Leona Graham

Leona Graham (born 18 January 1971) is a British radio broadcaster and voiceover artist. She is currently a presenter of Absolute Radio (formerly Virgin Radio), a position she has held since 2000. She can also be heard on the digital stations Absolute 80s and Absolute Classic Rock.
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.
Education
Leona Graham was educated at Berkhamsted School for Girls in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. 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.
Radio broadcasting
Early career
She began her career in broadcasting at W963 University Radio Warwick (now Radio Warwick) 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.
Virgin Radio
Leona Graham joined Virgin as a presenter on 28 April 2000. 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.
She was the second presenter heard on Virgin's digital station Virgin Classic Rock at its launch in 2003.
Absolute Radio
Leona stayed after Virgin Radio was re-branded as Absolute Radio. She works both as a main presenter and a fill-in presenter.
She can be heard every weekday from 10am to 10pm across three stations: main station (from 10am till 1pm); then Absolute 80s (from 1pm till 4pm) and Classic Rock station (from 7pm till 10pm). On Saturday, she works from midday to 6pm, first with Classic Rock station (till 4pm) and finally 80s station.
On 9 January 2012, Leona took over the weekday 1pm5pm slot for three months on Absolute Radio following the departure of Nick Jackson until Andy Bush arrived at the station.
Leona currently broadcasts on Absolute Radio from 10am-1pm, Monday to Friday.
Interviews
At Absolute Radio Leona Graham has interviewed rock star Alice Cooper, AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson and vocalist of Free, Bad Company and Queen Paul Rodgers.
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.
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.
References
External links
Leona Graham's commercial website
Leona Graham's website
Leona Graham's fan site
The No Repeat Guarantee on Absolute Radio
The 80s No Repeat Guarantee on Absolute 80s
Leona Graham on Absolute Classic Rock
Living people
English radio DJs
Alumni of the University of Warwick
Absolute Radio
1971 births