associated book reviewing, followed by a phone-in to advise and guide listeners as a "professional friend". Raeburn often took time after shows to further engage with those who e-mailed or called in, to ensure they had support information and were clear on what options were available to them.

From January 2007, as part of the new year shake-up, Raeburn's show moved an hour later to 2-4pm as a new lifestyle, health and well-being show, presented by Jim Davis preceding her.

Raeburn presented her last show on LBC 97.3 on 3 August 2007. She had been expected to return in September, but the station announced that her afternoon slot would be rested. Raeburn is not expected to return to the station in the near future. Her slot was reallocated, to Jeni Barnett who was later replaced herself.

Raeburn can be heard contributing on various BBC Radio 4 programmes and voice-driven advertising features, such as for Ocado in January 2008.

Awards

Raeburn won a gold Sony award in 1998, and a bronze Sony award in 2007 for speech broadcaster of the year. She was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in December 2006. Raeburn has now collected all three Sony awards in her radio career: gold, silver and bronze, the first female radio presenter to do so.

Television

She co-wrote the television series Agony, starring Maureen Lipman, and in the 1980s was satirised by Radio Active as "Anna Rabies".

Raeburn has also been a critic on the ITV1 daytime show, Mum's on Strike, since 2005. She is also a regular on Countdown as one of the members of "Dictionary Corner". She has made twelve appearances to date.

Personal life

She married Michael Raeburn in 1978 and Nigel Lilley in 1981 with whom she has a son, Taylor.