Leonard Miron

Leonard Miron (born April 11, 1969) is a Romanian television and radio presenter and journalist and works for Romanian National Television ("Televiziunea Română"). He was born in Galaţi, Romania but was brought up in Piteşti and graduated from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy before starting a career in media.

He has worked on a number of different television programmes, but is best known for presenting music shows and galas such as the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Since September 2005 he has been studying for a Ph.D. in London and working at the same time as a flight attendant for a London-based airline [Hotnews.ro, [http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_37138-Leonard-Miron-munceste-ca-steward-la-Londra.htm "Leonard Miron munceşte ca steward la Londra"] , November 18, 2005] . He started negotiating with the Romanian National Television in late 2006 regarding his return to the TV screens in 2007.

Career

Initial radio and television work

Whilst still a medicine student, Leonard began presenting a pop music show on the first "free" radio station of post-revolution Romania, Radio Delta/Radio France International. He was approached in 1991 to work as a presenter for Romanian National Television for the youth programme "Viaţa şcolii" ("School Life") and ended up presenting a number of similar shows over the following years including "Măseaua de minte" ("The Wisdom Tooth"), "Care pe care" (loosely translated as "Dog Eat Dog"), and "Veniţi cu noi pe programul doi" ("Join Us on Channel 2").

Work as journalist and producer

As he matured, he branched into other areas of television, whilst still continuing with his love of presenting in front of the camera. Based in the Education and Science department of Romanian National Television, he worked as a reporter and presenter of the medical awareness programme "Sănătate pentru toţi" ("Health for All") where he could put to good use his studies as a doctor.

By 2000 he was developing new television ideas, and began producing and hosting light entertainment shows, most notably "Practic matinal" ("The Practical Morning Show") (2001-2), a late morning magazine, and "Vitrina lui Leo" ("Leo's Showcase") (2003-4), a prime-time chat show.

He has also produced the only programme in Romania aimed directly at people with disabilities, "Oameni ca noi" ("People Like Us") which has been aired weekly since 1999, and has won a number of awards for its innovative approach.

Other work

Leonard also moonlighted as the host for the breakfast show on Romanian National Television for a number of years, often alternating with other hosts from season to season. Interestingly, ratings would drop with the change of hosts, and he would be asked back to present, only to be changed again after a few months.

He is perhaps best known in his native Romania for hosting galas, whether these be for music contests, award ceremonies or beauty galas. His early TV work concentrated on presenting music shows and since many of the different shows he worked on were live, he became an accomplished live TV host.

As a result, he has been chosen to host telethons, award ceremonies and other galas. More notably, he was asked on a number of occasions to host the popular music Mamaia Festival as well as the international Cerbul de Aur music contest in Braşov. He also presented the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest and was the Romanian spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2002, 2003 and 2005, where his colourful suits led to BBC's Terry Wogan to call him "Romania's version of Jonathan Ross".

Return to Romanian National Television

Having guest presented in a number of shows from 2005 - 2007, he returned to Romania National Television in October 2007 working again for the "Oameni Ca Noi" show, and the breakfast show [ [http://www.tvr.ro/actualitate.php?play=21812 Tvr - Actualitate ] ] [http://www.observatorargesean.ro/index.php/Inedit/Referendum_pentru_Mos_Craciun__cu_Leonard_Miron.html] . He also presented the Christmas Eve gala show "Mos Craciun unu' si bun" with Gianina Corondan [ [http://www.tvr.ro/emisiune.php?ed=25656. Moş Crăciun, unu’ şi bun - Tvr ] ] as well as presenting the late night "Dopo Festival" (known as "Club Callatis" at the Callatis Festival in August 2008. [ [http://www.click.ro/Vedete/leonard-miron-prezinta-dopo-festival-la-callatis Click! / Vedete / Leonard Miron prezintă Dopo Festival, la Callatis ] ] For the Autumn 2008 season he was invited to be the presenter of the Friday edition of a daytime magazine show targeted towards the female audience called "Miezul zilei". [http://www.tvr.ro/articol.php?id=47459&c=411] .

Miscellanea

He has never learnt to drive and can often be spotted in the Bucharest metro going into work.

Leonard worked on a project to produce a series on Ancient Egypt in 2004/5 and lived in Egypt, where he was an eyewitness to both the 2004 Cairo and 2005 Sharm el Sheik bombings.

He speaks fluent English and French as well as German and Spanish.

Not only has he been successful in his TV career, during his time spent working as a flight attendant, he was awarded the "Personality of the Year" prize at an annual airline industry award ceremony held in London in February 2008. [http://www.gardianul.ro/2008/02/06/monden-c6/leonard_miron_cel_mai_bun_din_100_de_stewardese-s108614.html] .

References