Anna was brought up in Cumbria with her four brothers. She went to Manchester University where she read Social Anthropology before taking a post-graduate diploma in Adult Education. Anna then worked for four years as a teacher in Belfast, after which she joined the Open University as a staff tutor in Social Science for the Northern Ireland region.

Anna's main break into television was in 1974 when she joined Granada Television as a researcher. During her time with Granada she worked on numerous local and educational programmes.

In 1976 she joined the BBC's "Man Alive" team and then moved on to "Tomorrow's World" for a short period. In February 1978, she joined ITN where she stayed until 1981 when she moved to TV-AM. Since then, Anna has worked as a freelance TV Presenter and broadcaster.

She joined the Six O'Clock News on BBC1 in 1989 and has regularly presented the "Today" programme and "Woman's Hour" on Radio 4, as well as standing in for Jimmy Young on BBC Radio 2.

In May 1999 she took over the role of solely presenting the lunchtime news on BBC 1 at 1pm.

Recent guest appearances have included "Have I Got News For You" and a singing role in BBC Television's "Stars Sing The Beatles".

Anna was elected Chancellor of the University of Manchester in 2001.

A household name, known to all as the well respected, adored and unflappable BBC newsreader from the One O’Clock News. Anna has guested and hosted BBC TV’s “Have I Got News For You” and presented Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour” and the “Today” programme. She is in demand for hosting conferences and award ceremonies