Toyah Willcox’s colourful career has taken her from Punk Princess to Splash, Teletubbies and I’m a Celebrity. She never ceases to surprise…
There is something very endearing about Toyah Willcox. She is one in a long tradition of creative, sometimes downright cussed, free spirits who mellow into a kind of national treasure with the passing years. Say what you like about Toyah, you could never pigeon-hole her. The original wild-child punk princess is credited with starting the Goth movement, has voiced the Teletubbies, champions the National Trust and survived the Celebrity Jungle. And this multi-talented ball of energy has now been officially honoured by her home city with a star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars.
Being Toyah, she challenges the word mellow. “I don’t think I’m mellowing,” she says, “though I do find things that freaked me out in the past don’t bother me anymore. And I’m working harder than ever.” No kidding! This is a one-woman phenomenon with a record company, six movies on the go and a touring band. A typical day starts at 6am, involves driving across the country, gigging, presenting and writing before final getting into bed at 4. Not that she’d change a thing.
Toyah is the cover star of the January 2017 issue of Birmingham Living magazine, with a three-page interview feature inside. Read the feature by clicking below, and the full magazine here.
• The Comeback: The original Pop Quiz returned to the BBC last night with a great episode.
• Bring it Back!: Reaction to the first of two new episodes has been overwhelmingly positive, with some already calling for a full series. There’s also been a a number of press reports on the revival.
• ITV/Good Morning Britain: Mike Read and the pop quiz comeback: Mike Read was live in the studio this morning talking about bringing back his iconic Pop Quiz with a host of 80s pop stars. Mike looked back on his 40-year career as a DJ on Radio 1, host of the 1980s Saturday morning children’s show Saturday Superstore and the original 1980s music panel game Pop Quiz which he’s bringing back – Continue reading…
• Classic Pop Magazine: Toyah thought last night’s Pop Quiz was a whole heap of fun. Hopefully BBC Four will commission a full series – Continue reading…
• Scottish Daily Mail: Music Show Revived: Pop Quiz – The Comeback, 9.30pm, BBC4: The delight of Mike Read’s Eighties series was that it brought together so many famous musicians who loved talking about music. The delight is intact for this revival, for which Read returns as host along with former conteestants Toyah Willcox, Nick Heyward and Cheryl Baker.
• BBC Four: Episode One is repeated tomorrow night, late – at 1.05am on BBC Four…
• Pop Quizzing at Dreamscape: Browse all of our news on PQhere…
BBC Four were tweeting a-plenty last night about Pop Quiz – The Comeback airing, including a couple of retro images of Toyah from previous Pop Quiz guest appearances (in 1981 and 1984).
Review: a blissfully self-indulgent chance to reminisce for pop-pickers of a certain vintage
Who got a lifetime ban from a Manchester hotel for swinging from a chandelier and stealing a zebra? Ginger diva Toyah Willcox. Who bought an Austin A40 convertible so she could poke her beehive hair out of the roof? Jazz chanteuse Mari Wilson. What did this pair have in common? They were both on Pop Quiz: The Comeback (BBC Four), a revival of the retro gameshow which pitted two teams of Eighties pop stars against each other for no apparent reason other than festive fun.
Punk star Toyah Willcox is looking forward to performing at next year’s Upton House Music Festival in Poole.
Toyah is part of an ‘80s Extravaganza at the three-day festival on Friday June 9, along with Billy Ocean and Kim Wilde. The singer and actress has close links with Dorset thanks to her 30-year marriage to Wimborne born and bred King Crimson musician, Robert Fripp, and her time spent living in Witchampton.
She said: “Dorset is very close to my heart and I love returning there whenever I can. It will be great fun playing Upton House Music Festival as well as meeting up with a few old friends.”
Toyah has paid tribute to George Michael, who died on Christmas Day – “My deepest condolences to all George Michael’s loved ones, friends & fans. This has come as a complete shock. He was a mighty talent“. I always thought Wham! were a great pop band. A perfect five-year career, with lots of happy memories and music. Rest in Peace, George Michael.
Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Friday 6th January: 7.40am
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone. (Sky Select HD is on Sky Channel 312)
It’s Christmas Eve! Wishing everyone who has taken the time to visit Dreamscape this year a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2017 – This year has been yet another incredibly busy one for Toyah, and for me, attempting to keep up with her on this news page these past 12 months ;) See Toyah and Robert’s festive greeting for Christmas 2016 by clicking on our “card” below.
Okay, it’s time to get rocking (and eating) around that Christmas tree – Have a good one!
Christmas 1996, Toyah contributed a thoughtful recollection of childhood Christmasses to the charity publication ‘Once Upon A Christmas’. This book is now out of print.
In this delightful Christmas book, a host of our most popular and well-known celebrities from all walks of life have contributed stories, memories, recipes and thoughts about Christmas to make this the most irresistible festive anthology there is… Once Upon A Christmas will help to put – and keep – you in the Christmas spirit.
Toyah Willcox: Broadcaster and Singer
Childhood Christmasses were the most magical – It was the appearance of the Christmas tree that cued two weeks of sheer all-encompassing joy. I’m talking about being four years old. Just able to talk but unable to comprehend the hidden meanings of the words of wisdom from the giants, the adults… My family home, although modest, was a castle to me and everything in it was rare and precious. But the Christmas tree was proof that Narnia, fairies, hobgoblins and fauns truly did exist. For the tree miraculously appeared overnight and it shed such light and a divine perfume. Being small, I could sit under it all evening with the glass baubles dangling in my face.
Sad news, Status Quo founder Rick Parfitt died today. The Guardian have published a tribute – Rick Parfitt – A Life in Pictures: Rick Parfitt appearing on Tiswas with Rick Wakeman and Toyah Willcox. (Photograph: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock)
Who’s Doing The Dishes?: ITV2: Thursday 5th January: 11.25am Who’s Doing The Dishes?: ITV2: Friday 6th January: 6.20am
Brian McFadden presents the dining challenge. Will it remain a mystery that Toyah Willcox is the celebrity host when she throws a dinner party for four complete strangers?
Getting into the festive spirit – The 80s Invasion Tour 2017 – with a Christmas stocking promo sent out by email to subscribers.
Perfect last minute gift… 2017’s 80s Invasion show with Paul Young, Martika, Toyah and China Crisis.
80s Invasion Tour 2017: Paul Young + Martika + Toyah Willcox + China Crisis
Due to overwhelming public demand after this year’s hugely successful run, the ‘80’s Invasion’ tour is back in 2017 with four iconic artists from the decade performing on the same bill.
The new line-up features Paul Young – one of the most popular solo artists from the era, legendary pop punk princess Toyah, Liverpool’s finest guitar duo China Crisis and for the first time performing in the UK in over 25 years, flying in especially from the USA the gorgeous Martika!
The tour will take in 15 dates and starts on 2nd March at Rhyl’s Pavillion, culminating on 19th March at Liverpool’s Philharmonic, with London’s Indigo2 on 16th March.
• See www.tdpromo.com for more details. View a larger version of the 80’s Invasion Tour 2017 Christmas stocking here. Browse all of Dreamscape’s news on the forthcoming tour here.
Many years ago Dreamscape compiled the Toyah Festive 50. A tinseltastic half-hundred of Yuletide related Toyah facts, information, figures and trivia.
Why was Toyah Scarlett at Christmas 1990? … Who would be her dream dining companion? … Just how many town’s festive light displays did Toyah switch on at Christmas 2003?…
What were Toyah and Tony Robinson doing at Christmas 1988? … Which other programmes were aired the Christmas Eve night that Toyah’s legendary Theatre Royal, Drury Lane concert was watched by millions on BBC2?
Discover the answer to these and much more in our Toyah Festive 50 information overload! Completely unnecessary but a lot of fun nonetheless!
Read full transcripts of a selection of Toyah’s recent BBC radio interviews at The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive. Explore the site for further Toyah interviews, content and resources too.
Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas aired on ‘BBC Radio 2′ in December 2012. An interesting look back at the golden years of the magazine, including contributions from Toyah, talking about ‘Smash Hits’ in general as well as her iconic Brave New World cover from 1982. The programme isn’t currently available at BBC iPlayer and isn’t being repeated any time soon. Click below to listen to a recording of the programme at You Tube.
Toyah Willcox’s colourful career has taken her from Punk Princess to Splash, Teletubbies and I’m a Celebrity. She never ceases to surprise…
