Radio presenter Toby Anstis has recalled his 10 most bizarre celebrity encounters during 25 years on air, including unplanned studio visits and viral arm wrestles.
The 55-year-old broadcaster, who first came to fame presenting Children's BBC from the Broom Cupboard in the 1990s, landed his radio show at Heart in 2001. He recalled that his agent spent months lobbying executives at the station, who initially resisted because they believed he was "too much of a TV person." Anstis said radio was always his true ambition, noting that Heart has since grown from a local London and Birmingham station into the largest radio brand in the United Kingdom with 12.8 million listeners.
After presenting mid-mornings for 17 years and building a record audience of 4.3 million listeners, Anstis was invited to launch national station Heart Dance in 2019. "I'm a total dance head, so it was a no brainer," he said. He currently hosts Heart Dance Breakfast on weekdays from 7am to 10am and presents Heart's Club Classics on Friday nights from 7pm to 11pm across the Heart network, alongside live DJ sets across the UK and at Cafe Mambo in Ibiza this summer. Reflecting on his career, Anstis said: "To launch a new national radio station and do the Breakfast Show was and still is a privilege... these are the things you dream about doing and I'm eternally grateful."
Spice Girls and surprise studio visits
Naming his top 10 celebrity encounters from his quarter century on air, Anstis identified Spice Girls member Emma Bunton as his favourite member of the pop group, describing her as "the loveliest and kindest and coolest music star." Shortly after joining Heart, executives asked Bunton to co-host a Saturday morning show alongside him for several weeks. Anstis recalled that his mother had previously advised him to find a partner like Bunton, joking: "Thanks mum, no pressure, set the standards high!" He added that Bunton remained "girl next door, never a hint of diva," sending a shout out to her husband Jade Jones.
Anstis also recalled his long relationship with singer Robbie Williams, having first interviewed him with Take That on television series The O Zone. While noting they were not close friends who went for a pint at All Bar One, Anstis said Williams was always "effortlessly funny and charming."
During one mid-morning broadcast at Global headquarters, Williams walked past the studio window, waved, and wandered directly into the live show unannounced. Anstis stopped the playing record to welcome him. Williams then launched into an impromptu on-air relationship therapy session for the single presenter, reflecting on his own marriage to Ayda Field. Anstis said Williams told him that "meeting someone special is the best thing that's ever happened to me," insisting on discussing Anstis's love life before finally focusing on his music.
Riders, veils and Glastonbury legends
Reflecting on American pop stars, Anstis recalled interviewing Bruno Mars ahead of a performance for Heart's Up Close and Personal live series. Despite finishing a major concert tour the previous night with his backing band, the Hooligans, Mars insisted on performing. Anstis noted that Wet Wipes were a key item on Mars's backstage rider. Inspired by a viral comedy video where Mars appeared to rip off an opponent's arm, Anstis challenged the singer to an arm wrestle in the studio, later admitting: "I won't again!"
When Lady Gaga visited Global with a large entourage, interviewers were limited to a strict seven-minute window. Anstis recalled that the singer wore a face veil that obscured her features while continuously spinning around in her studio chair throughout the entire session. "So I only really saw her for half the time," Anstis said, describing the interview as three and a half fun minutes with a super cool and friendly artist who "just wanted to spin that day."
Anstis praised Glastonbury Legends slot performer Lionel Richie as one of the most down-to-earth figures in music. Despite meeting thousands of people daily, Richie remembered Anstis's name from a television interview conducted years earlier, greeting him with a huge smile. Anstis noted that long-established stars with proven chart and streaming success are often the kindest, while newer celebrities can be "precocious entitled nightmares." Richie entertained the studio team with stories and said hello in five different languages.
Return of garage and Ibiza pioneers
Describing R&B artist Craig David's 2015 UK comeback following several years living in Miami, Anstis highlighted the singer's humility and lasting affection from fans after the success of his album Born To Do It. David spoke candidly about the hurt caused by comedy caricature series Bo' Selecta!, though Anstis observed that the parody had not dulled the public's love for classic garage singles 7 Days, Fill Me In, and Re-Rewind.
Turning to club culture, Anstis described techno DJ Carl Cox as "house music's final boss." Cox grew up in Carshalton, Surrey, and began playing records at his parents' parties at age nine before running a decade-long residency at Space in Ibiza. Now 64, Cox performs every Sunday night at Ibiza club UNIVRS. Anstis noted that Cox's grand entrance at Chateau Chantilly in France went viral online, remarking that his right shoulder had become as famous as he is. He listed Cox alongside David Guetta and Fatboy Slim as superstar DJs who still dominate giant billboards across Ibiza, comparing their longevity to supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Linda Evangelista.
Anstis also interviewed Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Cook, while discussing Cook's book It Ain't Over Til The Fatboy Sings!. During the conversation, Anstis mentioned working with Cook's former wife Zoe Ball on Children's BBC and The O Zone, recalling how Ball arrived 30 minutes late for her first live broadcast on BBC One. Cook immediately quipped that the delay was likely his fault because the couple had been up all night during "the crazy Nineties."
Nineties nostalgia and Kensington suites
Anstis shared a long history with Manchester boyband Take That, remembering magazine cover shoots for Fast Forward, Smash Hits parties, switching on the Oxford Street Christmas lights, and almost sinking in a boat off the Isle of Wight. He recalled record executive Nicky Chapman bringing a cassette of It Only Takes A Minute into the BBC office, warning that RCA Records would drop the group if it missed the Top 20. The O Zone aired their interview and boxing ring music video, helping the track reach number eight. During a recent interview for Heart, frontman Gary Barlow greeted Anstis with a hug, saying in his Manchester lilt: "Hey Tobe, look at us, we're still going!" Anstis praised the band for remaining down-to-earth while selling out stadiums and attempting unicycle stunts.
Finally, Anstis admitted feeling nervous before interviewing Australian pop star Kylie Minogue at a hotel suite in Kensington, having previously co-hosted BBC One show Fan TC with her sister Dannii Minogue. When Minogue opened the door herself, her first words were "Dannii says hi," immediately putting him at ease. Anstis described Minogue as a savvy businesswoman who was also genuine, vulnerable, and remarkably normal.
