Deb Grant
Born
Deborah Grant

Dublin, Ireland
Other nameAnne Frankenstein (formerly)[1]
Occupations
Years active2010s–present
Websitedjdebgrant.com Edit this at Wikidata

Deborah Grant is an Irish radio DJ and music journalist based in the UK. She is a primary broadcaster on BBC Radio 6 Music, where she hosts the flagship weekday evening show New Music Fix Daily.

Early life and identity

Grant was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. She has identified herself as an "atheist Irish Jew," noting that her Jewish heritage and her grandfather's history as a touring jazz saxophonist significantly influenced her musical trajectory.[2] Growing up in Dublin during the 1990s, she was a dedicated listener of the city's pirate radio scene, particularly Spectrum 101 (which evolved into Phantom FM), and cites RTÉ's John Kelly as a major broadcasting inspiration.[3] She moved to London at age 18 to study music, initially working in various administrative roles while DJing in the capital's club circuit.[4]

Career

Before joining the BBC, Grant broadcast under the pseudonym Anne Frankenstein. Under this name, she became a presenter on Jazz FM, hosting the Late Night Jazz show and Sunday Drive. Her broadcasting style was characterised by her knowledge of rare groove, funk, and soul. She eventually moved away from the moniker to broadcast under her birth name upon joining the BBC full-time.[5][1]

BBC Radio 6 Music and New Music Fix

Grant joined BBC Radio 6 Music as a regular presenter in 2023. She was initially paired with Tom Ravenscroft to launch New Music Fix Daily (Monday–Thursday, 7pm–9pm), a show focused on breaking new artists and curation of the station's New Music Fix Playlist.[6] Following Ravenscroft's departure from the station in May 2025, Grant was joined by new co-presenter Nathan Shepherd.[7] Shepherd, who rose to prominence through viral music mash-ups and his Indie Forever show, now hosts the programme alongside Grant, focusing on a mix of indie and experimental new releases.[4]

Other work

Grant is a contributor to The Big Issue and has written extensively for various vinyl culture publications. In 2025, Grant and Shepherd were prominent faces of the BBC's coverage of the Glastonbury Festival[4] and the Mercury Prize.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jazz FM presenter Anne Frankenstein reverts to her real name". Radio Today. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2026. You may know me as Anne Frankenstein – it might surprise you to learn it that's not my real name; it's a name I picked years and years ago when I started DJing in clubs and bars. [...] Now I think of myself far more as a broadcaster and it feels very strange, given the intimacy of the medium of radio, to be using a pseudonym on air.
  2. ^ Noel, David Emmanuel (20 April 2021). "In Conversation with Broadcaster and DJ Anne Frankenstein (Aka Deb Grant)". Occhi Magazine. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  3. ^ Mr Laurence (18 March 2025). "Grassroots Uncovered – An interview with 6 Music DJ Deb Grant". Joyzine. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Protz, Adam (23 June 2025). "Deb Grant and Nathan Shepherd: Making the BBC Glastonbury magic happen". Headliner Hub. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  5. ^ Foakes, Kevin (10 January 2025). "Deb Grant - Dust & Grooves: Vinyl Collection Books". Dust & Grooves. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  6. ^ "6 Music announces new daytime schedule". BBC Media Centre (Press release). BBC. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  7. ^ Court, Molly (2 May 2025). "Irreplaceable BBC radio legend confirms exit after 16 years". The Herald. Glasgow: Newsquest. ISSN 0965-9439. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Sam Fender wins 2025 Mercury Prize". Mercury Prize . 16 October 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2026.