- Holly Samos
Holly Samos (born 1971
Guildford ,Surrey ), also known as "Holly Hotlips", is a radio researcher and presenter. A former member of Chris Evans's "Zoo Squad", she now is the Formula 1 pit lane reporter forBBC Radio 5 Live .Career
Born to a Greek father and English mother in
Guildford , Samos grew up inLondon ,Athens , andOklahoma . 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 inLondon for aBachelor of Arts degree in Design and Media Management. [ [http://www.geocities.com/cbradiobabes20/hollysamos_questions.html Holly Samos questions]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.The 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 , and handed preparation of his "TFI Friday " programme forChannel 4 to Samos, Revell and McGrath. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/12/19/ndj19.html Evans sacks DJs in Virgin shake-up] ]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 network presenting "The Confessional" and then the late night love show "LoveLines". [ [http://www.durham21.co.uk/archive/archive.asp?ID=1917 durham21 | Staying In | Radio Headache ] ] As a result ofJeremy 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. [ [http://www.drdb.org/article.php?id=130&from=hom Digital Radio Development Bureau - DRDB ] ]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. [ [http://www.virginradio.co.uk/djsshows/djs/samos.html Virgin Radio bio] ]
After
Capital Radio took over Century Network, [ [http://www.geocities.com/thehotw/aircheck_UKCheshire.htm Aircheck UK ] ] Samos moved to London'sHeart 106.2 to present the Saturday breakfast show withToby Anstis . [ [http://www.jgpm.co.uk/news.htm jgpm - Latest news ] ] 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. [ [http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-8-2006-90706.asp Radio 5 Live Puts Walker in Driving Seat ] ]In January 2008 she became Virgin's presenter of Sunday Early Mornings 2-6am.Fact|date=August 2008
References
External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/formulaone.shtml 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.
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/presenters/samos_biog.shtml BBC FiveLive Bio]
* [http://www.geocities.com/cbradiobabes20/hollysamos_questions.html Fansite Interview]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3022702.stm Chris Evans timeline]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
