27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC Broom Cupboard star Josie D'Arby's surprise new career and very famous ex
The BBC's hit children show The Broom Cupboard saw the birth of many iconic presenters - now Josie D'Arby's career has taken a surprising turn away from the cameras
In a tiny, cramped booth nestled away in the BBC studios, a whole host of famous TV presenters kicked off their careers.
Children's TV show The Broom Cupboard began in 1985, replacing the shaky voiceover and still slides linking CBBC shows with real-life presenters.
Despite its practical beginnings it soon became a hit in itself, with the likes of Phillip Schofield, Debbie Flint and Zoe Ball all forging their famous TV personalities on the show.
Iconic characters Edd the Duck, Otis the Aardvark and Gordon the Gopher even joined in on the fun, with letters and drawings from viewers plastered across the walls of the tiny studio room.
Many of the programme's stars look completely different these days, with brand new careers - and Josie D'Arby is no exception.
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After her stint in The Broom Cupboard, Josie went on to become an award-winning presenter, becoming a well-known face on the likes of Songs of Praise, Top of the Pops, Inside Out and Cardiff Singer of The World.
In 1999, the 52-year-old star from Newport, Wales, became the youngest British woman to have her own chat show, titled Josie, on Channel 5.
Josie's media ambitions didn't stop there and she soon pivoted to acting, where she starred as Alisha Adams in Holby City and made guest appearances in Casualty and Doctor Who.
She's even tried her hand as a quiz show contestant, appearing on Richard Osman's House of Games and Pointless in 2022.
More recently, Josie ditched the cameras for a career that's worlds away from presenting. The star has been pursuing her artistic talent, even showcasing her painting in a show at the Newport Museum Art Gallery in 2023.
The BBC star started to take art more seriously after winning a televised art competition, South Wales Argus reports. The painting was called Less, which Josie said was "about how little it can take to make people happy."
"Art is for everyone and I am happy if my piece is just a tiny little reminder that public galleries can be a space and a time to press pause, and enjoy a lovely space if you're in the city," she explained.
Before her TV career took off, Josie was said to be in a relationship with Hollywood actor Gerard Butler - known for iconic roles in 300, Law Abiding Citizen and London Has Fallen. The pair apparently briefly dated in 2005.
And Gerard isn't her only celebrity flame, as Josie reportedly went on a date with actor Joseph Fiennes - the brother of Harry Potter legend Ralph Fiennes - in 2006.
Josie isn't the only Broom Cupboard presenter who took a different career path. Andy Crane, 61, has been brightening up people's days on Greatest Hits Radio since 2019 and he looks very different from his days on the CBBC show.
He is now residing in the picturesque location of Lake District. Andy, who was born in the seaside town of Morecambe, Lancashire, presents three hours of the best songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio, including The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon.
Before hitting the radiowaves, Andy also presented children's show, Motormouth, for ITV on Saturdays. He also featured on What's Up Doc? and Challenge TV.
