Born in Manchester on 4th January (year unknown), Leigh holds an MA in voice studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2011) and is a master practitioner of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).
Her acting career commenced in October 1984, encompassing repertory theatre, commercial radio and television.
Her credits include portraying Leigh Samuels in Robin of Sherwood (ITV, 1984) and appearing in Body and Soul (ITV, 1993).
From 1997 onwards, Leigh has worked as a freelance voiceover artist.
She served as a BBC TV continuity announcer between 3rd November 1997 and 2000.
Leigh has been a guest presenter for the Cozee Home brand on QVC since its launch in 2002.
From January 2012, Leigh has held the position of visiting lecturer at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
During March 2012, Leigh founded and became director of Brighter Voice, based in the City of London.
Correspondence
Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Debra in June 2022.
He started by asking Debra about using the stage name Leigh Samuels early in her career.
“When I started out you had to be a member of Equity to get work and there was another Debra Leigh already, so they wouldn’t let me have my real name.
“My Dad had a brother (deceased) called Samuel and my mum had an uncle of the same name (also deceased at the time), and as my dad had no sons, I decided to keep the Leigh for my first name and added the Samuels to it.
“I was 16 at the time and I’m sure I’d have done something totally different now!
“Years later, I discovered the other ‘Debra Leigh’ was no longer in Equity, and after several hours pacing up and down the King’s Road trying to decide what to do, I decided to take the plunge and claim back my real name as my working name too.”
How did the BBC announcing job come about?
“I’d been transitioning from acting into a day job, after spending a bit of time at AA Roadwatch up in Stanmore, and answered an advert in The Guardian.
“I joined in October 1997 and stayed until 2000.
“When I joined, definitely the following were in the fold: Malcolm Eynon, Andy Cartledge (sad to read he has died – I loved his voice and Malcolm’s (like chocolate – gorgeous!!)) and Peter Brook.
“Also with me were: Mark Chapman, John Escolme, Arlene Fleming, Manju Mahli, Allis Moss, Isla Paton (who went to C4 quite soon after), Louise Rundle, Michaela Saunders, Zeb Soanes, Jane Westrop and Corie White (later Brown).”
What are your recollections of BBC Presentation?
“It was a transition time from BBC Analogue to BBC Digital, so they needed to take on new announcers to cover both channels.
“Jane and Arlene trained me and worked on both BBC One and BBC Two.
“There were always rehearsals going on for announcements for the Queen Mother’s death (she died in on 30th March 2002).
“Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything outstanding that happened whilst I was at the BBC as an announcer.
“I did find it a bit constrictive and desperately wanted to pirouette round the curved corridors in BBC Television Centre (even though I’m rubbish at pirhouettes).
“I loved that building as it had such a tremendous amount of energy which I am sure was connected to all the amazing people who had worked there.
“My memories lie more as an actress, with an episode I did of’ One Foot in the Grave (Love and Death, BBC One, 1990) as one of the two students and also an episode of Waiting for God (BBC One, 1990).”
Are you still appearing on QVC?
“Yes, I’ve been at QVC since October 2002 as a guest presenter and the face of Cozee Home, which is one of their best-loved interior brands.
“I trained out in Tampa, Florida, with HSN before that and was a host presenter at HSE (Home Shopping Europe) from 2001 to 2002.”
What have you been doing in recent years?
“In addition to my voiceover work, which is always ongoing, I also work as a voice and communications coach and run my own company called Brighter Voice Ltd.
“Coaching mainly in the business sector.
“In 2010/11, I undertook an MA in voice studies under the guidance of Jane Boston at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. I still work for Central’s business division and also the LIR Academy in Dublin.
“I’m married to children’s book illustrator Omri Stephenson and I have co-written one book with him called The Incredible Stinking Stan and voiced that and another book of his called Marsha the Tarsier.
“Omri is the youngest son of the acclaimed author Lynne Reid Banks (now an incredible 92) and his is also represented in her best-selling novel The Indian in the Cupboard – we call him the real Omri!
“Lynne’s book Bad Cat, Good Cat is about our daughter Paloma and her cousin David and our cat Peony.
“Om and I have been married for 21 years and I met him 3 weeks before starting as a continuity announcer at the BBC.
“In addition to all of this, I’m just about to record a couple of songs I wrote this time last year with onlinerecordingstudio.com. So watch this space!
Personal information
Clips of Debra on The TV Room
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Online presence
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Debra Leigh. COURTESY: Debra Leigh. COPYRIGHT: Debra Leigh.
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