Louise Botting
journalist · businessperson
- September 19, 1939 · United Kingdom
- September 22, 2026
- 87 years
About Louise Botting
Louise Botting, 87, British broadcaster (Money Box) and businesswoman.
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Full Biography
|Elizabeth Louise Botting CBE (née Young; 19 September 1939 – 22 September 2026) was a British businesswoman and broadcaster. She was presenter of BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme between 1977 and 1992. After her broadcasting career, she became one of the first female directors of a FTSE 100 company, through her appointment to the board of CGNU (formerly General Accident, now Aviva). She has also held non-executive directorships of other companies such as Trinity Mirror, London Weekend Television and Camelot Group.
Botting founded the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young in 1974, serving as its managing director and then chairman until it was sold to Duncan Lawrie in 2005. Over the years she had an extensive portfolio of business interests.
Early life and professional career
Botting was born into a middle-class family in Liverpool on 19 September 1939. She attended Sutton Coldfield High School for Girls (now Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls) and went on to the London School of Economics.
After her graduation in 1961 she joined the British merchant bank Kleinwort Benson as one of their first female analysts. Her marriage to the writer and explorer Douglas Botting led to a career break as she gave birth to her two daughters, Anna (now a newsreader with Sky News) and Kate. Her career in journalism started in 1970 when she began writing for the Daily Mail. She started broadcasting with British Forces Broadcasting Service in 1971 and continued to do this until 1981.
In 1974, she established the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young, with the businessman George Douglas and John Deakin, a medical doctor. Her initial role was managing director, until her succession by Alan Warner in 1982, when she became chairman. She remained in this role until the firm was sold to Duncan Lawrie in 2005.
Money Box
In 1977, Botting was asked to be the founding presenter of BBC Radio 4's Money Box. The aim of the programme was to make sensible personal financial advice available to ordinary people. The programme, which continues to be broadcast, covers a broad range of investment and tax issues, as well as covering major changes in social security. The popularity of Money Box increased, attracting up to three million listeners each week. Its political influence was highlighted by the fact that, at times, the Prime Minister's office asked to know the proposed content in advance.
By 1992, Botting wished to pursue other business interests and was asked to join the board of London Weekend Television. This appointment was unpalatable to the BBC, and she decided to resign from the programme. She was succeeded by Alison Mitchell.
Later career
Botting pursued many other business interests. In addition to Douglas Deakin Young and London Weekend Television, she served as non-executive director of CGNU (formerly General Accident, now Aviva) and Trinity Mirror. She later remained a director of national lottery operator Camelot Group.
She also acted as a member of the Top Salaries Review Body between 1987 and 1994, and was rewarded by Prime Minister John Major with a CBE for her work and for services to journalism.
Her interests extended to local radio, with ownership of a number of different stakes. In 1995 she chaired the consortium that was awarded the new local radio licence for Stratford-upon-Avon, launching the following year as The Bear.
Botting also acted as professional pension trustee to Channel 4, Blackwell Publishing, W H Smith and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. After the sale of Douglas Deakin Young in 2005 to Duncan Lawrie, she stepped down as chairman and acted as a consultant.
She was a patron of APT Action on Poverty (registered charity no. 290836).
Death
Botting died after a short illness on 22 September 2026, aged 87.
Publications
- Making the most of your money (1984, 1985), with Vincent Duggleby
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Botting
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oct 5, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 5, 2026
- Oct 5, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Louise Botting's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Elizabeth Louise Botting born?
- A.Liverpoolcorrect
- B.Stratford-upon-Avon
- C.Sutton Coldfield
- D.London
Elizabeth Louise Botting was born into a middle-class family in Liverpool on 19 September 1939.
Source: Early life and professional career section
2.What educational institution did Elizabeth Louise Botting attend after high school?
- A.University of Liverpool
- B.University of Oxford
- C.London School of Economicscorrect
- D.University of Cambridge
Elizabeth Louise Botting attended Sutton Coldfield High School for Girls and went on to the London School of Economics.
Source: Early life and professional career section
3.Which programme did Elizabeth Louise Botting present on BBC Radio 4 between 1977 and 1992?
- A.The Archers
- B.World at One
- C.Woman's Hour
- D.Money Boxcorrect
Elizabeth Louise Botting was the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme between 1977 and 1992.
Source: Biography introduction
4.When did Elizabeth Louise Botting die?
- A.19 September 1939
- B.21 September 2026
- C.22 September 2026correct
- D.20 September 2026
Elizabeth Louise Botting died after a short illness on 22 September 2026.
Source: Death section
5.Which firm did Elizabeth Louise Botting co-found in 1974?
- A.Douglas Deakin Youngcorrect
- B.Duncan Lawrie
- C.Trinity Mirror
- D.Camelot Group
Elizabeth Louise Botting established the private wealth management firm Douglas Deakin Young in 1974.
Source: Early life and professional career section
6.Who succeeded Elizabeth Louise Botting as the presenter of Money Box in 1992?
- A.Alison Mitchellcorrect
- B.George Douglas
- C.John Deakin
- D.Vincent Duggleby
After resigning from Money Box in 1992, Elizabeth Louise Botting was succeeded by Alison Mitchell.
Source: Money Box section
7.What honor was bestowed upon Elizabeth Louise Botting by Prime Minister John Major?
- A.Knighthood
- B.OBE
- C.Damehood
- D.CBEcorrect
Elizabeth Louise Botting was rewarded by Prime Minister John Major with a CBE for her work and for services to journalism.
Source: Later career section
8.In what year did Elizabeth Louise Botting graduate from her university studies?
- A.1961correct
- B.1960
- C.1962
- D.1958
Elizabeth Louise Botting joined Kleinwort Benson after her graduation in 1961.
Source: Early life and professional career section
9.Which company did Elizabeth Louise Botting serve as a director of, marking her as one of the first female directors of a FTSE 100 company?
- A.CGNUcorrect
- B.Trinity Mirror
- C.Camelot Group
- D.London Weekend Television
Elizabeth Louise Botting became one of the first female directors of a FTSE 100 company through her appointment to the board of CGNU.
Source: Biography introduction
10.What was the name of the local radio station Elizabeth Louise Botting's consortium launched in 1996?
- A.The Bearcorrect
- B.Stratford Sound
- C.Radio Avon
- D.Money Radio
In 1995, Elizabeth Louise Botting chaired the consortium that launched the new local radio station, The Bear, in 1996.
Source: Later career section
11.What is the profession of Elizabeth Louise Botting's daughter, Anna?
- A.Newsreadercorrect
- B.Pension trustee
- C.Journalist
- D.Businesswoman
Elizabeth Louise Botting's daughter Anna is currently a newsreader with Sky News.
Source: Early life and professional career section
12.What was the profession of John Deakin, one of the founders of Douglas Deakin Young?
- A.Merchant banker
- B.Medical doctorcorrect
- C.Journalist
- D.Business executive
Elizabeth Louise Botting founded the firm with George Douglas and John Deakin, who was a medical doctor.
Source: Early life and professional career section
13.Which of these organizations was NOT among those for which Elizabeth Louise Botting acted as a professional pension trustee?
- A.Daily Mailcorrect
- B.W H Smith
- C.Blackwell Publishing
- D.Channel 4
Elizabeth Louise Botting acted as a professional pension trustee to Channel 4, Blackwell Publishing, W H Smith, and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.
Source: Later career section
14.Who co-authored the book 'Making the most of your money' with Elizabeth Louise Botting?
- A.Alan Warner
- B.George Douglas
- C.Vincent Dugglebycorrect
- D.John Major
Elizabeth Louise Botting co-authored the book 'Making the most of your money' with Vincent Duggleby in 1984.
Source: Publications section
15.Who succeeded Elizabeth Louise Botting as managing director of Douglas Deakin Young in 1982?
- A.Vincent Duggleby
- B.Alan Warnercorrect
- C.John Deakin
- D.George Douglas
Elizabeth Louise Botting served as managing director of Douglas Deakin Young until her succession by Alan Warner in 1982.
Source: Early life and professional career section
16.What was the charity for which Elizabeth Louise Botting served as a patron?
- A.FTSE Foundation
- B.APT Action on Povertycorrect
- C.Broadcasting Aid
- D.The Bear Trust
Elizabeth Louise Botting was a patron of APT Action on Poverty, which held the registered charity number 290836.
Source: Later career section
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