DJ Toby Anstis’ Heart FM show is the most listened to commercial radio show in the UK. Interested in becoming a DJ from an early age, Anstis started working at his local hospital radio station at the tender age of 14, along with a part-time job at a larger radio station in Slough. By the time he was at university, Anstis was volunteering at Radio London and a community radio station in Berkshire.
How far things have come… Anstis’ first break came in 1992 when he appeared in The Broom Cupboard on Children’s BBC – a gig he held for 3 years – followed by The O-Zone music show on BBC2. This was followed in the early 2000s by a transition into radio, presenting at first for the Liberty Radio breakfast show (alongside Zoe Ball and Richard Arnold), before his big move to Heart FM in 2002 where he continues to host his weekday morning show.
Explaining the show’s unrivalled commercial success, Anstis enthuses: “I know it sounds clichéd but I’m doing my dream job … I love the immediacy and intimacy of radio and it’s great to get lots of texts [from listeners] saying that Heart is getting them through their work day. The songs on Heart are pretty fun, perky and uplifting.” He was nominated for ‘Presenter Of The Year’ at the Arqiva UK commercial radio awards in London in 2011.
Anstis continued to take on TV work and has hosted/co-hosted Children in Need; The National Lottery Live (BBC1); Grandstand (also BBC1); Fan TC with Dannii Minogue; Electric Circus (for Live & Kicking); and Trust Me – I’m a Holiday Rep (Channel 5). In November 2006, he took part in the sixth series of the ITV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Anstis also made his stage debut on 25 January 2010 as Teen Angel in the West End production of Grease.
Toby loves his DJing, and is in great demand at clubs and events in the UK and Ibiza.
