Janey Lee Grace

Career

Grace was born in Nottingham. Her father was a chef. She began her career singing backing vocals for George Michael, Kim Wilde, Mari Wilson and Boy George, toured the world with Wham! for three years, and released a solo single "Heartbeat Radio" in 1988. She also sang vocals on a cover of the Donna Summer song, "Love To Love You Baby" by Euro House dance act Bali in February 1989. Her own chart success came in the summer of 1991 when she teamed up with Saint Etienne and local keyboardist Andrew Midgley to form the dance act Cola Boy, reaching No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart with "7 Ways to Love".{{cite book

On 6 July 1999, BBC Radio 2 launched a rebooted Steve Wright in the Afternoon, and Grace was the female co-host alongside Steve Wright and Richard Easter – later Tim Smith and (until her death in 2016) the 'Old Woman' Joyce Frost.

Janey had her own show from 4 am – 6 am (later 3 am – 6 am) on Saturday mornings, beginning on 11 February 2000 which lasted until late 2006, when she was replaced by her Steve Wright in the Afternoon co-host, Tim Smith.

Grace covered Wright's Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2 in December 2007 and January 2008.

She also filled in during April 2010, when Wright was on holiday in the United States and was then forced to remain there, due to the volcanic eruptions in Iceland.

In July–August 2010 and January 2011, she also sat in for Wright on his Sunday show while he was on holiday.

On 1 July 2022 Wright announced Steve Wright in the Afternoon was to end in autumn 2022. It was also announced that Grace and Tim Smith were also to leave BBC Radio 2.

Grace ended her final programme on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on 30 September 2022, thus also leaving BBC Radio 2 after 23 years at the station.

Bibliography

Janey Lee Grace released four books as part of the Imperfectly Natural series. These include:

• Grace, Janey Lee (2024). From WHAM! to WOO: A Life on the Mic. McNidder & Grace. .

In 2009, she collaborated on three pregnancy audiobooks with hypnotherapist Glenn Harrold, entitled Preparing for Pregnancy, Joyful Pregnancy and Blissful Birth.

References

References

1. "BBC Radio 2 – Steve Wright in the Afternoon, Carrie Gracie, Laura Kuenssberg and Sam Fender". BBC.
2. "Mixcloud".
3. (November 2016). "Steve Wright show's Old Woman passes away". Radio Today.
4. "Schedule – BBC Programme Index". BBC Genome Project.
5. "Schedule – BBC Programme Index". BBC Genome Project.
6. "BBC Radio 2 Autumn Schedule Changes". BBC.