Thank God It's Toby Highlights

Gabriele Caruso is an Italian writer from Naples, currently pursuing a degree in engineering while also serving in the military and working as an aircraft maintainer. With a passion for storytelling rooted in vivid imagination, Gabriele writes without outlines — instead, he visualises entire scenes and translates them into words with cinematic clarity. His creative process once included writing on early morning train rides, half-asleep yet fully immersed in the rhythm of the journey. Not only does he write, but he also composes original soundtracks for his stories, giving his fictional worlds a living, breathing atmosphere.

His debut novel, Angel’s Shadow, is an epic fantasy infused with spiritual depth, philosophical reflection, and emotional introspection. Centred on the eternal tension between light and darkness, the story invites readers on a soulful journey, not just through the characters’ world, but through their inner landscapes.

Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

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Claire Rafferty is a former professional footballer who made her name as a left-back and left winger, most notably during her time at Chelsea, where she made over 100 appearances. She also played for Millwall Lionesses, becoming a first-team regular at just 14, and later joined West Ham United before retiring in 2019.

On the international stage, Claire represented England across various age levels before making her senior debut in 2010. She went on to feature in two World Cups and was part of the Great Britain squad at the London 2012 Olympics. Despite suffering three serious ACL injuries throughout her career, Claire kept coming back, becoming a regular in the England side that finished third at the 2015 World Cup.

Since retiring from football, Claire has built a successful media career and now works in a commercial role at Chelsea, bringing together her experience in elite sport with her business background. She’s also passionate about championing the women’s game. She now helped launch The Missing Shirt – a retro England women’s football kit created to honour past players who never had a kit designed for them. It’s a powerful reminder of how far the women’s game has come and the work still to do.

Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bayley McKenzie is a rising pop artist known for his honest songwriting and soulful, expressive voice. Drawing inspiration from icons like Mariah Carey, Bayley blends personal stories with catchy melodies to create music that connects with people.

He started young—at just 17, he wrote, recorded, and produced a song called Crazy entirely on his own. Although it wasn’t released right away, the track found new life when it was included in the rerelease of his debut album, earning over 4,500 streams. By 19, Bayley had fully self-produced that debut album himself, handling everything from the beats to the vocals to the final edits.

Now, he’s back with his second album, Charming Doesn’t Always Mean Nice, and promoting its second single, Health. The album tells the story of a tough two-year period in his life—from May 2022 to March 2024—marked by heartbreak, bad decisions, a house fire, struggles with mental health, and even falling for a friend. It’s a bold, pure pop record that captures the lessons he’s learned and the person he’s become along the way.

Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamilton Ward is a cinematographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His work has been featured across the Southeast at festivals and platforms like Indie Grits, The Bitter Southerner, and the Southern Documentary Fund, among others. His latest documentary, Smile for the Dead, took him overseas, continuing his passion for capturing powerful stories on camera. Hamilton’s work focuses on storytelling and exploring the unknown, always driven by curiosity and a love for the craft.

Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oba Dafidi is a Highlife and Afro-fusion gospel musician whose music is rooted in faith, culture, and purpose. From an early age, he found joy in singing and playing instruments like the piano and guitar, drawing inspiration from legends such as Ebenezer Obey and Orlando Owoh. For Oba, music has never just been a hobby—it’s always felt like a calling.

He got his start in the church choir, attending rehearsals and vocal training sessions while building his foundation in music. Although his path included a career in nursing and a relocation that took him away from music for a while, the desire to sing never left him. He now sees those life experiences as preparation for the journey he's on today.

Oba’s shift into gospel music came after a series of powerful spiritual moments, including being approached by strangers who told him he was meant to sing. Those encounters, along with his reflections, helped him realise that using his gift was part of God’s plan for him.

That realisation led to his debut EP, Triumph of Grace, which marked a turning point in his life and music. Since then, Oba has been writing, recording, and performing songs that blend gospel messages with the rich, soulful rhythms of highlife and Afro-fusion.

His upcoming album, Between Me and God, is a deeply personal project inspired by quiet moments of prayer and reflection. Set for release on June 20, 2025 (with presales starting June 11), the album captures the heart of what it means to walk closely with God, even when it’s not the easiest path.

Oba is also back to learning guitar, pushing himself to grow musically and offer even more excellence in his worship. For him, music isn’t just about sound—it’s about ministry and encouraging others to follow their God-given purpose.

Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.