Singer, actress and activist, Toyah Willcox joins Spooning With Mark Wogan this week. Toyah opens up about the tenacity to getting the role of Monkey in Quadrophenia, the scandals that affected Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing and being the voice of The Teletubbies and Brum.
Toyah has just passed 1k of uploads at her official YouTube channel. There are also lots of upcoming music performances to look forward to in the next few weeks in the build up to the release of, the career-spanning, Chameleon.
We had a colourful time celebrating Glasgow Pride last weekend in, yup, Glasgow! Starting at the city’s legendary Barrowland Ballroom and then visiting The Crystal Palace, The Underground, Delmonica’s, The Corset Club, Merchant Pride, The Social Hub to name just a few places! Interesting Fact #1: Toyah has never played Glasgow Barrowland, though she has gigged – as part of a band as a solo artist – at numerous other venues in the city, including many which have now gone, such as Glasgow Apollo, Tiffany’s and Bourbon Street!
On Sunday we visited the incredible, 1000-year old, Paisley Abbey in my hometown. Interesting fact #2: Toyah’s two-series BBC show Barmy Aunt Boomerang from the late 90s/early 00s was filmed on location in Glasgow & Paisley.
Steve… A Strange Life: BBC Radio Wales: Friday 1st August: 6.30pm Steve… A Strange Life: BBC Radio Wales: Sunday 3rd August: 6am Steve… A Strange Life: BBC Radio Wales: Monday 4th August: 6.30am New 2025. Toyah Willcox explores the life of pop and fashion icon Steve Strange, a star who competed with David Bowie in the 1980s as the New Romantic scene took off.
Way Back When! 1981: NOW 80s: Sunday 27th July: 10pm
60 minutes of lesser heard hits from 1981. Including The Pretenders, Spandau Ballet, George Harrison, Toyah & The Pointer Sisters.
The 1981 POWER Hour!: NOW 80s: Sunday 27th July: 11pm
60 minutes of power pop & rock! Earplugs at the ready as we rewind to 1981 with Toyah, Genesis, Rick Springfield & Meat Loaf.
Celebrity Fantasy Homes: Really: Tuesday 5th August: 6am Toyah (Series 2, Episode 2). Celebrities hunt for a new home. Gaby Roslin helps the original punk-pop princess Toyah Willcox search for a second home, in Richmond upon Thames, with a budget of £650,000.
BFI will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Steve Oram’s horror comedy, Aaaaaaaah!, with a special screening – on Wednesday 20th August.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Steve Oram & (work permitting) Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Toyah Willcox.
Debauchery, chaos and the jarringly mundane unfold in weird ways, and amid drab suburban contexts, in actor-comedian Steve Oram’s strange and unpredictable feature directorial debut. Humans act like apes and physical, dialogue-free powerplays remap the Ryan family household when a visitor challenges the precarious hierarchy. Oram and his cast go ape in this wildly original, gleefully animalistic film – a true one-off for 21st century British cinema. The Q&A will be hosted by the BFI’s William Fowler and Ruby McGuigan.
Sounds Of The 80s: BBC Radio 2: Saturday 19th July: 8pm Toyah! The indomitable Toyah joins Gary live in the studio, looking back at 45 years of success and selecting some of her personal 80s faves.
Remember Live Aid: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 19th July: 6am/11am/5pm Remember Live Aid: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Sunday 20th July: 1am By Joe Dunlop. Drama telling the story of how Bob Geldof put together the 1985 concert, based on interviews with the people involved and the memories of those with cause to remember it. Starring Peter O’Meara, Toyah Willcox and Kenneth Cranham. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 1995.
Quadrophenia: Sky Cinema Drama: Thursday 24th July: 00.20am
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.
Toyah Willcox to Grace Southport Flower Show with Q&A sessions
Toyah Willcox will be joining us on Friday 15th August. Tickets into the show will get you access to see a Q&A with Toyah and our show compere Paul Crone.
Alan Adams, General Manager said “We can’t wait to welcome Toyah to this year’s show. She will be doing two Q&As in the Garden Theatre at 11am and 1pm. I am sure it will be busy so make sure you get your seats early”.
Toyah Willcox has spent over five decades captivating audiences as a singer, actress, and writer, earning multiple awards. She received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England in 2001 and was recognized in 2018 by Paul McCartney with a LIPA Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance, and media.
• Saturday Song: I Want To Be Free (Isle Of Wight Festival 2024) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments: Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – I Wanna Be Sedated – Watch…
• Classic Rock/Louder: Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp return to action with maniacal Ramones cover: The frolicsome pair’s cover of I Wanna Be Sedated is exactly as lively as you’d expect – Continue…
• Brooklyn Vegan: Watch Toyah & Robert Fripp cover Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” – Continue…
• Parade: Legendary Rock Star, 79, Performs Punk Classic Following Terrifying Health Scare: It was full of ‘mayhem and absurdity.’ – Continue…
• Brave Words: Robert Fripp & Toyah Perform Ramones Classic “I Wanna Be Sedated” For Sunday Lunch – Continue…
Interview with Toyah at Rewind-on-Sea, Dreamland, Margate on 14th June 2025. Toyah talks about her stint on Strictly, going ghost hunting in Margate’s Theatre Royal, Live Aid memories, childhood holidays and much more.
Toyah guested on Sounds Of The 80s on BBC Radio 2 last weekend, chatting to Gary Davies about her career, music, the 1980s and much more.
