Dear Deidre: The Complete Story Behind Britain’s Most Trusted Advice Column

For more than four decades, Dear Deidre has been one of the most recognizable advice columns in the UK. What began as a small feature inside The Sun newspaper grew into a national support system for millions—a place where readers shared their deepest secrets and received empathetic, practical guidance. Whether you search for “Dear Deidre Today”, “Dear Deidre The Sun”, “Dear Deidre Free”, or even personal details like “Dear Deidre age”, “Dear Deidr birthday”, “Dear Deidre family”, or “Dear Deidre net worth”, one thing is clear: the name represents far more than a column. It represents comfort, trust, and a place to be heard.

This long, detailed article explores who Dear Deidre is, her career history, her impact, her current status, her early life, her story, her family background, and her legacy—along with everything readers commonly want to know.

Who Is Dear Deidre?

Dear Deidre refers to June Deidre Sanders, born on 9 June 1945, a British journalist and counsellor who became the UK’s most beloved agony aunt. She spent decades reading thousands of letters, analyzing problems, and guiding people through issues involving marriage, love, sex, mental health, addiction, family conflict, money stress, and more.

Her column first appeared in The Sun in 1980, and its success was instant. Readers saw something different in her:

• She wasn’t judgmental.

• She wasn’t sensational.

• She wasn’t cold or clinical.

Instead, she was real. She understood. She listened. She gave advice the way a trusted relative or warm friend might—direct, thoughtful, and grounded in life experience.

Over time, Deidre became more than a writer. She was a national voice for emotional support long before modern mental-health awareness took center stage.

The Dear Deidre Story — From Small Column to National Institution

The Dear Deidre story is fascinating because of how humble its beginnings were. Deidre Sanders had worked for publications like Nova and Women’s Own before joining The Sun. When she started her advice column in 1980, there was nothing like it at her scale.

Instead of offering short, generic responses, Deidre:

• Carefully read every message

• Responded to as many people as possible

• Brought in trained counsellors as the column expanded

• Helped readers feel “heard” during their most painful or confusing moments

Her approach was empathetic and structured. She believed that even in the act of writing—which many people struggled to do—they were expressing their pain and asking for help. She made sure those words were acknowledged.

What made her column stand out even more was the “Photo Casebook”, an illustrated comic-strip retelling of real-life dilemmas. This visual storytelling made complicated emotional problems accessible and relatable.

By the early 2000s, surveys suggested that several million readers were engaging with the column regularly. For many, Dear Deidre was a trusted part of their morning routine.

Dear Deidre The Sun — A Partnership That Shaped British Media

Although advice columns existed before, none had the scale or influence of Dear Deidre in The Sun. The newspaper’s massive readership, combined with Deidre’s thoughtful guidance, created a powerful cultural force.

The column became one of the paper’s most-read features, often outperforming major stories. Readers felt an intimate connection to the real-life issues expressed in the letters. These were problems they themselves experienced but rarely talked about openly.

Deidre’s role also expanded beyond the written page. She became known for appearing on ITV’s This Morning, offering live advice to callers in emotional distress.

While many publications and websites have their own advice sections today, Dear Deidre remains the most iconic in the UK, still associated with empathy, realism, and honesty.

Dear Deidre Today — What Happened After Her Retirement?

After a legendary career spanning over 40 years, Deidre Sanders retired in December 2020. Her departure was emotional for many readers who had grown up reading her advice.

But the story didn’t end there.

Today, the column continues under the same name, Dear Deidre, but it is led by Sally Land, who worked closely with Deidre for years. The tone, structure, and heartfelt communication remain the same.

What “Dear Deidr Today” includes:

• The daily advice column in The Sun

• A Dear Deidre podcast, focusing on mental health, relationships, identity, finance, and personal growth

• Email-based counselling responses

• Casebook-style features

• A trained support team ensuring replies are thoughtful and accurate

While the original Deidre is retired, the brand she built lives on with the same spirit.

Is Dear Deidre Still Free? — Understanding the Service

Many people search for “Dear Deidre Free”, unsure whether the service costs anything.

The answer: Yes, it is completely free.

Readers can:

• Email their issue

• Use a confidential form

• Receive a personal reply from the Dear Deidre team (often counsellor-trained)

• Read publicly published letters and answers for guidance

There are no fees, subscriptions, or hidden charges.

This free emotional support has been one of the core reasons Dear Deidre remains beloved. For those who cannot afford therapy or don’t know how to seek help, it serves as a first step toward understanding and healing.

Dear Deidre Age and Birthday

Readers often look up basic biographical details such as:

• Dear Deidre age:
  Deidr Sanders was born on 9 June 1945, placing her in her late seventies today.

• Dear Deidr birthday:
  Celebrated annually on June 9th.

Her long career is even more impressive when you consider the consistency of her work. For more than four decades, she read, analyzed, and responded to deeply personal letters every single day.

Dear Deidre Family — What Is Known?

Despite her public role, Deidre Sanders kept much of her private life away from the entertainment spotlight.

What is known:

• Deidre was married to Rick Sanders for over 55 years.

• Her husband passed away in early 2023 shortly after she was awarded an MBE.

• She has spoken warmly about her family life but prefers not to publicize details about her children or relatives to protect their privacy.

Her desire for privacy is consistent with her caring personality. She spent her entire career protecting the identities of struggling readers, so it’s natural she guarded her family’s privacy as well.

Dear Deidre Young — Early Life and Path to Journalism

People often search for “Dear Deidre young”, curious about how she entered journalism and later became an agony aunt.

Her early story:

• Born in 1945

• Studied at Sheffield University

• Worked for magazines like Nova and Woman’s Own

• Joined The Sun in 1980

• Built the Dear Deidre column from scratch into a national institution

Her background in journalism, combined with her empathy and interest in emotional health, made her uniquely suited to advice-giving.

Dear Deidre Net Worth — What Do We Know?

There is no verified public data on Dear Deidrs net worth. Unlike celebrities or public figures who reveal their income, Deidre Sanders has never publicly discussed her finances.

However, given:

• A long career at major UK publications

• TV appearances

• Book releases in earlier decades

• Professional recognition (including an MBE)

…it is reasonable to assume she was financially stable.

Still, without official numbers, any estimate would be purely speculative—so the most accurate answer is simply: her net worth remains private and undisclosed.

Why Dear Deidre Still Matters Today

Even in a world filled with therapists, coaches, social media influencers, and online advice forums, Dear Deidre remains relevant.

Why?

Because the column offers:

1. A human voice

People feel comforted when someone listens without judgment.

2. Real empathy

Deidre’s writing never felt dismissive or rushed.

3. Practical advice

Not dramatic. Not extreme. Just real, workable guidance.

4. Accessibility

It’s free, easy to contact, and open to everyone.

5. Legacy

Forty-plus years of trust matters. Generations of readers, from grandparents to young adults, have relied on the column.

The transition from physical letters to online messages, and now to podcasts, shows how adaptable the brand truly is.

Dear Deidre’s Lasting Legacy

Deidre Sanders changed the way people think about emotional support. She wasn’t a therapist, yet she helped millions. She wasn’t a celebrity, yet her name is recognized across the UK. She wasn’t seeking fame, yet she became one of the most trusted voices in media.

Her contribution goes beyond words. She opened the door for conversations on:

• sex

• trauma

• insecurity

• infidelity

• addiction

• loneliness

• family conflict

• identity

• mental health

…long before these topics became openly discussed.

Her retirement didn’t end the movement she started. If anything, it gave the column new space to evolve under editors like Sally Land, who continue to uphold the mission she began.

Final Thoughts — Dear Deidre’s Timeless Impact

Whether someone searches “Dear Deidr Today”, “Dear Deidr The Sun”, “Dear Deidrs Free”, or information about her age, birthday, story, family, or career, one thing remains the same: Dear Deidrs is a symbol of comfort and emotional understanding.

Her dedication transformed a small newspaper feature into a pillar of support for millions. And even though she has retired, the heart of her column continues beating.

At Megacine, we believe stories like hers deserve to be remembered—because they show the power of empathy, compassion, and human connection.