Esme Young reveals her touching childhood connection to this year’s Sewing Bee Christmas special
The perfect festive viewing
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special is going to be back this year with a new celebrity line-up ready to follow those tricky patterns and transform festive materials into something fabulous – and the release date for the episode has also been revealed.
The Christmas episode of the Sewing Bee will air on Thursday 21 December at 9pm on BBC One.
The BBC has also revealed which celebrities have been confirmed to taking on the sewing challenges for the Christmas special. This year we can look forward to seeing actor, musician and punk icon Toyah Willcox, actor and comedian Kerry Godliman, comedian and writer Jessica Knappett and actor Hammed Animashaun.
Judge Esme appeared on BBC’s Morning Live to discuss the upcoming Christmas special. In a clip of the show, contestant Toyah showed Esme a necklace she bought from Esme’s brand Swanky Modes. Toyah said she wore the piece of jewellery when she went out for lunch with Princess Diana.
• Continue reading at Prima. Follow The Great British Sewing Bee at Instagram. (Photo © BBC/Love Productions)
Christmas 2016, and BBC Four aired a repeat Top Of The Pops, which was originally broadcast in October 1982 on BBC1, which included Toyah’s studio performance of the single, Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard). The third single of that year, and a new recording, following only one single – Brave New World – being released from The Changeling, Toyah’s studio album of 1982, and a re-recording of, previously released single, Ieya, renamed, Ieya ’82.
Toyah’s original TOTP performance – first broadcast some 41 years ago – is still an iconic, colourful, classic and completely unforgettable appearance, and has the message of Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) ever been more relevant than in 2023? A song way ahead of its time! On a slightly more superficial note (but still important), Toyah’s imagery for the single’s release was, still is, and always will be, utterly stunning and creative.
While the retro TOTP aired, BBC Four also tweeted: “In 1982, Toyah was so famous, she even had a lion-tailed macaque named after her on Animal Magic, and appeared on the show to meet it“.
Christmas 2022, and a mere 41 years after its original release, Four More From Toyah was rereleased – on expanded eight song neon violet colour vinyl mini LP. Boasting gorgeous artwork and unreleased tracks, the LP, which was remastered from the original master tapes, referenced that original release while bringing the glorious EP bang up-to-date for new and old fans alike.
The Four More From Toyah Extended EP/Mini Album was the latest in an impressive release schedule of colour Toyah vinyl LPs made available over the previous five years – and something which has also continued during 2023.
The Tracklist: Side One: 1. Good Morning Universe, 2. Urban Tribesmen, 3. In The Fairground, 4. The Furious Futures | Side Two: 1. Go Berserk (Tour Intro), 2. Stand Proud, 3. Clapham Junction, 4. I Want To Be Free (Roundhouse Session)
• Click below to browse the album’s page at toyahwillcox.com.
Introducing my giant Dreamscape Christmas card… To wish everyone a great run up to Christmas, I thought I’d feature one of Toyah’s inspirational, beautiful images from 1981, in huge Christmas card form as a way of starting things off.
In a 45+ year career of ground breaking, outstanding, pioneering visual creativity this is up there with the best of Toyah’s iconic images.
Christmas is a great season, but the run up is the really special time for many, so please enjoy the next two weeks. It always feels like there is something magical in the air while heading towards Christmas Eve and the 25th. So, here is to the next two weeks of wonderment, fun, surprises and joy… Merry Christmas Run Up!
Christmas 2023, the Saturday 9th December edition of Toyah At Home was a Christmas Special – Toyah introduced the show saying “Hello everybody, Happy Christmas, it is December, it’s that magical time of the year, I hope you’re ready and have your plans all in hand for what should be, and will be, I promise you, a spectacular four weeks...”.
Toyah briefly summarised what’s to come in 2024: New music (“at least an EP“), the reissue of Love Is The Law, two movies, a radio show, tours for Toyah and Toyah & Robert, and more.
The festive Toyah At Home consisted of various clips, photos and memories, mostly with a Christmas connection: Relax/Trevor Horn; past Christmas times and memories; Toyah’s TVAM Christmas fantasy shopping trip to Liberty in London (accompanied by Messenger the Horse), to the soundtrack of The Vow; Toyah receiving her Walk Of Fame star in Birmingham in 2016 – featuring Toyah’s only ever live performance of I Believe In Father Christmas; Reminiscing about recording Love Is The Law while simultaneously starring in Trafford Tanzi, and the fans who camped outside the Mermaid Theatre; Christmas Eve at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for The Old Grey Whistle Test‘s annual concert – Big hair, big sound, fabulous theatre“; The New Year’s Eve Radio 2 concert; and ending with I Believe In Father Christmas from the 1982 ITV show, Pop Goes Christmas.
• Watch this festive edition of Toyah At Home here or by clicking below.
Christmas 2012, Toyah guested on Steve Lamacq’s Rock College on BBC Radio 2 as ‘Guest Lecturer’, discussing how absolutely life-changing first discovering David Bowie was for her when growing up in Birmingham in the early 1970s.
Toyah talks about the legendary album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and of first glimpsing, and hearing, Bowie performing Starman on the music programme Lift Off With Ayshea.
“This was a moment that changed my life forever…”
This was such a great audio clip/opinion piece by Toyah it would’ve been a real shame to just let it disappear after its week on iPlayer back in 2012… so here it is! Click below to listen.
Christmas 2018, Toyah became a Mastermind! She won Episode Two of Series 17 of Celebrity Mastermind, which aired on BBC1 on Saturday 22nd December.
John Humphrys put four celebrities to the test in another episode of the classic quiz, which aired across Christmas 2018 in ten episodes on BBC1.
Taking part were comedian Joe Pasquale, Newsround presenter Ricky Boleto, singer Toyah Willcox and Olympian Jeanette Kwakye. They answered questions on werewolf films, 1990s number one singles, Boudica and Disney animations.
Guy Garvey – From The Vaults: Sky Arts: Thursday 21st December: 1.30am
1981. Series 3, episode 4. The Elbow frontman introduces clips from the TV archives from 1981, featuring performances by New Order, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Adam and the Ants, Kirsty MacColl, Kim Wilde and Toyah. Also featured are Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Madness, the Belle Stars, Dave Edmunds with the Stray Cats, and Secret Affair, and there are interviews with the Human League’s Philip Oakey, and Simon Le Bon and John Taylor from Duran Duran.
Christmas 2011, Toyah presented a fantastic, three-hour, music-filled festive spectacular for the, relatively, new music channel Vintage TV.
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas was a constant that Christmas, airing numerous times through December, with Toyah introducing festive pop videos and sharing seasonal trivia. The programme was repeated in subsequent years, and Toyah would go on to present other Christmas shows – including A Very Vintage Christmas, Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo – right through until Vintage TV ceased broadcasting in 2017.
Toyah’s great blog for December/Christmas 2023 is available to read at toyahwillcox.com. Toyah talks 2023, the late Shane McGowan, The Great British Sewing Bee, Homes Under The Hammer, Christmas and more.
Welcome to the first day of our Countdown To Christmas…
Christmas 2022, Toyah wished everyone a Merry Christmas Eve on Toyah At Home, on, yup, Christmas Eve. The show aired at You Tube and Facebook. It was a wonderfully festive show, adding to the excitement and anticipation that is always in the air on Christmas Eve – Such a magical day!
Toyah talked Christmas, as well as taking us back to a vintage performance of It’s A Mystery on Top Of The Pops, Christmas Day 1981. It was great to see that performance again as I could still clearly remember watching that edition of Top Of The Pops on Christmas Day all those years ago!
Toyah’s Christmas Eve At Home festive special is still available to watch/rewatch at Toyah’s official You Tube channel – Click below to return to Christmas 2022. (Image © Toyah Willcox)
The Great British Sewing Bee: BBC1: Thursday 21st December: 9pm
Celebrity Christmas Special. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Joining Kiell, Patrick and Esme under the mistletoe are Hammed Animashaun, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman and Toyah Willcox. (Photo © BBC/The Great British Sewing Bee)
This week’s Toyah At Home is a Christmas Special… Airing at 11am this Saturday (9th December) at You Tube and Facebook.
Toyah has the Christmas trees up, the presents are about to be wrapped and some Christmas memories to share. There’s extra music and a look back to a few momentous Christmases gone by, plus a peak into what’s coming up in 2024. Crack open the mince pies and take a seat for a festive half hour with Toyah.
We are rollercoasting towards December, and you know what that means… Yep, we are reprising our Christmas Countdown/Run Up to the 25th.
This is Dreamscape’s 24th Christmas, and we will be digging out some of our old, but treasured, decorations – posts, really, but I think of them as decorations in December! – to celebrate the festive season.
Just like every December for the past two and a half decades, Dreamscape will be counting down every day until Christmas Eve with festive Toyah posts. There will be lots of past Christmassy bits & pieces but some new content too.
It’s going to be tinseltastic and yule be nutcrackers to miss it. Please join us every day in December for Christmas related updates – photos, info, trivia, memories and news. As well as details on any TV appearances for Toyah during December.
Toyah Willcox kicks off Christmas at Millennium Point with lights switch on
Millennium Point’s Christmas lights were officially switched on by Birmingham-born music icon, Toyah Willcox, at the award-winning conference and events venue last week (08 November).
On 08 November, over 200 people filled Millennium Point’s atrium for the official light switch on and an evening of entertainment and networking. The 39ft Christmas tree was officially illuminated by musical icon Toyah Wilcox, famed for hits such as It’s a Mystery and I Want to Be Free, and her husband Robert Fripp, legendary musician of rock band King Crimson, alongside Millennium Point’s CEO, Abbie Vlahakis.
Alongside the festive lights switch on, which marked the beginning of Christmas in the city, the evening also included a special performance from Gospel Choir of the Year Award winners, the Birmingham Community Gospel Choir, who have recently appeared on The One Show and BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.
• Continue reading at Grapevine Birmingham.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Christmas Lights Switch On yesterday! It was wonderful to welcome icon Toyah Willcox to switch on our Christmas lights, alongside her husband – fellow music legend, Robert Fripp. Plus, the Birmingham Community Gospel Choir’s performance was incredible. Our fabulous 39ft Christmas tree will be lighting up Millennium Point throughout the festive season for you to enjoy.
• See more photos by clicking below. (Photo © Millennium Point)
Christmas is coming and a limited stock of Toyah baubles is available in the Toyah shop!
These limited edition baubles are hand painted from the inside, and each one is boxed with a numbered mini card hand signed by Toyah.
