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]

In October 2018 he was presented with a Scroll of Honour from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to New Zealand entertainment.

References

  1. ↑ Newstalk ZB Presenter page Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11141150
  3. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11141150
  4. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11141150
  5. ↑ Ryder, Susan (March–April 2007). "Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith: What Makes Him Tick?" (PDF). Free Radical. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  6. ↑ http://radioawards.co.nz/docs/Winners-Results-2013.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/9374898/A-host-with-the-most
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