Toyah has paid tribute to Keith Hale – the genius who wrote It’s A Mystery and co-wrote Toyah’s debut single, Victims Of The Riddle – who also co-produced and played on Sheep Farming In Barnet. Keith and his band Blood Donor also appeared briefly in the 1980 ATV Toyah documentary, and he was also a full-time member of the Toyah band in 1982, also performing with Toyah and Joel on Pop Goes Christmas in December ”82, as well as other significant TV appearances – who died last week.
“My thoughts are with Keith Hale’s family & friends especially Alice, Keith’s daughter. Keith will be greatly missed.
I owe so much to Keith’s musical legacy from his groundbreaking band Blood Donor, who were staggeringly original right through to the success of “It’s A Mystery”. Keith was in my live band in 1982, and he was a gentleman and a good friend. I am grateful for the time I had with him.” – Toyah Willcox
• See Toyah’s tribute post at Facebook and Instagram. See also last week’s Saturday Song, and a news story at The Express.
After a couple of days off, Toyah’s Songs and Stories is back on the road this evening, at Gwyn Hall in Neath, with dates to follow at Monmouth’s Savoy Theatre (Thurs 30th April), Stourbridge Town Hall (Friday 1st May) and Sale Waterside (Saturday 2nd May).
Since our last news update, Toyah has also played dates in Alnwick, Derby, Kings Lynn, Dunstable, Bury St Edmunds, Harpenden and Maidstone.
This coming Saturday is a busy day for Toyah, she is also guesting at RetroCon at Birmingham NEC earlier in the day.
• Toyah’s Songs and Stories Tour continues right through until mid-June. Get your tickets here… (Tour photo © Toyah/A Way With Media)
My good friend Sharon paid her very first visit to my hometown this week – That town being Paisley on the West Coast of Scotland. I played tour guide round the town, even recalling where I’d bought certain Toyah releases when I was a kid! We took some photos at the 850+ year old Paisley Abbey in the centre of town, and also the beautiful Coats Memorial Church near the West End, just across the road from the uni I went to in the 90s, and we even paid a visit to my house! We also managed to squeeze in food stops at The Last Post and Wendy’s and finished off a great day with some “refreshments” in Glasgow City Centre! – I’ve said this many times previously… Toyah filmed parts of Barmy Aunt Boomerang in Paisley in the late 90s and early 2000s.
• See Dreamscape’s other 2026 “tour dates” :) here! Browse all the 2025 ones here! (Photos © David Fleming)
• Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – It’s All Gone Wrong! – Watch… (Image © Toyah)
Leap on over to toyahwillcox.com for some recent news about Toyah’s Safari/Cherry Red studio albums discography.
The Chase: Celebrity Special: Challenge: Thursday 7th May: 10pm
Bradley Walsh hosts the quiz show as four celebrities take on the Chaser. Singer Toyah Willcox, ex-footballer John Barnes, writer Germaine Greer and heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison pit their wits against one of the country’s finest quiz brains in the hope of winning thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.
• Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Drop Dead! – Watch… (Image © Toyah)
Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?! Top 30: NOW 80s: Tuesday 5th May: 10am
Pop legend Toyah brings 30 memorable videos featuring a cavalcade of clothing calamities from superstars including Visage, Five Star, Divine, Cher, The Jam, Bananarama, Dead Or Alive, Bucks Fizz, ABC, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Madonna, Adam & The Ants, A Flock Of Seagulls, Roxy Music, Kajagoogoo, Duran Duran, Grace Jones, Su Pollard, Toyah herself and more in this crazy countdown! See the full Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?!
Minder: That’s TV: Saturday 2nd May: 7.55pm
Minder: That’s TV 2: Sunday 3rd May: 11.10pm
Minder: That’s TV 2: Monday 4th May: 10.05am
Minder: That’s TV 3: Tuesday 5th May: 9pm
All Mod Cons. Series 2, Episode 8. Terry tries to help his friend Kate evict some unwanted tenants, but comes to doubt her motives. Meanwhile, Arthur is desperate to get into the property market and tries to sell Terry’s flat without telling him. Guest starring Toyah Willcox and Simon Cadell. Director: Ian Sharp. Also starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Peter Childs, George Layton, Patrick Malahide, Michael Troughton.
Celebrity Catchphrase: Challenge: Tuesday 5th May: 1pm
Series 3, episode 7. Stephen Mulhern hosts a celebrity special of the classic game show, with Nicola Coughlan, Stephen Mangan and Toyah Willcox all trying to say what they see as they guess well-known phrases for the chance to win a £50,000 jackpot for their chosen charity.
Celebrity Bridge Of Lies: BBC One: Saturday 18th April: 5.40pm
Celebrity Specials, Series 4 Episode 2. Ross Kemp presents this high stakes quiz, as a team of Strictly Come Dancing stars, featuring dancer Amy Dowden, actor and comedian Nina Wadia, Gladiator Montell Douglas and actress and musician Toyah Willcox, take on the Bridge of Lies for their chosen charities. One by one, they all face the Bridge, choosing who faces each crossing depending on the question category. Each Bridge crossing has 32 potential steps, including 22 truths and ten lies. (Photo © BBC)
Toyah’s Songs and Stories UK Tour continues, and here’s a great soundcheck photo from last night’s gig at Scarborough Spa Theatre.
Over the past week or so there have been concerts at Buxton Opera House (10th April), Yarm Princess Alexandra Auditorium (15th April), and the above mentioned, Scarborough date (16th April).
• Toyah’s Songs and Stories Tour continues at Alnwick Playhouse tonight, and Derby Theatre on Sunday (19th April). Get your tickets here… (Tour photo © Toyah)
Toyah guested on Fiona Mills’ show on BBC Radio Humberside on Monday.
“My hair was every colour in the rainbow… before Punk” Toyah is bringing her Songs and Stories 2026 tour to Lincolnshire.
• Listen to Toyah’s interview here.
• Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – All Right Now – Watch… (Image © Toyah)
Toyah’s blog for April 2026 is available to read at toyahwillcox.com.
• Toyah At Home: April 2025 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Road Kill – Watch… (Image © Toyah)
• Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – I Am The Fly – Watch… See Also: • A generous donation from Fripp – Watch… • An early Upbeat Moment from this week – Watch…
Press for Toyah & Robert’s new Sunday Lunch. This week covering Wire. (Image © Toyah)
• Classic Rock/Louder: Toyah and Robert Fripp return with their most disturbing Sunday Lunch video yet: Quick! Somebody fetch the bug spray! – Continue…
• Brave Words: Robert Fripp And Toyah Perform Wire’s “I Am The Fly” For Sunday Lunch – Continue…
• DGM Live: Toyah & Robert’s Weekend – Toyah & Robert’s latest Upbeat Moments, from the Tivoli in Wimborne, and a brand new – I Am the Fly – Sunday Lunch! – Continue…
We – Sharon and me – had a fab day out in, the beautiful city of – Dundee this week. We always have a lot of fun but this was the first time we’d seen each other for four months, so it was extra special, paying visits to The Law, V&A, Dundee waterfront, The Counting House, Dundee Station, The McManus, said hello to Oor Wullie and rounded the day off with some Secret Pub mocktails. Brilliant!
2026 marks the 50th year of Toyah’s career! Her very first professional job, playing the role of Sue in the BBC’s “Second City First” television play, Glitter, aired in November 1976 – having been filmed in 1975.
This year Toyah is touring the UK with An Evening With Toyah: Songs And Stories, Toyah’s Christmas Party, as well as many other gigs, appearances, releases etc. between these two tours.
Toyah’s first – full length – studio album for well over a decade, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen, was released on 15th September 2008, featuring some of Toyah’s finest songs: Legacy, Heal Ourselves, Angel In You, Bad Man. The album has been re-released – with additional songs – a number of times since the original release. In 2023 ITCOTCQ was released with selected songs re-recorded and Toyah saying this was the definitive version of the album.
Revisit that very first release via Dreamscape’s “Crimson Queen” feature…
• Dreamscape also had a dedicated News & Press page for all things In The Court Of The Crimson Queen – this was updated between September 2007 and May 2010 – View that here.
We – Michael, Alec, Brian and me – braved the rain and wind and had a fun night out in Glasgow City Centre last weekend… Delmonica’s, Underground and Club X at The Polo Lounge. A great night and Brian even gave us a spirited version of It’s A Mystery on the karaoke. I would’ve did Thunder In The Mountains but I was feeling shy :)
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Thursday 9th April: 6.30pm
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Sunday 12th April: 9.30am
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Monday 13th April: 9.25am
Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury. (Photo © ITV)
