Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Tuesday 16th February: 12.55pm A Family Affair (1995). Kavanagh finds himself caught up in a bitter family feud when he represents a frustrated father who has kidnapped his son in a desperate attempt to win custody. On the home front, Kavanagh’s daughter wants to let her boyfriend stay overnight. Directed by Renny Rye. With John Thaw, Holly Aird, Robert Ashby, Toyah Willcox and Lisa Harrow.
Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with the stuff that dreams are made on. Hosted by the V&A and led by Shakespeare scholar John Pitcher (St John’s College, Oxford), we invite you to a festival of art, poetry, music and on-stage discussions devoted to his final, and most magical play, The Tempest. It will be a day, in the words of Caliban, of ‘sounds,’ ‘sweet airs’ and ‘a thousand twangling instruments’, as represented in the V&A’s collections.
Prospero’s art – the imaginative world of wizards, spells and demigods banned by the Elizabethan church but alive in people’s fears and fantasies – will be looked at alongside the physical realm of windmills, water power, and sailing ships. The poetry of the play, and the way it lives on stage and in film, will be discussed by poets Alice Oswald and Alicia Stallings, the novelist John Lanchester and the actress Harriet Walter. The many mental states The Tempest evokes and occupies – revery, stupor, frenzy, vengefulness, and wonder – will be explored and experienced by you, the participants.
Available Now! Listen to the People’s History Of Pop, presented by Toyah, online at BBC iPlayer.
Stories include a fan of the Beatles who as a teenager collected as much memorabilia as she could – only to lose it all in a house fire.
A Madonna superfan, who’s even turned her downstairs loo into a shrine of the queen of pop. We’ll hear about the brilliance of David Bowie, playing to just 2000 people at Birmingham’s Que Club. And hear how a Smiths fan from Solihull has come to own a piece of Morrissey’s shirt.
Quadrophenia – 1964 is back for February 2016 in London
Relive the sights and sounds of 1964 as British movie classic Quadrophenia‘s full on theatrical performance takes place at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on 11 February 2016.
The cinematic presentation is sure to plunge mod fans young and old into the sights and sounds of the swinging sixties, capturing the spirit of an era that fuelled a cultural revolution.
Many of the original film’s key stars will be taking part in the event including the star of the film, 1960’s Mod teenager Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels). Joining Daniels will be other major names from the cast including Phil Davis (Chalky), Mark Wingett (Dave), Toyah Willcox (Monkey), Trevor Laird (Ferdy), Garry Cooper (Peter) and Daniel Peacock (Danny).
Director Franc Roddam and cast are set to share their memories in a special one off Q&A to start off the night.
• Continue reading at The Mod Journalist. Win tickets for Quadrophenia: The Immersive Experience 2016 at clashmusic.com(entry closes 9th February).
Out Now: Quadrophenia – A Way Of Life by Simon Wells for Kindle with bonus downloads
What does a couple of quid get you these days? Not a lot. But it does get you Quadrophenia – A Way Of Life by Simon Wells for the Amazon Kindle, which also comes with a few bonus extras.
It’s the same book we flagged up back in May 2014, which is when the print version landed. That is still available if you prefer print. But if you don’t and have a Kindle, you can opt for this version.
It’s just the same in terms of the book, a look at the making of the cult mod movie and its subsequent influence on popular culture. There are interviews with principal cast members, director Franc Roddam, scriptwriter Martin Stellman and other involved in the creation of the film, coming together as a good overview of the movie and the background to it.
It doesn’t say so on the listing, but according to author Simon Wells, the e-book contains a link to download 49 continuity Polaroids from the making of the film. That’s got to be worth the modest price tag alone. £2.10 is that price and the Kindle book is available now.
More new gigs for this year have been confirmed at The Official Toyah Willcox Wesbite. These include Acoustic, Up Close & Personal dates; Proud, Loud & Electric gigs, and a variety of music festivals (Rewind, Let’s Rock Leeds), There’s also a new Toyah t-shirt for 2016, which will be available to buy at gigs, featuring the Bird in Flight single sleeve emblazoned on the front. Click below to view the full t-shirt and here to browse Toyah’s Gig Diary.
Stars talk to Len Goodman about their childhood holidays in North Wales
Toyah Willcox and Melanie Sykes revisit Llangollen and Llandudno respectively in BBC One’s Holiday of My Lifetime
A new series of Holiday of My Lifetime has begun this week on BBC One when Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman travels with celebrities to revisit the places of their childhood holidays. And two of them talk about the fond memories they have of visiting North Wales.
In episode 10 to be shown on Friday, February 12, Len takes singer, actress and presenter Toyah Willcox back to the Llangollen Canal to reminisce about a wonderful narrow boat holiday she had back in 1968. First up Len surprises Toyah by picking her up in the Golden Lark – a narrow boat similar to the one she would have holidayed in back in 1968.
As they drift along at a very civilised pace they start chatting about how her time on the canal was very different to her home city of Birmingham. For Toyah the holiday meant “freedom and fun”.
Toyah’s iconic first Top Of The Pops performance aired on Thursday night on BBC4. Watch the full episode at BBC iPlayer. TOTP is repeated late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, at 1.45am.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Thursday 4th February: 7.30pm/11.30pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 7th February: 1.45am
Mike Read presents. Duran Duran (Planet Earth), Talking Heads (Once In A Lifetime), Adam & The Ants (Kings Of The Wild Frontier), Toyah (It’s A Mystery), Shakin’ Stevens (This Ole House), Motorhead & Girlschool (Please Don’t Touch), Phil Collins (I Missed Again), Kool & The Gang (Jones Vs Jones), Teardrop Explodes (Reward), The Who (You Better You Bet), Joe Dolce (Shaddap Your Face). This originally aired on BBC1 on 5th March 1981. Toyah’s appearance is a repeat of their first studio performance which aired two weeks previously on 19th February 1981.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Thursday 11th February: 7.30pm/11pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 14th February: 1.40am
Peter Powell presents. The Jacksons (Can You Feel It?), Sharron Redd (Can You Handle It?), Shakin’ Stevens (This Ole House), Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone (What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?), The Who (You Better You Bet), Stevie Wonder (Lately), Phil Collins (I Missed Again), Bucks Fizz (Making Your Mind Up), Visage (Mind Of A Toy), Duran Duran (Planet Earth), Toyah (It’s A Mystery), Roxy Music (Jealous Guy). This originally aired on BBC1 on 19th March 1981 and was Toyah’s second studio appearance/performance (pictured above).
Last Thursday’s repeat of Top Of The Pops on BBC4 included Four From Toyah in “The Charts” rundown. The EP had climbed into the Top 30 for the first time. Click here to view larger versions of the screen caps and below to watch the programme at BBC iPlayer.
Top Of The Pops: 26/02/1981: Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Status Quo, Kim Wilde, Madness, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast, the Passions, Roxy Music and Joe Dolce, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.
Len Goodman takes celebrities back in time to recreate their childhood holidays. Len takes singer, actress and presenter Toyah Willcox back to the Llangollen Canal in North Wales to reminisce about a wonderful narrow boat holiday she had back in 1968. First up Len surprises Toyah by picking her up in the Golden Lark – a beautiful narrow boat similar to the one she would have holidayed in back in 1968. As they drift along at a very civilised pace they start chatting about how her time on the canal was very different to her home city of Birmingham. For Toyah the holiday meant freedom and fun. Along the way they test their artistic side by painting trays just like ones that adorn the sides of the narrow boats, they tuck into a vintage picnic with the all-important pork pie and they visit an antiques shop like the ones her father would have taken her to whilst on holiday. One of the highlights is Toyah manning the tiller to negotiate the boat across a 127 feet aqueduct. (Duration: 45 minutes, Series 2 Episode 10)
As TV favourite Len Goodman celebrates the return of his nostalgic travel series Holiday Of My Lifetime, Gemma Dunn finds out about his latest batch of celebrity guests and why the lively host thinks staycations will never lose their appeal.
If you’re struggling to think of a holiday partner, why not try former professional ballroom dancer Len Goodman out for size? He’s humble, fun, proactive – “This morning I’ve put the washing on, got a bit of salmon out of the freezer, and now I’m putting the kettle on” – and, above all else, he’s picked up some top tips from his BBC One series, Holiday Of My Lifetime.
Returning for a second season, the daytime show, which sees the popular TV personality lead a line-up of willing celebrity guests down memory lane, to relive their favourite British childhood summer holidays, will air a total of 25 episodes over a five-week run.
Another retro Top Of The Pops appearance from 1981 for Toyah, airing 35 years later on BBC4 in February. There’s more info at the BBC website.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC4: Thursday 11th February: 7.30pm/11pm
Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Sharon Redd, Bucks Fizz, Colin Blunstone and Dave Stewart, Toyah, the Who, Phil Collins, Shakin Stevens, Visage, Roxy Music and Duran Duran, and a dance performance from Legs and Co.
• Look out for further retro Toyah on Top Of The Pops appearances this year on BBC4 – In 1981 Toyah guested in the Top Of The Pops studio six times, performing ‘It’s A Mystery’ (three times), ‘I Want To Be Free’, ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ and ‘Good Morning Universe’.
Virtual Festivals: The world’s biggest ’80s music festival is back: Get ready to change the clocks, this summer we’re going back to British Summer Time 1980. Rewind Festival returns with three unique editions across the UK: Rewind Scotland in Perth, Rewind North in Cheshire and Rewind South in Hanley-on-Thames – Continue reading…
Festival Insights: 80s music festival Rewind to return this summer: Rewind, the world’s biggest 80s music festival, will return with three UK festivals during July and August 2016 – Continue reading…
Holly Johnson and Adam Ant lead line-up for Rewind Festival Scotland 2016
It’s time to dig out your fluorescent leg warmers for the retro music event of the year. Come July 22-24, the normally tranquil grounds of Scone Palace will once again be rocking to the soundtrack of iconic 80s hits as Rewind Scotland returns for 2016. As with previous Rewind festivals at Scone Palace, this year’s extravaganza is guaranteed to raise the roof (if there was one) with the crème de la crème of classic ‘80s pop music including headline performances from Holly Johnson (Relax, Two Tribes) and Adam Ant (Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming).
The festival includes a star-studded 80s line-up featuring Rick Astley, ABC, Tony Hadley, Marc Almond, Go West, Roland Gift, China Crisis, Toyah, The Beat, Annabella’s Bow Wow Wow, plus many more big names, including legendary Scottish artists Midge Ure (Live Aid, Ultravox), The Bluebells and Average White Band. Meanwhile, Living In A Box, Leo Sayer, Snap, and Slim Jim Phantom From Stray Cats are making their Rewind Scotland debuts.
Toyah is playing two of the three Rewind Festivals this Summer – Rewind Scotland (Scone Palace, Perth: July 22 – 24, 2016) and Rewind South (Temple Island Meadows, Henley-On-Thames: August 19 – 21, 2016). Visit the Rewind Festival website by clicking below.
Len Goodman returns in nostalgic travel series Holiday Of My Lifetime
As TV favourite Len Goodman celebrates the return of his nostalgic travel series Holiday Of My Lifetime, Gemma Dunn finds out about his latest batch of celebrity guests, and why the lively host thinks staycations will never lose their appeal
Returning for a second season, the daytime show, which sees the popular TV personality lead a line-up of willing celebrity guests down memory lane, to relive their favourite British childhood summer holidays, will air a total of 25 episodes over a five-week run.
Lisa Riley, Toyah Willcox, Pam St Clement, Edwina Currie, Jake Wood, Janet Ellis and Dan Walker are among the names to feature in the latest series, with destinations such as Haworth, Llangollen, Dartmoor, Bournemouth, Bude, the New Forest and Aberdeen on the list – Holiday Of My Lifetime begins on BBC One on Monday, February 1
More detailed info on the forthcoming Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman featuring Toyah, which airs on Friday 12th February at 3.45pm on BBC1. (Photo © BBC)
