Toby Anstis has claimed Heart radio listeners accused him of bullying Matt Hancock during his I’m A Celebrity stint. 

The DJ, 52, joined Jungle Confidential on Monday and told Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday’s Showbiz Editor Katie Hind: ‘Someone said, “I really enjoy your show but can you stop making such bullying remarks about Matt Hancock”?’

‘I had made some comment a few mornings ago, asking “Who is voting for him?”

Something to say: Toby Anstis claims 'radio listeners accused him of bullying Matt Hancock but insists politician's appearance on I'm A Celeb was 'genius' as he joined Jungle Confidential on Monday

Something to say: Toby Anstis claims ‘radio listeners accused him of bullying Matt Hancock but insists politician’s appearance on I’m A Celeb was ‘genius’ as he joined Jungle Confidential on Monday

‘The listener said: “I don’t switch on for that”, but it wasn’t a bullying thing. As someone who is really defending him, it got to a point where everybody was saying the same thing.

‘Millions were going on the app and voting for him. There are people out there who are very defensive of him for whatever reason.’

Matt, 44, lasted an impressive 21 days in the jungle, and took part in his final gruesome Bushtucker Trial before his exit in the final – narrowly missing being crowned as Jungle King. 

Toby said: 'Millions were going on the app and voting for him. There are people out there who are very defensive of him for whatever reason'

Toby said: ‘Millions were going on the app and voting for him. There are people out there who are very defensive of him for whatever reason’

During his jungle stint, he served as Camp Leader, and was voted to do six consecutive trials by the public, including a gruesome eating trial alongside Boy George.  

The former Health Secretary was beaten only by Jill Scott and Owen Warner to first and second place respectively, with the Lioness being crowned as the 2022 Queen of the Jungle.

He defied all expectations in making the grand final and, after his exit, Matt admitted he decided to enter the jungle because he wanted to show the ‘lighter side’ to his personality.

And elsewhere in the podcast, Toby said: ‘Matt has been a constant talking point. What a genius. Whoever booked him is going to run ITV aren’t they? 

The DJ, 52, joined Jungle Confidential on Monday and told Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday's Showbiz Editor Katie Hind: 'Someone said, "I really enjoy your show but can you stop making such bullying remarks about Matt Hancock"?'

The DJ, 52, joined Jungle Confidential on Monday and told Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday’s Showbiz Editor Katie Hind: ‘Someone said, “I really enjoy your show but can you stop making such bullying remarks about Matt Hancock”?’

‘Best booking… Back in Australia with that line-up, really good mix of people, but to get the villain of the hour, during lockdown… I wouldn’t say zero to hero, but enough people out of those 12million people were voting for him on a regular basis. 

‘People were voting for him to do the trials and have the worst hardships but after that, people were voting for him.’

Toby said he felt weird to say it but the longer Matt was on the show, the more you warmed to him. 

He added: ‘You almost felt bad about it because of what we went through in the pandemic. Some of which he facilitated.

‘But he is a human being. I don’t think he’s a malevolent, horrible vindictive person . Everybody’s infallible. He made a couple of huge mistakes and errors which he wants forgiveness for.

A step back in time: Heart Dance Breakfast DJ Toby was the first celebrity to be axed from the show in 2006

A step back in time: Heart Dance Breakfast DJ Toby was the first celebrity to be axed from the show in 2006

‘He just came across as a normal guy who gave it everything. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone quite so fearless [during the trials.]

‘He won people over. Some have short memories. Some will blame him who lost loved ones. I lost my aunt. She ended up passing away but I don’t feel venomous towards him,

‘I don’t feel the same fire that some people do but I feel sympathy for anyone who is under such heat, such scrutiny and then go in the jungle. He’s done well.’

Toby has claimed former Health Secretary Matt could be the next Britain’s Got Talent judge, adding that his appointment on the show was a ratings win for ITV and so there might be more in store. 

Toby said he had heard Matt was in the running after it was claimed David Walliams, 51, had quit the show. 

He said: ‘It’s what I’m hearing. He could be judging because there’s a free seat now. ITV love him. He’s a ratings win for them, isn’t he? 

‘The people over at ITV that I talk to, they tell me they were absolutely over the moon with him, They were ecstatic.’

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Matt Hancock for more information.  

Heart Dance Breakfast DJ Toby was the first celebrity to be axed from the show in 2006. 

His words about Matt come just days after it was reported that comedian Walliams, 51, is set to leave the ITV show ahead of its 2023 series.

This came weeks after he was forced to apologise for describing an elderly contestant as a ‘c***’ and making vile sexual remarks about a woman taking part.

It comes as David’s co-stars, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon are in negotiations for their 2023 contracts. None of them have signed a deal yet. 

A BGT source told MailOnline: ‘It’s still very much up in the air at the moment on whether David is going to take part in next year’s show. No decision, though, has been made as yet.’

A spokesperson for Britain’s Got Talent said: ‘The judging panel for Britain’s Got Talent 2023 will be announced in due course.’

He's off! Meanwhile, Amanda's fellow BGT judge David Walliams has reportedly quit Britain's Got Talent after 10 years on the judging panel

He’s off! David Walliams has reportedly quit Britain’s Got Talent after 10 years on the judging panel, weeks after he apologised for making vile remarks about a contestant

I’m A Celebrity’s Tony Blackburn, who won the first ever series in 2002, also joined Jungle Confidential on Monday.

He told Katie: ‘It’s a great achievement, it’s a tough show to do. I mean when I went in we didn’t know we were going to do the Bushtucker trials.

‘Now of course you know what’s going to happen and know what to expect. I think Jill will be absolutely thrilled this morning at the wonderful achievement.’

When Katie asked how I’m A Celebrity was sold to Tony to get him on, he responded: ‘My agent rung me up and asked if I would like to go into the jungle and survive for a couple of weeks. I thought he was joking!

‘My wife tried to talk me out of it and said I wouldn’t be very good at it because I prefer o stay in a nice hotel but I told her these opportunities come along once in a lifetime.

‘I couldn’t bare to watch the programme, love it, and think I could have been apart of that so I said I’ll do it.’

Winner: I'm A Celebrity's Tony Blackburn, who won the first ever series in 2002, also joined Jungle Confidential on Monday

Winner: I’m A Celebrity’s Tony Blackburn, who won the first ever series in 2002, also joined Jungle Confidential on Monday



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