BBC Radio Sheffield host Toby Foster blasted for foul-mouthed Facebook rant

The controversial breakfast show presenter, who has also forged a career in comedy on TV and stage, took aim at other comics, calling The Tez O’Clock Show presenter Tez Ilyas “s***” and describing Canadian stand-up Craig Campbell as “f***ing mental.”

In the post on Comedy Collective, a Facebook group for comedians and comedy promoters, Foster, posting under the name Toby X Foster also took a swipe at UK comedy promoter Dave Perkin, calling him “a massive c***.”

It is not clear what the context of his post was on the page, but he wrote: “I hear daily that the circuit is full of predators.

"If that is the case, I need to make sure I don’t book them. Yet, the odd names I see, I’ve never heard of them.

"I’ve heard of Tez Ilyas, but he’s s*** so we wouldn't book him. And I know Craig Campbell, he’s brilliant as a stand-up but he’s been unbookable for the last five years because he's f***ing mental.

"I don’t want to sound like a stuck record, but who are these people?

"I know that Tony Burgess (Manchester stand-up comedian) has got into trouble for pointing out that Dave Perkin (promoter) is a c*** (spoiler alert, he is a massive c***) so I get that folk may not like to be public, but if I don’t know what the problems are, how can I address them?”

The presenter, 50, came under fire for the remarks, with one Facebook user telling him: “Put your drink down and go to bed. You just called someone f***ing mental – d***head.”

We have contacted Mr Foster for comment.

A BBC spokesman said: “Toby is a freelance presenter. We would not comment further on individual circumstances.”

It is not the first time his outspoken remarks have landed him in hot water.

In 2018, he suggested he was going to quit Radio Sheffield, posting on Twitter: “After a long night, I think we've decided. I'm out of contract at the Beeb because of their c***ing about. If they manage to sort it, I'd love to be here til March. Then I'll hang up the mic.

'Everyone has to pack in sometime. Now feels right. I'd love another six months to finish on a high.'

In 2017, he was absent from the airwaves for three months following an investigation by BBC chiefs over his use of social media.

He was forced to deny he had been sacked by the station after rumours began circulating about his disappearance.

At the time, the BBC said: "The impartiality of our journalism is of the utmost importance to us.

"We have clear social media guidelines, which we take very seriously. We have spoken to the people concerned and we are continuing to investigate."

The investigation was believed to be in connection with a series of tweets Foster posted on March 22, 2017 - the day of the Westminster terrorist attack in London.

On that date he tweeted: "Look Twitter. I'm home now, and I've just told 'Bel I'm in trouble. She says I've got to go in the naughty step. #reallife."

He was also suspended for six weeks in 2013 after calling his boss a "c***" on a tweet.