| Leona Graham | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 January 1971 |
| Occupation | Radio Presenter |
| Known for | Absolute Classic Rock Party |
| Website | |
| Official Website | |
Leona Graham (born 18 January 1971[1]) is a British radio broadcaster and voiceover artist.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] She is currently a presenter of Absolute Radio (formerly Virgin Radio), a position she has held since 2000.[10] She can also be heard on the digital stations Absolute 80s and Absolute Classic Rock.[11][12]
In addition Leona Graham has recorded voiceovers for numerous national and local TV and radio stations and commercials.
Leona Graham was a judge at the Sony Radio Academy Awards 2011.[13]
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Leona Graham was educated at Berkhamsted School for Girls in Berkhamsted. She then studied at the University of Warwick from 1989 to 1993 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama. She is also a qualified school teacher.[12]
She began her career in broadcasting at W963 University Radio Warwick (now Radio Warwick)[14] where she presented the "Thursday Night Rock Show" and a nightly magazine style news programme called "Weekday Warwick".
Before joining Virgin Radio in 2000 Leona Graham worked for a number of radio stations, at first for low pay and during the night.[12][15][16]
| From | To | Station/Employer | Slot/Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/1995 | 06/1995 | Choice 102.2 | Presenter 2-6am |
| 08/1995 | 08/1996 | Power FM | Breakfast Show co-host
Presenter of Early Breakfast 5-6am |
| 08/1996 | 03/1998 | 96.4 The Eagle | Presenter 2-6pm weekdays |
| 03/1998 | 11/1999 | Surf 107.2 | Breakfast Show DJ |
| 11/1999 | 03/2000 | Core DAB Radio | Presenter weekdays 2-7pm |
Leona Graham joined Virgin Radio as a presenter in April 2000.[10] During her time with Virgin Radio she presented a variety of shows: Virgin Radio UK Album Charts, Virgin Radio Party, Teenage Kicks, 80′s Anthems, Smells like the 90′s, The Classic Rock Show, The Late Show, Virgin Love and Weekend Breakfast.[17][18]
She was the second presenter heard on Virgin's digital station Virgin Classic Rock at its launch in 2003.[10]
Leona stayed after Virgin Radio was re-branded as "Absolute Radio". She can be heard on Saturdays from 6.30 to 10.00pm with her "Absolute Classic Rock Party" and on Sundays from 12.00 to 5.00pm. She is also the swing-presenter and steps in regularly for other presenters.[11][19]
She is also a presenter on Absolute Radio's digital stations Absolute Classic Rock (weekdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm; Sunday from 9.00am to 12.00pm) and Absolute 80s (weekdays from 1.00pm to 4.00pm; Saturday from 1pm to 6pm).[19]
At Absolute Radio Leona Graham has interviewed rock star Alice Cooper,[20] AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and vocalist of Free, Bad Company and Queen Paul Rodgers.[21]
Leona has been the voice for BBC Radio One, BBC 5 LIVE, 95.8 Capital FM, The BOX, E4, Virgin Radio and Absolute Radio. She also contributes regularly for BBC1, ITV1 and SKY1 and narrates programmes for Channel 4. She is also known for her voice in movie trailers on Virgin Media TV.[16][22][23]
More recently she started working with Orion Media to produce trailers for its stations BRMB, Mercia and Wyvern FM and is one of the voices of Canadian radio station 102.3 Now Radio in Edmonton.
In 2010 Absolute Radio received a Bronze Sony Radio Academy Award in the category Best Station Imaging for its imaging package in which Leona Graham was one of the major contributors as Absolute Radio's station voice.[24][25]
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