Toby Anstis reveals awkward moment he had to keep Prince Charles waiting on air: ‘I can’t stop for anyone’

The Heart radio DJ says Camilla saw the funny side (Picture: Rex/ Metro.co.uk)

Radio DJ Toby Anstis, 50, on jet-skiing with rock royalty, keeping Prince Charles waiting in the studio and his 20 years at Heart.

You had Covid last year. Are you OK now?

I had it twice! I never get ill but I was struck down with pneumonia last February. I was coughing up blood and bedridden for eight days.

The doctor said I had to stay off work for three to four weeks but I’m a freelancer and love my job so I went back early but didn’t feel right.

Five weeks later I got different symptoms – Covid. I had a vicious cough and was in bed for another week. I felt so bad, I tried to call 999 but was so weak, the phone fell out of my hand.

I closed my eyes, not knowing if I’d wake up. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I get incensed when I see people not taking it seriously.

Radio has become more vital during lockdown…

I’ve been able to go to the studio to do my shows bar five weeks in my spare room, which mentally kept me in a good place.

The growth in listening to Heart FM has gone off the scale. People need companionship and motivation.

On my Friday evening Club Classics show during lockdown people would tune in after a week of home-schooling or whatever stresses with a glass of wine, saying, ‘Right let’s bin that week, the weekend starts now.’

You launched Heart Dance in 2019. How has that been?

Getting up at 5.30am isn’t great but once I’m up, I’m bouncing off the walls! It’s a really special thing to be the first person that people hear in the morning.

You’re bringing the news or reflecting the mood along with a whole load of good tunes. The station is going great.

You’re celebrating 20 years at Heart in September and are the longest-serving presenter at the station. How does that feel?

It’s gone so fast. I clearly remember my first day in 2001 because I’d been dreaming of doing radio but they weren’t sure about this TV guy so they tried me out from 1am to 5am and I managed to keep it going.

There have been some low points. I was on the radio on the morning of the 7/7 bombings, which I’ll never forget.

But there have been lots of really high points too, such as doing the show at Disney World.

Toby’s no longer in touch with fellow radio presenter Zoe Ball (Picture: EPA)

Was being a radio DJ always your dream job?

Even aged eight I got a feeling of what music does for people when my parents let me loose on their record player when they had friends round.

I did hospital radio when I was 13 and I saw Gary Davies on stage at a radio roadshow when I was 14. The buzz and the fact it was going out on radios everywhere fascinated me.

You did psychology at university and then went straight to the Broom Cupboard on Children’s BBC!

Having a BSc degree is the one thing I have over Phillip Schofield, Andy Crane and Andi Peters! I got the job about three months after graduating.

A friend of my dad’s worked at Going Live! and said I should watch the show being filmed. I got talking to Paul Smith, who had his hand up Gordon the Gopher. He became one of the big bosses of Children’s BBC.

A few days later I was called about a presenting job. I auditioned, which I thought went rubbish, but got the job a few days later.

And that facilitated your radio career…

I don’t think Heart would have looked at me if I didn’t have a profile.

The thing was, for me and the likes of Zoe Ball, Andi and Phillip, we had about 40 or 50 million people watching every afternoon, especially when people tuned in for Neighbours.

Because of that, we’ve been able to keep working solidly.

Are you still mates with any presenters from that time?

Every now and again I see Phil. We used to go to his house for big firework parties.

Andi I see a lot as we go to the same gym. Tim Vincent I met for coffee recently. I haven’t seen Zoe for ages.

Reading the news to listeners was more important than greeting Prince Charles, says Toby (Picture: PA)

What’s been your most pinch-yourself moment?

I went with Radiohead to Vancouver for eight days and interviewed Thom Yorke in a cable car going up Grouse Mountain.

Prince, sadly, was going through his artist-known-as-squiggle phase. He wore a face mask – a bit ahead of his time – and spoke through an interpreter. I went on a gin palace around the Greek Islands with Guns N’ Roses so went jet-skiing with Slash.

I flew around Britain on Bon Jovi’s private jet. More recently, we had Prince Charles and Camilla in the studio and they arrived just as I had to introduce the news.

I can’t stop the show for anyone, future king or not! I said, ‘Your Majesty, would you mind if I come back to you?’ Camilla laughed. They’re lovely.

You did I’m A Celebrity – would you do another reality show?

My parents always said I should be on Strictly because I was at the Royal Ballet as a kid but I don’t really feel I need to do it for my profile. Saying that, I’d probably say yes if I was asked.

Hear Anstis on Heart Dance Breakfast, weekdays 7am to 10am, and Heart’s Club Classics, Fridays 7pm to 10pm

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