Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

An interview with Toyah from early 1982, by Molly Meldrum, which aired on the Australian music programme Countdown on the ABC channel. Click below to watch.

Toyah’s amazing very first appearance on Top Of The Pops, from February 1981, re-airs 35 years “almost” to the day it was first broadcast on BBC4 early next month…

Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC4:
Thu 4th Feb: 7.30/11.30pm|Sun 7th Feb: 1.45am
Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Shakin Stevens, Phil Collins, the Who, Adam and the Ants, Toyah, Motorhead and Girlschool, Joe Dolce, Talking Heads and the Teardrop Explodes, 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’.

Get ready to rev up your Vespa and neck that frothy coffee, as an immersive screening of Mod masterpiece Quadrophenia comes to London next month.

This one-off event aims to pull out the stops as it brings to life the London to Brighton rock opera and tells the tale of amphetamine-fuelled teenage rebellion in the 1960s.

Ahead of the screening, there’ll also be a Q&A with director Franc Roddam, plus actors Toyah Willcox, Phil Davis, Mark Wingett, John Altman and Phil Daniels (who apparently nicked the lead role of Jimmy from the uninsurable Johnny Rotten). The night will also include prizes for best Mod outfits, plus a chance to see memorabilia from the film and original Vespas.

• Continue reading at Londonist. Browse all of our Quadrophenia: The Immersive Cinematic Experience here.

Toyah’s Gig Diary for 2016 is already filling up with live appearances for this year, including the aforementioned Water Rats/Vintage TV special in February, plus a return to the Vauxhall Tavern and a visit to the Memorabilia signing event at Birmingham NEC, both in March. Click below to visit the Official Gig Diary.

Toyah is confirmed for a special one-off filmed gig on Tuesday 24 February 2016 at London’s Water Rats.

Toyah Unplugged is a one-off intimate concert which will see a four-piece acoustic band perform hits and classics. There will be no storytelling or background visuals in this gig like the Acoustic, Up Close & Personal gigs.

It will take place in the legendary London music pub/venue The Water Rats.

The concert will be filmed by Vintage TV for broadcast at a later date. Marc Almond plays a sold out gig at The Water Rats for Vintage TV on Tuesday 26 January for the same filmed concert series.

• Further info at toyahwillcox.com.

Win Aaaaaaaah! on DVD at Scream Horror Mag (Closes on 2 Feb).

Holiday of My Lifetime: BBC1: Friday 12th February: 3.45pm
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.

Toyah’s recent interview on Sky High Radio, plus acoustic performances of It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains and Sensational, have been uploaded to You Tube…

Out of the primordial soup we clambered, dragging our knuckles through the evolutionary steps. Now here we stand: upright, hairless (well, mostly), and with enough rudimentary intelligence to master simple tasks and ask ourselves the age old question, ‘what does it mean to be a man?’

While we go around and around in circles, scratching our heads like chimps as we try to find a purpose for masculinity and avoid extinction, British comedy Aaaaaaaah! manages to lampoon the entire farce in just 79 minutes of scything, armpit-scratching brilliance.

• Continue reading at The Telegraph.

Toyah is guesting on Ian Riches’ show on Sky High Radio this Wednesday – Toyah Willcox plays live acoustically and is interviewed on SkyHigh Radio. Wednesday 20th January 2016 at 8pm on www.skyhighradio.co.uk.

Read Toyah’s tribute to the incredible David Bowie, who died peacefully yesterday, aged 69.

• Aaaaaaaah!: Is released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 18th January…

• Front Row Reviews: Steve Oram chats Aaaaaaaah!

You’ve said the film is based on nature documentaries but there are a lot of filmic references in there as well, like the opening scene of 2001 in there, and the close ups of the eyes was like something from Sergio Leone’s film
Steve Oram: 2001 wasn’t consciously aped – excuse my pun – nor was Sergio Leone – it was all about the intensity of feeling. It mainly came from the idea of observing and being a voyeur – that was my main vibe with it and we worked really hard on that.

Toyah Willcox’s performance is amazing – did you write her part specially?
I didn’t write it for her, and in the casting process it was ‘can we find a 55 yr old woman who’s up for doing these ridiculous things…?’ and she came to mind – Continue reading at Front Row Reviews.

• Win Aaaaaaaah! on DVD: at Entertainment Focus…

• Aaaaaaaah! News: Browse Dreamscape’s Aaaaaaaah! news posts…

Toyah’s first blog of 2016 is available at The Official Toyah Willcox Website. Click below to read.

• Toyah’s New Year Message: Read at Twitter…

• Christmas Wrapping: Robert Fripp and WillyFred on Christmas morning…

• Encyclopedia of British Film: Toyah is now included in this book…

• The Toyah Willcox Fuschia: Is another step closer to the flower shops of the world…

• Compassion in World Farming: Used this photo of Toyah and WillyFred as part of their Christmas 2015 campaign.

Maigret: ITV Encore: Wednesday 13th January: 5.15pm
Maigret: ITV Encore: Thursday 14th January: 10.05am
Maigret and the Hotel Majestic. Crime series featuring Georges Simenon’s celebrated Parisian detective. Maigret is called to the scene when a beautiful woman is found dead in the basement of the Hotel Majestic with a gun in her handbag. The Chief Inspector’s investigations initially centre around the staff at the hotel – until he discovers that the woman’s husband booked a trip to Rome that he never made. Starring: Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Hutchings, Michael Shannon, Toyah Willcox (1993). Also airing on ITV Encore HD and Plus 1.

Celebrity Ghost Story UK: Lifetime: Friday 8th January: 11pm
Sue Cook reveals creepy encounters with a malevolent nutcracker and a UFO, Toyah Wilcox speaks of a spooky apparation, and Alex Fearns discusses sinister sounds he once caught on tape

One more sleep till Christmas! Wishing everyone who has visited this website over the last 12 months a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you back here in 2016 ;)

Two of Toyah’s festive shows air tonight, on Vintage TV, as Christmas Eve fades into the distance…

Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Christmas Eve: 9pm
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you 30 of the finest Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by an extraordinary variety of creatures great and small.

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Eve: 11.30pm
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs. (Part 1)

Toyah, accompanied by WillyFred the Wonder Rabbit, has recorded a Christmas message – Click on the screen shot below to watch. The final stocking filler for Christmas 2015 has also been revealed by toyahwillcox.com, a fantastic fantasy image Phoenix Rising (which would make an amazing album cover!).

A very Merry Christmas to Toyah, Robert and WillyFred – See Toyah’s We Are Family photo.

It’s the final day of the Dreamscape Christmas Countdown… I hope you’ve enjoyed the Christmas Toyahfest over the last 24 days.

On Christmas Eve 1981, exactly 34 years ago tonight, Toyah played the final date of the Good Morning Universe European Tour, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. This was, famously, broadcast live on BBC2 on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Toyah later recalled: “I spent one Christmas in complete euphoria after doing the Drury Lane Whistle Test. I can remember driving home to Birmingham that night and it was snowing. Everything was just wonderful and I remained on a high after doing that show for about ten days.“

A trio of festive Toyah interviews from Christmases past. Christmas Memories from ‘No. 1′ magazine, 1983; Star Surprises from ‘Celebs’ magazine, 2005; and a O Come, All Ye Faithful from the ‘Sunday Express’ magazine, 2008 (which also included a festive illustration by Daniel Mitchell).

O Come, All Ye Faithful: Sunday Express (21st December 2008)
The festive season isn’t just about parties and presents, even for the stars. Gillian Rowe talks to some well-known people about where they worship on Christmas Day, and what the occasion means to them.

Toyah Willcox: Each Christmas Eve my husband Robert and I go to the midnight carol service at my local parish church. I’m normally working over Christmas, singing at rock concerts or appearing in panto, so I find myself rushing home from wherever I am to get to the service on time. The church is full to the rafters, with 300 people or more, and everyone takes communion.

I believe in remembering the Christian values of Christmas, which for me are about bringing a community together and celebrating the birth of all children. Also, for me, Christmas is more important than the New Year as a time to look over what you have achieved in the previous 12 months. I love singing Silent Night and Away In A Manger. I first sung them at school, and we were all so innocent then. There was no persecution, terrorism or religious hatred when I was growing up in Birmingham. Of course, the history of Christianity, like many religions, is peppered with violence, but for me the principles of Christianity are sound. I think it’s important for children to be taught the power of prayer, the importance of community and compassion. For me a carol service awakens this in all children.

Star Surprises: Our Fave Gifts: Celebs Magazine (December 2005)
The celebs reveal all about the very best pressies they’ve ever found under the Christmas tree. Amazingly, they aren’t all diamonds and sports cars.

TOYAH WILLCOX  ‘A lifesize terracotta statue of a horse and warrior. On Christmas day in 1991, my husband insisted I walk around the garden and there it was. I still love it.’

Christmas Memories: No. 1 (24th December 1983)
What was the best Christmas you ever had? The best Christmases ever was when I was a kid because I had the security of my family and all the traditions were kept. I used to get tons and tons of pressies. Up until the age of ten I was having really good christmases. I spent one Christmas in complete euphoria after doing the Drury Lane Whistle Test which was two years ago. It was such a wonderful night.

• Continue reading Christmas Memories at Dreamscape’s Press Archive.