Charlie Allan was born in Stirling and was brought up on the farms of Aberdeenshire before going to Aberdeen University, where he graduated with a first in economics. He taught economics in Glasgow, Strathclyde and St Andrews Universities until 1974 when he gave up academic life to return to his family to farm at Little Ardo, Methlick in Aberdeenshire. This return coincided with the beginnings of a broadcasting career which included five years as a producer for BBC radio's farming output in Scotland and stint for the BBC World Service. He went on to write a column for the Press and Journal every week for ten years and is now in the 19th year of his column Farmer's Diary.