Biography - Sandi Toksvig

Who is Sandi Toksvig?

Sandi Toksvig is a name linked with activism, comedy, LGBT, politics, Television, and Radio. Read on to uncover the life she has lived!

Sandi Toksvig – Age, Parents, Siblings

Sandi Toksvig was born on 3 May 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her full name is Sandra Birgitte Toksvig. Her father’s name was Claus Toksvig who was a Danish journalist, broadcaster, and foreign correspondent and her mother’s name was Julie Anne Toksvig. 

She has two siblings- an older brother Nick Toksvig who is a journalist as well and a younger sister Jennifer Toksvig who writes musicals.

Education, Ethnicity

Due to her father’s work, Toksvig spent most of her youthful days out of her home country, mostly New York. When her father was based in London, she joined the Tormead School located near Guildford. She then enrolled in Girton College, Cambridge where she studied law, archaeology, and anthropology.

From her College, she graduated with a first-class degree along with The Raemakers and the Theresa Montefiore Awards for her outstanding performance. 

Toksvig is of Danish ethnicity.

Sandi Toksvig – Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Divorce

Sandi Toksvig has 3 children who were carried by her then partner Peta Stewart through artificial insemination. Her son’s name is Theo Toksvig-Stewart (born 1994) and her daughters are Megan Toksvig-Stewart and Jessica ‘Jesse’ Toksvig-Stewart (born 1990 and 1988 respectively). 

The children’s biological father is Christopher Lloyd-Pack who is actor Roger Lloyd-Pack's younger brother. Sandi Toksvig and Petah Stewart separated in 1997.

Currently, she is married to psychotherapist Debbie Toksvig and lives together on a houseboat in Wandsworth. They had been together before 2007. 

When same-sex marriage was legalized in England and Wales, Sandi Toksvig and Debbie renewed their vows on 29 March 2014. Their civil partnership was converted to marriage in December 2014.

As of 2020, the couple is living without rumors of extra-martial affairs or divorce.

Related: Dan Walker - Journalist, TV host of Football Focus, BBC Breakfast 

Sandi Toksvig – Career

Early days

Sandi Toksvig’s career in comedy began when she was still at College where she performed at the Footlights.

After graduation, she started to present children’s series No. 73 (1982-1986), Motormouth, Gilbert's Fridge, The Saturday Starship, Island Race, and The Talking Show. 

She was also the host of the quiz show What the Dickens and presented shows 1001 Things You Should Know (2012-2013), and The Great British Bake Off (2017- present) too.

Related: Jane Garvey - Radio host of Woman's Hour 

Show host

Her career in comedy saw her in comedy shows such as Call My Bluff, Mock the Week, QI, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and Have I Got News for You.

Toksvig also was a BBC Radio host. She hosted shows for the BBC such as I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, The Unbelievable Truth, and The News Quiz. She left The News Quiz in April 2015. She had announced with the release of a statement:

"I have decided it is time to move on and, of course, I feel sad but I think it's the right moment. The show is in great shape and, like a good house guest, you should always depart when people still wish you'd stay a bit longer."

Related: Fiona Bruce - Journalist, Newsreader, TV host on BBC

Books, Writing

Toksvig is a writer as well. She has written more than twenty fiction and non-fiction books both for children and adults to enjoy. To name a few, her books include Tales from the Norse's Mouth (1994), Gladys Reunited: A Personal American Journey (2013), Girls Are Best (2008).

She is also a column writer and writes for Good Housekeeping, Sunday Telegraph, and The Lady.

Sandi Toksvig – Fights for equal pay

Sandi Toksvig has been known to be an activist fighting for Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and the Women's Equality Party.

Recently, she sparked gender pay in the QI show. In a meeting at the Women’s Equality party conference, she was asked about her pay. She then revealed that she is paid 40% less than her co-host at QI, Stephen Fry!

Related: Chris Evans - TV host, Producer of BBC, Radio 2 breakfast show 

Sandi Toksvig – Net Worth, Salary

Her net worth is estimated at around $8 million while the figure on her annual salary/income is not yet publicized.

Sandi Toksvig – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media handles such as Twitter, Sandi Toksvig has thousands of followers but is absent from Facebook and Instagram. She does have an official website- sanditoksvig.com.

Related: BBC radio personality