Interview

The charismatic Toby Anstis, aka ’the Tobester’ is best known for presenting CBBC1 live every day from the legendary "broom cupboard" and he has also travelled all over the world presenting the popular BBC2 music show, The Ozone.

He now is the new voice on Heart 106.2 and presents the afternoon show every weekday 1pm-4pm, and he’s the man to wake up with every Saturday morning 10am-1pm alongside Harriet Scott. His show is proving a huge hit with listeners and consequently his profile in London has never been bigger.

He is now packing his suitcase and swapping his headphones for swimming trunks and goggles and jetting of to the exotic Buenos Aires to take part in the show Celebrity Fear Factor. He will be subjected to mental and physical challenges all for his nominated charity and compete against rivals to win and donate the chase to his chosen place. Celebrity Fear Factor will air on Sky 1 on June 20 and run for 6 consecutive weeks.

You have been out of the television limelight for a while so what made you decide to get back into it?
"I don’t know really! I originally wanted to work in radio and at a big station but I ended up getting a TV job, by luck, when I came out of Uni. It really was being at the right place at the right time! I then ended up getting on the Ozone. That was totally, totally unplanned and it wasn’t something I had set me sight on at all. In the end I ended up getting caught up in that and I didn’t think I would be doing it for as long - 9 years! Then I had time to think and I thought now after doing 9 years of that I got a job in bloody radio which was what I wanted to do! I thought although I have got a 6 days a week commitment to Heart which is a big commitment and I love occasionally they let me go off to do some TV things - like Fear Factor. I feel that radio, as a medium is sexier than ever at the moment. I love doing radio and I feel very happy. I’m more content about my work life than I have ever been."

You must get lots of offers from television companies so what made you decide to choose Celebrity Fear Factor to take part in?
"With Fear Factor you go out with six people and they fly you out to Argentina which is quite glamorous and I have always wanted to go to South America. So that for a start is amazing and you get very looked after. At first I was nervous but I kind of figured the standard of safety will be extremely high and they are not going to make you do a trapeze or a tightrope walk between two mountains without full safety. I am just anxious to get out there! I think I am more frightened of the flight than anything else. I am more frightened of flying than, well I say that now, than any of the challenges."

What is your biggest phobia?
"Sharks! Big style. I think they have done underwater challenges before but that will be a bad one for me! I won’t want to go near to the place! I think maybe heights after that. Probably those two are my worst and I think there will probably be a heights one."