Lauren Laverne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lauren Laverne
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Laverne speaking at the AIM Independent Music Awards in 2019
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| Born |
Lauren Cecilia Gofton
28 April 1978 Sunderland, England
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| Alma mater | City of Sunderland College |
| Occupation | Disc jockey, broadcaster, singer, author |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Television | The Culture Show 10 O'Clock Live The One Show |
| Spouse(s) |
Graeme Fisher
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
Lauren Cecilia Fisher (born 28 April 1978), known as Lauren Laverne, is an English radio DJ, TV presenter, author, and singer. She was the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band Kenickie.
Her band's album At The Club reached the top 10 in the music charts. Lauren also sang on Mint Royale's hit song "Don't Falter." She has hosted many TV shows, including 10 O'Clock Live for Channel 4 and The Culture Show for the BBC. She also covered the Glastonbury Festival for the BBC. Lauren wrote a book called Candypop: Candy and the Broken Biscuits. She hosts a popular show on BBC Radio 6 Music and became the host of the famous radio show Desert Island Discs in 2018.
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Early Life and Education
Lauren Cecelia Gofton was born on 28 April 1978. She grew up in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, in a big family. Her father was a sociology lecturer at Newcastle University, and her mother was a teacher.
She went to St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School starting in 1982. There, she became friends with Marie Nixon, who later joined her in the band Kenickie. She then attended St Anthony's Girls' Catholic School from 1989 to 1994. At this school, she and Marie met Emma Jackson. After school, Lauren studied at City of Sunderland College from 1994 to 1996.
Music Career Highlights
While at college, Lauren, Marie, and Emma, all aged sixteen, formed the band Kenickie. Lauren's brother, Peter, also joined them. They chose stage names like Lauren Laverne, Marie du Santiago, Emmy-Kate Montrose, and Johnny X. The band first worked with a local punk music scene label before signing with EMI. Kenickie had four songs that made it into the top 40 and one album that reached the top 10.
Lauren and her bandmates also appeared on comedy TV shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Lauren later appeared on Have I Got News for You.
In 2000, Lauren released her own music collection called Take These Flowers Away. She also sang a version of "In the Bleak Midwinter" for a Christmas album. She performed at the Reading Festival. Her song "Don't Falter" with Mint Royale became a top 20 hit. She also sang on Divine Comedy's song "Come Home Billy Bird" in 2004.
Television Presenting Roles
Lauren Laverne has had many television presenting jobs. Her first TV role was on The Alphabet Show for Play UK. She later hosted shows like Planet Pop and Loves Like A Dog for Channel 4, and Fanorama for E4. She also presented Party in the Park and Pop for Five, and Orange Playlist for ITV.
She reported for RI:SE and led the house band on Johnny Vaughan Tonight. Lauren also appeared as a music expert on BBC One's Test the Nation. She became one of the main presenters for BBC Two's coverage of the Glastonbury Festival. She also hosted ITV2's coverage of events like the British Comedy Awards and the BRIT Awards.
In 2001, Lauren presented a documentary for Sky One about the popular TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also voiced the character Shinobu in the BBC's version of Urusei Yatsura in 2000.
In 2003, Lauren was a regular team captain on Elvis Has Left The Building, a comedy music show. In 2005, she became a host of ITV's Saturday morning music show CD:UK.
She was a guest host on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in April 2006. In August 2006, she presented Channel 4's coverage of the V Festival. In March 2007, she hosted the NME Awards.
Lauren appeared on the comedy shows Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You in 2007 and 2008. She also appeared on Lily Allen and Friends and Would I Lie to You? in 2008.
From 2006 to 2010, she was a regular presenter on the weekly BBC arts show The Culture Show. She also hosted the second series of Transmission with T-Mobile.
Lauren took over from radio DJ Jo Whiley on the talent show Orange Mobile Act Unsigned. She also presented the third series of It's Not Easy Being Green for BBC Two in 2009. She narrated Tough Guy or Chicken? on BBC Three.
On 6 May 2010, she co-hosted Channel 4's Alternative Election Night. From 20 January 2011, she rejoined her co-hosts on Channel 4's news show 10 O'Clock Live.
Lauren narrates the animated series Tee and Mo on the CBeebies channel. In May 2022, the BBC announced that Lauren would be a guest presenter for Pointless. In August 2023, she also became one of the co-presenters for The One Show.
Radio Broadcasting Career
Lauren joined Xfm London in 2002, co-hosting a Saturday morning show. She also filled in for other DJs on BBC Radio 6 Music. Lauren took over XFM's drivetime show in 2004 and won "Best Newcomer" at the Commercial Radio Awards that year. She then hosted the XFM breakfast show from October 2005 but left in April 2007 to focus on TV. She also guest presented on BBC Radio 2.
Lauren joined BBC Radio 6 Music in June 2008. She hosted a Saturday weekend show before taking over the weekday morning show (10:00 to 13:00) in November 2009. In January 2019, she started hosting the 6 Music Breakfast Show, which airs Monday to Friday.
In 2014, Lauren was a guest editor for Woman's Hour on Radio 4. In 2015, she began hosting Late Night Woman's Hour, a spin-off series.
In September 2018, Lauren became the host of Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. She took over permanently after Kirsty Young stepped down.
In June 2020, Lauren helped launch m4d Radio, an internet radio station for people with dementia and their carers. She supported the station's #Song4You campaign, encouraging people to dedicate songs.
Writing and Online Work
In 2010, Lauren published her first novel, Candypop – Candy and the Broken Biscuits. The book is about a 15-year-old rock fan named Candy Caine on her journey to the Glastonbury Festival. The book was published by HarperCollins.
She wrote a column for The Guardian newspaper from 2012 to 2014. Her columns were about style and British culture.
In April 2015, Lauren launched The Pool, an online platform for women. She co-founded the site with writer Sam Baker. The website featured articles, podcasts, and videos. The platform closed down in January 2019.
Music Releases
- Solo singles
- Take These Flowers Away EP (did not chart)
- "I Fell Out of a Tree"
- "Good Morning Sunshine"
- “Monkey Dance”
- "To Have a Home"
- "Some Kind of Other Presence"
- "If You Phone (Netmix)" (internet only bonus track)
- Other solo releases
- "Don't Falter", Mint Royale featuring Lauren Laverne, No. 15 (January 2000)
- "In the Bleak Midwinter" (on It's A Cool Cool Christmas album) (did not chart)
- "Come Home Billy Bird", the Divine Comedy (uncredited vocalist), No. 24 (March 2004)
Personal Life
Lauren Laverne married TV producer and DJ Graeme Fisher in County Durham in August 2005. They live in Muswell Hill, London, and she also has a flat in Sunderland. Their first child was born in October 2007. Their second son was born in September 2010.
Lauren's mother, Celia Gofton, was a local councillor in Sunderland. Lauren was raised as a Catholic. She supports Sunderland Football Club.
In 2005, Lauren became an ambassador for Sunderland, helping to promote her home city. She received an honorary fellowship from the University of Sunderland in July 2009.
Lauren has been a vegetarian since she was four years old.
In August 2024, Lauren shared that she had been diagnosed with cancer. By November 2024, she announced that she had been given the "all clear" after her treatment.
Political Views
Lauren Laverne has supported the Labour Party. In 1996, she referred to the Spice Girls as "Tory scum" on her XFM Show because they supported the Conservatives. This was before the 1997 general election.
