Get to know Leigh & Claire: The Breakfast show answer our Q&A

From their funniest moments to their favourite things about South Wales!

Author: Jordan Ingram Published 17th Apr 2024
Last updated 19th Jun 2024

Here at Hits Radio South Wales, Leigh & Claire wake you up every morning with huge laughs, as well as the biggest hits and biggest throwbacks every weekday morning - but how well do you really know the team? Well, thanks to our handy Q&A, you can find out everything you could need to know about The Hits Radio Breakfast Show team right here!

From each of their most memorable on air moments, ultimate throwbacks and what they love most about South Wales, get to know Leigh & Claire a bit better, and all of the ways you can tune in...

What can we expect from your show?

Leigh: "For us it’s all about having a laugh with our listeners, they laugh with us and at us and that's part of the fun, I like to think we take you on a journey with us. We reflect the amazing area we live in, and we touch on real life, we are not afraid to get serious and emotional too!"

Claire: "Lots of laughs, fun, chances to win, honesty, chaos and even Leigh and Claire alarm clocks! Yep we’ve still got our loyal ‘Alarmy Army!’"

What is your favourite thing about presenting your show?

Leigh: "It's not getting up at 4am, It's 100% the listeners, we get to speak to some awesome people and the best part about that is they are part of the shows extended family, they share the most intimate and personal things with us and we are happy to share back!"

Claire: "The listeners. Honestly, we absolutely love hearing from them whether it's someone's birthday, they want to shout out their workplace or they have a funny or moving story to tell us, it is all about them! It is such a fun job though."

Describe your co-host in three words…

Leigh: "Flirty, Fun, Responsible"

Claire: "Calamitous (he just hit his knee on the desk as I wrote this), Flirt, Funny"

What features will listeners hear in your show?

The team answered: "The 7:15 vending machine is such a laugh.

"It’s your chance to win anything from Buzz trampoline park passes, spa passes, gig tickets, Swans VIP tickets, LC passes, Escape Game rooms, meals out, and don’t forget those booby prizes!

"Every morning we’ve also got the ‘Ten to, ten minute teaser.’

"It’s a great way to wake up your brain every weekday morning around 6:50am (ten to). We give you a statistic and you have to guess what the answer is - our listeners are such good guesses whether they're being serious or silly, it's so much fun. Wake up your brain with us every morning!"

What’s your favourite thing about South Wales?

Leigh: "We are privileged to live in an area that never gets boring, you can be at some world class beaches for a surf or cold-water dip in the morning or half an hour later drive to a waterfall or mountain to check out the amazing views. My surfing skills are pretty bad, but I make a mean cup of tea to keep you warm afterwards."

Claire: "You cannot say one thing! The beaches, the scenery, the castles, the cities and beautiful towns, the wildlife, the food, but also the down to earth, funny, wonderful people."

So far, what’s been one of your most memorable on-air moments?

Leigh: "I have had many, guiding people through the crazy time that was Covid or giving away cash to help change lives thanks to generosity of our listeners and the Cash for Kids appeal. My most memorable was taking a load of people to one of the largest swing drops in the UK to raise money for a little girl who had had a serious illness, The day involved taking local company bosses and dropping them 200 feet and making them raise money to drop (who would want to do that)!! thankfully they did and we were able to build a dream garden for the little girl and take her to Disneyland Paris."

Claire: "Still up there as one of my favourite things ever was when we dropped a load of bosses from a 150/200 foot drop (in Oakwood Theme Park) to raise money for a young girl, Sara, who had a brain tumour. The bosses were great sports and of course Leigh and I had to drop as well. It was just loads of fun. We really bonded with the (terrified) bosses and we raised thousands for a wonderful little girl and her family who we're still friends with today."

Aside from waking up South Wales each morning, what do you get up to?

Leigh: "I spend my days between work and looking after my little girl. I love doing the school run and being able to pick her up most days is something a lot of working parents don't always get to do. In my free time I love to get to the gym or do the odd run along Aberavon beach. I'm a massive coffee fan (no surprise with the early starts), so I love to check out local and innovative coffee shops in the area. Doing this job has a lot of perks so getting to see gigs at the Arenas in Cardiff or Swansea is a bonus, I'm not a huge sports fan but I do love the 'Hwyl' factor you get at a Welsh rugby game especially at the Principality stadium, nothing beats a big Welsh crowd in fine voice!"

Claire: "I love to spend time with family and friends. I am always walking my dog around Swansea Bay, Penllergaer Woods and Loughor Estuary. I love going out for food. The Bayview in Swansea city centre is my absolute favourite - their lunch menu is so tasty and cheap - but I also love fresh sushi so Nishimura in Mumbles is a must! I love to watch films, and binge tv shows. Love a night out with some live music too, my husband is in a band called Who’s Molly so I’m out regularly watching him, go find them on Spotify!"

What is your go-to track to listen to in the car?

Leigh: "I'm a massive geek for the job I do, I love to listen to the radio in the car because it's always a surprise. I don't have one track or band I stick with; I have a varied choice of music and styles. I might listen to David Guetta one minute and then Ed Sheeran the next, or maybe Panic at the Disco!"

Claire: "The Radio - I like to be surprised rather than listen to the same thing over and over."

What do the biggest hits sound like to you?

Leigh: "The biggest hits must make you connect on an emotional level, that sounds a bit strange, but the biggest hits have to lift you up when you need it and they have to be there for challenging times, Think a Beyonce banger or Adele to chill you out and to make you think. Also, The biggest hits can define a time and space and the weather! (this is deep) Think how you feel when the sun shines and you are off out somewhere fun and you hear your favourite tune, it can hit hard."

Claire: "Uplifting and inspiring. They get me ready to go and put me in a good mood!"

Which song is your ultimate throwback song?

Leigh: "AGGHHH hardest question EVER - ok, Daft Punk 'One More Time'! WINNER!"

Claire: "Any Flo-Rida ... or Britney ... or 5ive... I can't pick a favourite."

Where can we find Leigh & Claire on socials?

You can follow Hits Radio South Wales to keep up to date with Leigh & Claire on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

How to listen to Leigh & Claire:

There are plenty of ways you can listen to The Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Leigh & Claire - from online, to our app, on FM and DAB and even on our Smart Speakers. Here's our complete guide on how to listen, including our schedule, social media channels and more.

Meet some of the other faces behind the mic:

Fleur East, James Barr and Matt Haslam

Wake the fun up with Fleur East, James Barr & Matt Haslam. This jam-packed show brings you the biggest laughs, the biggest competitions and your favourite stars all while playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks.

Gemma Atkinson & Mike Toolan

Gemma Atkinson & Mike Toolan get you home weekdays from 4pm. Expect plenty of laughs with the biggest hits and throwbacks!

Sam Thompson

Every weeknight Hits Radio is THE place to be, as Sam Thompson brings you The Hits Radio Evening Show from 7pm. He's joined by the world's biggest stars and has the best playlist to soundtrack your evening.
Plus, on Sunday afternoons Sam Thompson counts down the UK's 40 biggest hits on the Hits UK Chart.

Tom Green

Tom Green kicks off your workday from 10am with an entire hour of huge throwbacks.
Then continue your day with a tasty selection of hits, throwbacks and a lot to make you smile!

Hattie Pearson

We don't do the post lunch slump! From 1pm, there's big tunes all afternoon and MASSIVE money to be won, Hattie will see you through your afternoon in style.

Owen Warner

Owen Warner kickstarts your weekend on Friday Night Hits and Saturday Night Hits from 7pm. He's got the ultimate playlist to get you ready for the weekend, with the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks as well as some incredible celebrity guests. Don't miss it!

Mary Mandefield

Mary Mandefield gives your Sunday morning the kickstart it needs with hits, throwbacks and plenty of giggles as you wake up. Listen Sunday morning from 6-9am.

Stephanie Hirst

Your Saturday night party is ON with Stephanie Hirst's belters! From 11pm every Saturday Stephanie plays nothing but the best dance-floor throwbacks from the 90s & 00s. Plus, every Sunday evening from 7pm, Steph plays nothing but the biggest throwbacks in the mix.

Sarah-Jane Crawford

Whether you're heading back from the shops, the game or getting ready for an evening at home, our very own SJC has the perfect mix of Hits and Throwbacks to take your Saturday afternoon into Saturday night mode! Join Sarah-Jane Crawford Saturday afternoons from 4-7pm. You can also catch Sarah-Jane weeknights from 10pm on Hits Radio.

How to listen to Hits Radio South Wales:

Turn it up with Hits Radio South Wales! Home of the Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Leigh and Claire, Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on 96.4 FM, DAB, online, or ask your smart speaker to ‘Play Hits Radio South Wales’.