Denise Robertson

Denise Robertson (9 June 1932 – 31 March 2016) was a British writer and television broadcaster. She made her television debut as the presenter of the Junior Advice Line segment of the BBC's Breakfast Time programme in 1985, though she is best known as the resident agony aunt on the ITV show This Morning from its first broadcast on 3 October 1988 until her death. In the course of her career, she dealt with over 200,000 letters from viewers seeking advice.

Career Robertson's first job was as a clerk at Sunderland Royal Infirmary. She then progressed to the position of medical secretary, and later became a counsellor. She won a BBC competition to write a play, and became an agony aunt on Metro Radio in Newcastle.

From its 1988 inception until shortly before her death in 2016, Robertson was a familiar face on ITV's flagship daytime magazine programme This Morning, appearing as its resident agony aunt. Over her 27 years on the show, Robertson dealt with an estimated 200,000 letters from viewers wanting advice.

Robertson was a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's political debate programme Any Questions? She also served as an independent councillor for her local council and drove for the Meals on Wheels service. She was also chair of her local physically handicapped club for over ten years. In 1983, she formed a trust with five others to provide work for the long-term unemployed. Alexander Robertson died of lung cancer in 1972. Robertson was a keen supporter of Sunderland A.F.C. and had worked with the University of Sunderland, appearing as guest speaker at graduation ceremonies. She lived in East Boldon, South Tyneside.

Honours In 1998, Robertson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of County Durham. She was given the Freedom of the City of Sunderland in 2006 and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday Honours that year for "services to Broadcasting and to Charity".

Death Robertson died on 31 March 2016, aged 83, at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London after being diagnosed in early 2016 with pancreatic cancer. She made the diagnosis public in February 2016 on the television show This Morning after being absent from her usual posting as its agony aunt. This Morning aired a special edition tribute programme on 1 April 2016. Her funeral took place on 13 April 2016 at Sunderland Minster, and she was buried in Sunderland Cemetery in Grangetown.

Filmography

Works Don't Cry Aloud Hopcyn Press 2015 Winds of War Little Books 2009 None To Make You Cry Little Books 2009 The Promise Little Books 2008 The Second Wife Little Books 2008 Agony? Don't Get Me Started... Autobiography Max Press 2006 The Bad Sister Little Books 2005 Relax It's Only a Baby Little Books 2005 Men Are From Earth. Women Are From Earth.: Deal with It! Little Books 2005 Sir Tom Cowie, A True Entrepreneur: A Biography University of Sunderland 2004 A Relative Freedom Wait For the Day The Beloved People (Belgate Trilogy 1) 2004 Strength for the Morning (Belgate Trilogy 2) 2004 Towards Jerusalem (Belgate Trilogy 3) 2005 A Year of Winter 1986 The Land of Lost Content 1985 Blue Remembered Hills 1987