Leighton Smith (radio host)
Leighton Smith (b. 13 Dec 1946) is an Australian-born award-winning talkback radio host based in Auckland, New Zealand. He is on air, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 am and midday on commercial talk radio network Newstalk ZB.[1]
Leighton started his broadcasting career on Sydney's SCH as a "junior disco jockey". He moved to New Zealand for a one-year stint with 2ZB in Wellington in 1980, but stayed for five years.[2]
After a brief stint on a radio in Adelaide, Smith was back in Auckland in 1985 at 1ZB, soon renamed Newstalk ZB. He has been there ever since in the 8:30am to midday timeslot.[3]
Singer-songwriter Dave Dobbyn said recently he found God after being interviewed by Smith on his short-lived Sky TV show.[4]
In a 2007 interview with libertarian magazine the Free Radical, he described himself as somewhat libertarian.[5] He owns the Clevedon Hills vineyard, near Auckland.
Leighton Smith won Best Talk Back Host or Hosts - All Markets at the 2013 New Zealand Radio Awards [6] and at the end of 2013 he released his book "Beyond the Microphone"[7]
References
- ^ Newstalk ZB Presenter page
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11141150
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11141150
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11141150
- ^ Ryder, Susan (March–April 2007). "Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith: What Makes Him Tick?" (PDF). Free Radical. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ http://radioawards.co.nz/docs/Winners-Results-2013.pdf
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/9374898/A-host-with-the-most