Holly Samos
Encyclopedia
Holly Samos is a radio researcher and presenter. A former member of Chris Evans's Zoo Squad, she was the Formula 1 pit lane reporter for BBC Radio 5 Live
until the end of the 2010 season.
, Samos grew up in London
, Athens
, and Oklahoma
. Samos's mother bought her a portable radio cassette player for Christmas in her early teens, and she used to record the Top 40, then playback and talk over the DJ pretending to be him - but in an American accent. She gained 9 O Levels, before studying in London
for a Bachelor of Arts
degree
in Design and Media Management.
Her first job was a Saturday job as a teenager working on a market stall selling winter coats. Aged 19 during her college years in London, she undertook work experience for GLR
as a runner and switchboard operator, where she worked on the Greenhouse show presented by Chris Evans. She completed her degree, and moved in to the record business working for MCA Records on Piccadilly in the A&R department. Her first full time job in radio, which she admits falling in to, was at the age of 22 for Virgin Radio
in the Programming Department when the station launched, after John Revell whom she worked with during the GLR days, called on her to join the station.
In September 1997, Evans and his team made a return to Breakfast Radio, on Virgin Radio
, and handed preparation of his TFI Friday
programme for Channel 4
to Samos, Revell and McGrath.
By the middle of the May 2001, Evans was reported to have sacked his team.
When Samos left Virgin Radio she moved to the Century FM
network/Century Digital
presenting The Confessional and then the late night love show LoveLines. As a result of Jeremy Kyle
taking over the late night weekly slot with Late Night Love, Samos was moved to an earlier evening slot in the weekends presenting '‘Hairbrush Divas'’ in late 2003.
Samos also undertook a lot of commercial work during her career, she presented for the Formula One Jordan team, the BBC's Holiday programme, and a number of fashion and beauty shows. She also works as a voice-over artist.
After Capital Radio
took over Century Network, Samos moved to London's Heart 106.2
to present the Saturday breakfast show with Toby Anstis
. She also returned to Virgin Radio as a swing shift DJ to cover radio shows from 2005 to present day.
In March 2006, it was announced by BBC Radio Five Live
that Samos had joined their Formula One team, and will report the latest news and gossip live from the pit lane and the paddock at each grand prix.
In January 2008 she became Virgin's presenter of Sunday Early Mornings 2-6am.
In 2010, she featured in the Codemasters game F1 2010 (video game)
, alongside David Croft (5 Live commentator). She has also been the voice behind the Renault F1
Official Podcast
and Force India
F1 Team Podcast.
She will not be part of the BBC Radio Five Live
for the 2011 Formula One
season.
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
until the end of the 2010 season.
Early life and early career
Born to a Greek father and English mother in GuildfordGuildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Samos grew up in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Samos's mother bought her a portable radio cassette player for Christmas in her early teens, and she used to record the Top 40, then playback and talk over the DJ pretending to be him - but in an American accent. She gained 9 O Levels, before studying in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in Design and Media Management.
Her first job was a Saturday job as a teenager working on a market stall selling winter coats. Aged 19 during her college years in London, she undertook work experience for GLR
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
as a runner and switchboard operator, where she worked on the Greenhouse show presented by Chris Evans. She completed her degree, and moved in to the record business working for MCA Records on Piccadilly in the A&R department. Her first full time job in radio, which she admits falling in to, was at the age of 22 for Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
in the Programming Department when the station launched, after John Revell whom she worked with during the GLR days, called on her to join the station.
Chris Evans period
In 1995, Chris Evans moved to the BBC to take over the ailing Breakfast show, taking previous colleagues producer John Revell, engineer Dan McGrath and researcher Samos.In September 1997, Evans and his team made a return to Breakfast Radio, on Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
, and handed preparation of his TFI Friday
TFI Friday
TFI Friday is an entertainment show broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2000. The show produced by Ginger Productions, written by Danny Baker and hosted by Chris Evans, for the first 5 series. The final series was hosted by a number of Guest Presenters. It was broadcast on...
programme for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
to Samos, Revell and McGrath.
By the middle of the May 2001, Evans was reported to have sacked his team.
After Evans
During the period from May 2001 to June 2003, all members of Evans's team had their contracts honoured by Virgin/SMG.When Samos left Virgin Radio she moved to the Century FM
Century FM
Century Radio was the brand name of a group of independent local radio stations in England. The brand was developed with the launch of 100-102 Century Radio in North East England in 1994, with John Myers as managing director and John Simons as programme director...
network/Century Digital
Century Digital
-About The Station:Initially there was a DAB digital station in London called Century London an offshoot of the parent Century stations in the North of England...
presenting The Confessional and then the late night love show LoveLines. As a result of Jeremy Kyle
Jeremy Kyle
Jeremy Kyle is an English radio and television presenter, best known for his British daytime television chat show on ITV, The Jeremy Kyle Show. Kyle is also the host of an American talk show of the same name that premiered on 19 September 2011.-Radio career:From 1986 to 1995, Kyle worked as a...
taking over the late night weekly slot with Late Night Love, Samos was moved to an earlier evening slot in the weekends presenting '‘Hairbrush Divas'’ in late 2003.
Samos also undertook a lot of commercial work during her career, she presented for the Formula One Jordan team, the BBC's Holiday programme, and a number of fashion and beauty shows. She also works as a voice-over artist.
After Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
took over Century Network, Samos moved to London's Heart 106.2
Heart 106.2
Heart 106.2 is an Independent Local Radio station based in London and is owned by Global Radio as part of the Heart Network.On 25 June 2007 it was announced that Heart along with its sister stations The Arrow, Sky News Radio, LBC and Galaxy were to be sold for £170 million to Global Radio from...
to present the Saturday breakfast show with Toby Anstis
Toby Anstis
Toby Anstis is a radio presenter on Global Radio's Heart Network of stations. He presents his morning show weekdays from 10.00am - 1.00pm across the Heart branded network....
. She also returned to Virgin Radio as a swing shift DJ to cover radio shows from 2005 to present day.
In March 2006, it was announced by BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
that Samos had joined their Formula One team, and will report the latest news and gossip live from the pit lane and the paddock at each grand prix.
In January 2008 she became Virgin's presenter of Sunday Early Mornings 2-6am.
In 2010, she featured in the Codemasters game F1 2010 (video game)
F1 2010 (video game)
F1 2010 is a BAFTA Award–winning video game based on the 2010 season of the Formula One world championship. It is the sequel to the 2009 video game based on the same series. The game was released in September 2010 on the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. It has sold 2.3...
, alongside David Croft (5 Live commentator). She has also been the voice behind the Renault F1
Renault F1
Lotus Renault GP, formerly the Renault F1 Team, is a British Formula One racing team. The Oxfordshire-based team can trace its roots back through the Benetton team of the late 1980s and 1990s to the Toleman team of the early 1980s. Renault had also competed in various forms since , before taking...
Official Podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
and Force India
Force India
Sahara Force India Formula One Team, the trading name of Force India Formula One Team Limited, is a Formula One racing team based in Silverstone, United Kingdom which currently holds an Indian licence. The team was formed in October 2007 when a consortium led by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and...
F1 Team Podcast.
She will not be part of the BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
for the 2011 Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
season.
External links
- Formula 1 on BBC Radio Five Live - Live audio race commentary - UK only - race preview and review podcasts, opinion and analysis. Includes Chequered Flag podcast.
- Chris Evans timeline