Wright is the newest addition to ETV's The Morning Show, hosted by Kgosi Rankumis and former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo.
Actors who have appeared in long-running TV dramas and telenovelas tend to have a hard time getting roles that are different from the ones they have played for years, as they are so established in the roles they play.
Child presenters find themselves in that awkward position, but it's even worse because they're not acting, they're hosting a TV show.
Child presenter Lee Roy Wright has returned to TV nine years after taking an unplanned break to return as a presenter on e.tv. Morning Show He also said he found it a bit difficult to break away from the image of a child presenter he had developed during his time on Craz-e.
“When you talk to people like Sade and Roxie Burger, it's hard to break away from a children's TV character because essentially, you either get really lucky and find the right fit for you or you have to put in the time,” the budding media personality said.
“I still look very young. Sometimes they ask for my ID.”
Wright joins Mamohau Sesseane as the newest addition to the morning show, which is also hosted by Kgosi Rankomise and former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo.
“I wasn't necessarily away from television for nine years, but it was also to explore other avenues.”
During his time away from the screen, Wright started his own PR firm.
“At the same time, I knew I'd be back on TV at some point. I didn't know when that would be… but I knew it wasn't over yet.”
“It's great to be back at e.tv, my longest tenure has been at e.tv so… it felt like a great comeback story. “Things have definitely changed, one in the industry and two in my life, I guess.
“I grew up on e.tv and have been with Craz-e for just under seven years, which is a long time to think about the journey you've had with one channel and one brand,” Wright said. The Citizen After wrapping up filming on Friday morning.
Related article: “I want to reset, recharge and reflect” Nong Botha on leaving 702
TV call
Wright was part of Craz-e from 2008 to 2015. But before that, like so many other young South Africans watching on TV, he believed he could make a contribution.
“This might sound really cliché, but I always felt like I was born for television or a part of television. Even if I wasn't a presenter, being in the industry or working behind the scenes. There was just something about television that I was drawn to.”
Mr Wright is originally from Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape.
“Looking back at our growth, this is [TV] “Coming from a small town in my hometown in the Eastern Cape, the world has always seemed larger than life. I always had dreams but never thought I'd be able to achieve them, but sometimes you just have to take things into your own hands and make it happen,” he said.
In 2006, in the middle of his high school final exams, Wright volunteered to beg his parents to take him to an audition in Cape Town.
“I begged my parents a long time ago, 'Please fly me to Cape Town for an audition,' and they were like, 'Yeah, but what chance do I have?' I was busy with my high school final exams so I flew to Cape Town.”
He had flown to the Western Cape to audition for SABC 2's show World of Winners, which he hosted as a guest presenter for about a week alongside Light Ngubeni and Danny Painter.
Wright looks back fondly on his time at Craz-e.
“I always say it was the best time of my life. The best years of my youth. The opportunities, the people I met and the fun of being in the studio.”
Related article: Lee Roy Wright returns to e.tv nearly 10 years after leaving the channel
I knew it wasn't over yet.
He says he still gets recognised by the now-adult audience who watched him when he was on Craz-e.
“They’ll always say, ‘Aren’t you that white guy?’ Yes, that’s me, because I was always the only white guy on the channel’s kids’ TV shows… and I hope that generation grows up with me. Morning Show.”
Morning Show It airs daily from 6am to 8.30am on e.tv, providing viewers with hard news, informed opinion, lifestyle features and the latest sports news.
“I don't want to say I wasn't scared, but I was very nervous. Craz-e has a live broadcast program every Thursday, so it wasn't the live broadcast aspect that made me nervous – I was like, 'Are you okay? Can you still do it?' Once the director starts the countdown in my ear, it's time to start. There's no turning back. It makes you nervous. I think that was the case for the first week.”
NOW READ: The Soil 'amazed' by fan reaction to 'Reimagined' ahead of Soweto show
