Award-winning veteran news anchor and host Leslie Roberts returns to Montreal to host The Leslie Roberts Show from 9 a.m. to noon. He's had a long and varied broadcasting career, hosting a morning show on CTV Montreal called Montreal Today with Leslie Roberts, and a midday show on Toronto's Newstalk 1010. His most recent job was in Los Angeles.
The name Roberts is well-known to longtime CJAD 800 listeners — his father, Bill Roberts, was CJAD 800's morning man on two occasions, in the 1950s and 60s and again in the late 70s. His grandfather, Leslie Roberts Sr., was a Montreal historian and CJAD 800 editorialist in the 1970s.
Roberts says after spending the last decade and a half away from Montreal, he says he's glad to be home — and is plenty ready to deal with Montreal's problems.
"When you live here, grow up here, get frustrated at times here, you take things for granted," Roberts told CJAD's Andrew Carter on Wednesday morning. "Believe me, I've left twice. I've lived in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and I'm coming back for a reason. This is the place to be. Don't ever take it for granted. And given the political situation elsewhere right now, if you know what I mean, this stuff that we deal with civilly...is small potatoes."
Expect lively conversation on issues that matter most to you, as well as panel discussions, interviews and listener participation.
Roberts replaces Tommy Schnurmacher, who occupied the coveted 9 to noon slot for nearly two decades. But Tommy isn't going anywhere, and neither is his acerbic wit. He'll follow Leslie Roberts as the host of the Gang of Four with Tommy Schnurmacher from noon to 1 p.m., featuring many of his favorite Gang of Four colleagues.
"I'm excited about this new challenge and to convincing listeners to spend their lunch hour with the gang," he says. "It's fun and sometimes fiery debate, and it's worth the time!"
Filling the 1-3 p.m. slot will be Natasha Hall, who joined CJAD 800 this past fall as one of two hosts of the evening program The Night Side.
"This is exactly what I want to be doing: talking to Montrealers about what matters to us," Hall says. "We all want to feel connected, like we're part of something. That's what CJAD 800 is all about."
A graduate of Concordia University, she's been a lifestyle columnist at the Montreal Gazette and a co-host of CTV's Entertainment Spotlight. She landed her first radio gig nearly a decade ago with 940 Montreal, after winning a contest.
CJAD 800's Program Director and News Director Chris Bury says the new lineup will de a dynamic one.
"When listeners tune into Leslie, Tommy and Natasha, they will find a trio of charismatic, compelling and driven personalities," he says.
You can hear Leslie, Tommy and Natasha on CJAD 800 starting on Monday, Nov. 28.