Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Dreamscape posted news about this before Christmas, and now PROG magazine have put the article, and recipe, online.

In this month’s mag, we printed Robert and Toyah’s recipe for Christmas cake. If you missed it, here’s the winter fuel for a Crimson King…

• Continue reading at PROG magazine.

Another year almost over. 2013 has been a great one for Toyah and her fans. This site has also continued to be visited by many of you which I’m grateful for, especially in these days of social networks etc. It’s also been a more settled year for Dreamscape after the shenanigans of 2012 too. Hoping 2014 will be similar, and it’s set to be an incredibly busy one for Toyah. March will be our 14th anniversary and the beginning of our 15th year online so lots to look forward to.

Wishing everyone who takes the time to visit Dreamscape a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Sending extra special thoughts to anyone who is alone this year or missing a loved one, and Season’s Greetings too, of course, to Toyah, Robert and WillyFred.

Christmas Eve 2012, Toyah guested on Marlow FM’s ‘Musical Milestones’ on The Eclectic Light Show. She discussed her life and career and chose six songs along the way. As this aired on Christmas Eve and the station didn’t have a Listen Again function I recorded it and uploaded to Dreamscape last Christmas a low quality mp3 of the 30-minute special. Click below to listen/download.

This is our final Christmas Countdown post for 2013. View all of the countdown here.

The bonus Christmas Eve Digital Advent gift was unveiled at Toyah’s Official Website today and it was Live Is The Law, a seven-track mini-album of songs recorded on the 2013 Love Is The Law & More UK Tour. There’s also downloadable artwork. Click below for Toyah’s final 2013 Christmas goodie, as well as a full Digital Advent summary. Merry Christmas to toyahwillcox.com!

A trio of festive articles from Christmases past. Christmas Memories from ‘No. 1’ magazine in 1983, Star Surprises from ‘Celebs’ magazine in 2005, and a Christmas feature from ‘Sunday Express’ magazine in 2008 (which 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.

For the third consecutive year Toyah has been omnipresent on Vintage TV throughout December. This year the 2011 special Toyah’s Vintage Christmas, last year’s Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo and 2013’s two-parter, co-hosted by Toyah and Roy Wood, A Very Vintage Christmas have all been airing.

There are still chances to catch all three: A Very Vintage Christmas is showing until the end of December, with Part One on this evening and Part Two tomorrow. Toyah’s Vintage Christmas and Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo are also both airing tomorrow… meaning Christmas Eve Eve (the best day of the year!) really does see Toyah taking over Vintage TV for Christmas.

Here are the times for the latest showings of all four programes, and view the full schedule for the rest of Toyah @ Vintage TV in December. Don’t forget that both parts of A Very Vintage Christmas are also currently available to watch online at Vintage TV’s website.

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Sunday 22nd December: 11.00pm (Pt 1)
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs.

Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Monday 23rd December: 9.00am
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: Monday 23rd December: 4.00pm (Pt 2)
Snuggling up by the fireside with Toyah Willcox and Roy Wood for some Christmas chat and festive songs are pop rock act The Feeling and Imagination’s Leee John.

Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Monday 23rd December: 9.00pm
Snuggle down by the fire with the family as punk princess, Toyah Willcox, introduces some of the finest Christmas videos of the 20th Century, sprinkled with a generous handful of fun festive facts.

Toyah’s Digital Advent for Christmas 2013 is almost complete, with the final door coming tomorrow. Yesterday’s gift was a selection of previously unseen outtakes from legendary Toyah photo sessions. Click  below to view.

A few years ago Dreamscape compiled the ‘Toyah Festive 50′. A tinseltastic half tonne of Yuletide related Toyah facts, figures and trivia. Revisit the full rundown here.

Why was Toyah Scarlett at Christmas? … Who would be her dream dining companion? … Just how many town’s lights 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 @ Christmas information overload! Completely unecessary but a lot of fun nonetheless!

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…

• Continue reading at Dreamscape’s Press Archive.

In the early 80s, every member of Toyah’s Fanclub – The Intergalactic Ranchouse – received a personally signed Christmas card from Toyah. She even mentioned in an interview at the time that she signed thousands of cards. Do you still have yours? Here are all four cards, send from 1981 to 1984. The card from 1983 was a postcard and the 1984 card came from the Toyah Fanclub, the IRH had closed earlier in the year.

Click here to read the messages, for 1981 and ’82. And click here for the cards, and messages, from 1983 and ’84.

A Christmas update to In The Fairground: Andrew York’s Arternative Universe. It’s been a successful first year for Andrew’s website, which now showcases 100s of his wonderful creations. Click below to visit.

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Parts One and Two
Various Days & Times: Throughout December 
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs. View full schedule.

Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV:
Tue 17th December: 4.00pm / Mon 23rd December: 9.00pm
Snuggle down by the fire with the family as punk princess, Toyah Willcox, introduces some of the finest Christmas videos of the 20th Century, sprinkled with a generous handful of fun festive facts.

Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV:
Thu 19th December: 8.00pm / Saturday 21st December: 11.00am 
Monday 23rd December: 9.00am / Boxing Day: 5.00pm
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.

Quadrophenia: ITV4: Thursday 19th December: 11.05pm
Quadrophenia: ITV4: Christmas Day: 10.35pm
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. (Also airing on ITV4 +1 and ITV4 HD)

100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross:
Ch4: Mon 23rd Dec: 12.30pm / More4: Christmas Day: 10.45am / Boxing Day: 4Seven: 00.35am
Boxing Day: 4Seven: 3.55pm / Sat 28th Dec: 4Seven: 11.05pm / Sun 29th Dec: 4Seven: 12.50pm
Gadget, gizmo and toy collector extraordinaire Jonathan Ross presents a three-hour countdown of the nation’s favourite toys and games. From Action Man to Yahtzee, and from Barbie to Trivial Pursuit, inventors and toymakers tell the inside stories of their creations and success. And to fully explain the impact of these toys and games, the children of yesteryear – today’s celebrities, authors, actors and journalists – reveal exactly what it was that made them love a particular toy. The shortlist of 100 toys was selected by a panel of industry experts and the final countdown decided by a Channel 4 online vote.

We’re counting down to Christmas at Dreamscape…

Christmas Eve, 1981. Toyah play to millions (figures mentioned sometimes suggest over 10 million viewers) on The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2, beamed live from the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Toyah was in top form this night and no wonder as it was the end to a hugely successful year: hit singles, an album that reached number 2 and stayed on the chart for the rest of the year, three sell out tours, topping year-end music polls, magazine covers, numerous television appearances… Here are screen caps from the original BBC2 Christmas trail for their 1981 Christmas Eve schedule.

The Official Toyah Digital Advent for Christmas 2013 began yesterday.

There will be Toyah goodies behind each door in a daily countdown to Christmas Eve. Already there’s been great live footage and a selection of highly rare band photos from the 1970s and we’re only on Day Two!!

• Check out the Official Advent at toyahwillcox.com.

Christmas 1983, Toyah was promoting ‘The Vow’, the final single for Safari Records, the ‘Love Is The Law’ album, and travelling the UK on the ‘Rebel Run’ Tour. Toyah, and the band, appeared on numerous TV shows in the UK and Europe through November and December, being interviewed as well as performing ‘The Vow’ and ‘Rebel Run’.

The TV shows included; Pebble Mill, Did You See?, Pop Watch, Saturday Superstore, Breakfast Time, Razzmatazz, The Saturday Show, Harty, Crackerjack and Judgendbund. Other shows included in ‘The Vow’ promotion were; TVAM: Good Morning Britain and 60 Minutes.

Yipee! It’s our first Christmas Countdown post – A great way to start, download some festive Toyah music to get you through the month.

1. Re-Joyce (In The Bleak Midwinter) by The Hazel O’Connor Collective, which included Toyah, was released three years ago at Christmas 2010. A charity single, raising funds for the hospice Hazel’s mum was looked after before her death. A great cause and a really good song. Download at iTunes. 2. I Believe In Father Christmas, Toyah’s version of the Greg Lake 70s festive classic (which was voted one of the greatest ever Christmas songs last year) has gathered quite a history over the years: It was originally recorded for ITV’s Pop Goes Christmas in 1982, Safari then included it on the ‘Mayhem’ compilation album in 1985, and later it was also made available on the CD ‘Live & More’. Last year it was released as a standalone digital single. Download at iTunes. 3. Winter In Wonderland, One year on and there’s a new digital single, no make that an EP, for Christmas – Winter in Wonderland… Download at iTunes.

A Very Vintage Christmas… Toyah’s Vintage Christmas… Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo… All the confirmed upcoming airdates & times.

This is Dreamscape’s 14th Christmas and in years gone by the site has celebrated the festive season by bringing you the “Toyah Advent Calendar”, “Toyah @ Christmas” and “Toyah’s Christmas Pasts”. Starting tomorrow I’m entering into the spirit of the season again by adding Toyah related Christmas posts but as these probably won’t be every day I’m not going to call it an Advent Calendar, and yes, I liked the site’s little “idents” from last year so much I’m using them again :)

Revisit regularly for Christmassy updates counting down to the 25th. Aside from the Double Issue ‘Radio Times’ and Doctor Who special, another of the best things about Christmas is I, and you, get to listen to December Will Be Magic Again by Kate Bush, one of my favourite songs, for the next few weeks…

Toyah’s Official Website celebrates Christmas with another Advent Calendar this year, and if it is anything like last year’s we have lots of goodies to look forward to!

Howabout Happy Christmas From The Stars to start us off? A flexi given away by Smash Hits at Christmas 1982 and still manages to make me smile after 30+ years. Click below to listen – Toyah arrives at 4.46, inbetween Martin Fry of ABC and Steve Strange of Visage. Too-de-loo!!