Lauren Laverne

Biography

Lauren Laverne is a chart-topping singer turned DJ turned presenter of all things cultural. The former host of BBC2’s The Culture Show, she’s a regular on Radio 4, fronts live music coverage on radio and television, and has appeared on everything from panel shows to a celebration of the centenary of women’s suffrage.

First rising to prominence in the indie-rock band Kenickie, achieving four top 40 hits and a top ten album, Lauren made the move from front-woman to broadcaster. Her knowledge and wit made her a popular guest on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and she soon moved to regular presenting work. Starting out on E4’s music programmes, including live festival coverage, she also sat in for Radio 1's Steve Lamacq. Lauren then joined music station Xfm and promptly won Best Newcomer at the Commercial Radio Awards. Leaving commercial broadcasting, Lauren joined the BBC and has become a regular TV host for their live music coverage, as well as a frequent guest on panel shows including Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You. She also co-hosted and wrote for Channel 4’s weekly satirical news programme 10 O’Clock Live. In her role as host of The Culture Show, Lauren interviewed some of the biggest names of stage, screen, music and literature, and hosted live broadcasts from Cannes, Edinburgh, Glastonbury, and Hay-on-Wye.

With her love and knowledge of music and affinity with songwriters and musicians, Lauren’s BBC 6Music shows have become some of the station’s most popular programmes, with a regular stream of up-and-coming and established live guests. She is one of the few broadcasters to present on all of the BBC’s network radio stations, but is in particular a frequent voice on Radio 4, where she has fronted Woman’s Hour, its late night sister programme, and the radio institution that is Desert Island Discs.