[1] In 1933, at the age of 19, she married a stockbroker, Richard Holden, with whom she had two children, though after five years, the couple divorced.

In 1944 at London University, she received the Gilchrist gold medal and diploma for social studies.

Although she came third she did manage to retain her deposit; In 1945, she was a Liberal candidate, alongside Francis Beaufort-Palmer for Holland ward in the Kensington Metropolitan Borough Council elections.

In 1949 she was a Liberal candidate, alongside John Beeching Frankenburg for Earl's Court ward in the Kensington Metropolitan Borough Council elections.

Her vote in the by-election was just as poor; In 1951, she was Liberal candidate for the Carlisle Division of Cumberland at the 1951 General Election.

She spearheaded programmes which introduced cookery personality Fanny Cradock and keep-fit expert Eileen Fowler to viewers, as well as bringing in Play School and Dougal in The Magic Roundabout for children.

[1] She was persuaded to join London Weekend Television by David Frost, along with her BBC junior Joy Whitby, at the future ITV contractor's beginnings in 1967, and the two women were appointed to run the children's programmes department,[9] although Stephens resigned after only two years when the company ran into difficulties.

[11] In 1969, she returned to active involvement when Jeremy Thorpe got her to take over from Pratap Chitnis as head of the Liberal Party Organisation.