Leighton Smith: Unleashing talkback

From a ratings crash to loyalty – and love.   

For me, 1985 was a benchmark year. After five years on 2ZB in Wellington, I had accepted an offer to move to Adelaide radio station 5AA. Essentially, it was a good move, but when I was invited to return to New Zealand and 1ZB Auckland, I said yes.   

So began the most amazing time in my broadcasting career. Who would have guessed it would be 33 years, going well beyond my expectations; good times and bad.  

1ZB was the biggest station in the country, but its management had decided it was time for change. I was contracted to unleash talkback onto an unsuspecting music audience.   

People aren’t fond of change, so it’s no wonder that soon after I arrived in October, midway through a survey, the Nine-to-Midday ratings dropped from 19% to 15.5%.   

Something similar had happened in Adelaide but, there, by the second survey the figures had bounced up by 30%. I told the team this to give them some reassurance and, sure enough, by the end of 1986, Nine-to-Midday hit 22%... but not for long.   

The decision to bring forward the full format change triggered a rating crisis. For a time, mine was the only programme hitting ratings above 10% (at 10.5%). I could see chaos ahead and, downhearted, had made up my mind to return to Australia. But station manager Brent Harman had other ideas and presented me with an offer. The result – I stayed, we hit the accelerator, and the ratings started to grow.  

There are big egos involved in radio, so it was no surprise that diplomacy wasn’t always in evidence. Those working in the early mornings at that time have never forgotten a very agitated Paul Holmes, who was stressed about plunging ratings, leaving the studio to confront me over a comment I’d made the previous day (details in my book!). He was raging.

I suggested it was his problem, not mine. We had had a competitive relationship for a long time, and it was only in 2002 when I contracted prostate cancer that we buried the hatchet – for Paul too confronted the same challenge.

I recall another screaming match when my producer couldn’t get her own way and let fly as I walked up the long hall to the exit. After that, we parted ways.

Enter Carolyn Leaney, who was with the BBC as a Radio 4 producer. She accepted a three-month contract – 38 years ago. Prostate cancer changed the nature of our relationship, although it took some time, and we were married in 2012.  

My book, Beyond the Microphone, was published in 2013. I was persuaded to write it because I was determined not to renew my ZB contract in 2014. However, I did renew it, and then again two years later. 

My last radio programme was December 14, 2018. I intended to spend the rest of my life travelling and reading. But Covid put paid to that. 

One of the best parts of the job for me was my audience. The volume of mail that arrived stunned me. When Carolyn and I got married, the mailbox was overflowing. And it was overflowing again in 2018 when we left. I have saved most of that mail, and I have to thank those of you who wrote. It meant a lot to us.  

Over the years, I can recall a swathe of memorable calls but the one I remember most was from ‘Claire’.   

Carolyn told me Claire was crying and begged me: “Take the call now!”   

Claire was parked in her car and had taken an overdose. She wouldn’t say where she was, but she was fading fast. I have never been so focused in all my life.    

She said she was in a little red car and could see planes. Miraculously, a woman was parked near Whenuapai airport listening to the programme. She told us she could see a red car parked there. Carolyn had already called 111, and emergency services sprang into action.   

Claire was rescued and spent the next four days in hospital. A few years later she came into the studio and we chatted. It was a very emotional moment.  

Interviews were an important part of my programme. I have interviewed many famous people and a handful of royals, including King Charles. I once had a good chat with Queen Elizabeth as we leaned on a fence in the grounds of Government House, where we talked about racehorses, dogs and how much she didn’t like the grandchildren coming to visit!   

A legion of prominent people passed through the studio; actors Roger Moore, Charlton Heston, Sean Connery and economist Thomas Sowell. I know he has influenced many people in New Zealand.  

I have worked with some wonderful people over those 33 years – and Mrs Producer (aka Carolyn) was the very best. The radio station’s management has been consistently second to none.   

It was a pleasure to come to work every single day, and I thank them all for placing their trust in me.  

Leighton’s book, Beyond the Microphone, is available as an e-book.