Leona Graham

Leona Graham
Born (1971-01-18) 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]

Education

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]

Radio broadcasting

Early career

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

Virgin Radio

Leona Graham joined Virgin 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]

Absolute Radio

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]

On 9 January 2012, Leona took over the weekday 1.00pm-5.00pm slot for three months on Absolute Radio following the departure of Nick Jackson until Andy Bush arrived at the station.

Interviews

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]

Voiceovers

Leona has recently set up her own Voice over production Company called High Voltage Media.

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.

Awards

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]

References

  1. ↑ Biography on debretts.com
  2. ↑ The Guardian of 13 August 2004 about Leona Graham
  3. ↑ The Guardian of 27 May 2008 (mentions Graham as a female presenter)
  4. ↑ The Guardian of 20 November 2007, mentions Leona Graham as a Virgin Radio DJ
  5. ↑ The Guardian of 9 May 2006 mentioning Leona Graham as a presenter
  6. ↑ cision.com, an industry news service, mentions Leona Graham as a broadcaster
  7. ↑ Broadcast Now, another industry source, mentions Leona Graham as a broadcaster
  8. ↑ Radio Today mentions Leona Graham as a broadcaster
  9. ↑ TV and radio production company mentioning Leona Graham as one of the narrators for "Passengers"
  10. 1 2 3 Blog entry "A Brief History of Virgin Radio by Adam Bowie" at One Golden Square
  11. 1 2 Leona Graham's profile on Absolute Radio's website
  12. 1 2 3 Leona Graham's biography on her official website
  13. ↑ judge profile for Leona Graham
  14. ↑ The Independent of 22 August 2005 regarding her involvement with Radio Warwick
  15. ↑ Trewin, Janet (2003). "Presenting on TV and radio: an insider's guide", Focal Press. ISBN 978-0-240-51906-7.
  16. 1 2 Leona Graham's professional profile and CV at Linkedin
  17. ↑ Radio career on Leona Graham's official website
  18. ↑ The Guardian, 7 June 2004: "Music fades for Virgin DJs"
  19. 1 2 Schedule on LeonaGraham.org
  20. ↑ The Times Online of 1 August 2008: People: Tony Blair, Gillian Anderson, Alice Cooper and Katie Price
  21. ↑ List of recent audio and video interviews
  22. ↑ Voiceovers section on her professional website
  23. ↑ rhubarb.co.uk artist page for Leona Graham
  24. ↑ 2010 Sony Radio Academy Awards, category "Best Station Imaging"
  25. ↑ Blog post regarding Absolute Radio's nominations at the 2010 Sony Radio Academy Awards

External links

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