She began her journalism career with a women's magazine. Starting in 1960, she spent more than three decades as a columnist for the Observer (UK).
As a women's-feature writer, she tried to change the tone of such columns from patronizing and teaching women how to be the perfect wife, to more realistic.
She is an "agony aunt" for Saga magazine, with a "Dear Abby"-style column dealing with readers' problems ranging from greedy children to loneliness.
She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2014 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Journalism. She is a journalist in London, England.
Parents with Gavin of Bernard Lyall and actor Jake Lyall.