About

biography

TOBY ANSTIS

The Broom Cupboard and CBBC

With a showbiz career spanning 30 years in 2022, Toby is one of the nation’s best loved radio and tv presenters, and it all started in the legendary ‘Broom Cupboard’ on BBC1.

He was the last ever person to present it, and spent 3 years on CBBC, along with traveling the world interviewing superstars for music show The Ozone on BBC1 and BBC2, including specials with Guns N’ Roses in Athens, flying around the UK with Bon Jovi, hanging out with Take That in Australia, Boy George in Hamburg and Radiohead in Vancouver!

Toby co hosted the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party at Wembley Arena with Fresh Prince Will Smith!!

He also presented and directed TV interviews with Drew Barrymore in Florence, Italy and Prince in London.

This all led onto co-hosting Children in Need two years running, presenting cricket films for Grandstand and hosting live outside broadcasts on the National Lottery Live for the BBC.

Did you know?

Toby was a Junior Associate at the Royal Ballet until the age of 12, dancing at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with the New York City Ballet as a young boy in Mother Goose – before getting into Rugby and other sports at school!

TV Presenting

He also presented the first ever series of Trust Me I’m A Holiday Rep on Channel 5, has won a record three episodes of Pointless on BBC1, hosted TV Scrabble, and guested on tv shows such as Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away, Celebrity Egg Heads, and This Morning, aswell as guest starring in the cult ratings winner “Mongrels” on BBC2, and getting a mention by Ricky Gervais on Extras, something he’s very proud of!

Toby Anstis pictured with Dannii Minogue

Toby with Danni Minogue

He also loved teaming up with Danni Minogue to co present Fan TC and Electric Circus for BBC1.

Toby with Keith Lemon

Toby co-hosted a Celebrity Through The Keyhole with Keith Lemon and appeared in Lemon La Vida Loca.

Toby with Shane Ritchie at the NTA Awards

He hosted the backstage interviews at the NTA’s. Pictured here with Shane Ritchie.

Toby pictured as a contestant on Pointless

Toby on Pointless

Toby appeared on Pointless in 2012, 2016 and 2019 and was a Winning Contestant

The Dream and Heart Radio

The dream was always to be a Radio DJ, an ambition from the age of 10, when he played his mum and dad’s records for the guests at their dinner parties.

He started on Heart in 2001, firstly presenting the afternoon show, then the mid-morning show for a record 17 years, taking it to the number one most listened to commercial radio show in the UK with 4.1 million listeners!

I’m A Celebrity

In 2006, Toby took part in Series 6 of I’m A Celebrity on ITV, and over the years has DJ’d as Elton John’s support act at the O2 in London one New Year’s Eve, played sell out gigs at clubs in the UK and in Ibiza including headlining the main stage at Epsom Derby 2 years in a row.

Did you know?

Toby graduated from Surrey University with a BSc in Psychology and has a keen interest Mental Health

Grease in London’s West End

Toby also starred in GREASE at the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End playing the iconic Teen Angel.

Toby said, “I felt so lucky to be part of London’s most feel-good musical and make my debut on the West End stage! I’m probably one of the world’s biggest fans of Grease so it was a dream come true.”

Let’s go clubbing

In 2019, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime, to launch a brand-new national radio station HEART DANCE, and presents the breakfast show live every morning, plus Club Classics every Friday night 7-10pm on Heart and Heart Dance.