She was a member of the Liberal Party National Executive. She was Chairman of the Women's Committee of Liberal International. In 1950, she was Liberal candidate for the Swindon Division of Wiltshire at the 1950 General Election. This was another unpromising seat that the Liberal party had never won. She again finished third with 15% of the vote. Later, in 1950, she was Liberal candidate for the Bristol South East Division of Gloucestershire at a by-election. This was a very unpromising prospect for the Liberal party, whose candidate at the last general election had polled under 10%. 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. Again this was not a promising seat. The Liberals had not won here since 1918 though at the last election, the Liberal candidate polled nearly 20%. She could not match this and again finished third. She did not stand for parliament again. Media career In 1953, she was appointed to the newly created post of Editor of Women's Television Programmes at the BBC. In 1963, she became head of family programmes, and one of the first women to hold an executive position in the corporation. 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. 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, although Stephens resigned after only two years when the company ran into difficulties. Before departing Stephens (with Whitby) commissioned Catweazle (1970–71). Liberal party again 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. However, due to the lack of funds in the Liberal party, she agreed to work unpaid. Her work involved preparing the party for the next general election which took place in 1970. During the election, she took over responsibility for the party's three election broadcasts for television. References 1912 births 2001 deaths Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates BBC executives BBC radio producers British television producers British women television producers Women radio producers