[1] She was the youngest of four children to working class parents Elsie and Fred Oldroyd, a mechanical engineer who died when Liddy was eleven years old.
[2][3] She was educated at Guildford County School for Girls, where she was unable to pass her Latin examination but succeeded in Drama lessons.
[1] Oldroyd found her greatest success when she acted as director for all 65 episodes of the situation comedy show Drop the Dead Donkey between 1990 and 1998.
[2] Following twelve weeks of investigations, spreading of disinformation and bungled biopsies,[2] she was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoid cancer,[4] and received a telephone call of the diagnosis on New Year's Eve.
[5] Oldroyd focused her attention on fundraising treatment, inspiring her friends and acquaintances to help her cause by taking treks to Morocco and Nepal along with organising a cycling tour across France.