Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

A reminder, Toyah is guesting on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends this evening, joining Clive Anderson to talk about the Toyah & Robert Christmas Party Tour, and no doubt much more. The programme is being repeated on Boxing Day. Listen live or at BBC Sounds post-airing.

Loose Ends: BBC Radio 4: Sat 21st Dec: 6.15pm
Loose Ends: BBC Radio 4: Boxing Day: 9pm
Toyah Willcox, Adam Riches and John Kearns, Barb Junger, 30 years of Stay Another Day. In a glorious fusion of 1990s boy and girl band nostalgia Loose Ends will celebrate the 30 years since boyband East 17 scaled the charts with Stay Another Day – songwriter Tony Mortimer will perform the song with Edele Lynch of B*Witched for a festive Loose Ends recorded with a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre.

Clive talks to punk princess Toyah Willcox about her Xmas Party tour with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and a blistering year that’s seen her perform at Glastonbury, take part in Strictly Come Dancing and join the cast of Now That’s What I Call Music, the musical.

We’re promised bromance, baubles and banter with Edinburgh Comedy Award winners Adam Riches and John Kearns who are collaborating on a “once in a lifetime, yuletide extravaganza” show at the Soho Theatre

Christmas 2012, Toyah guested on Marlow FM’s Musical Milestones on The Eclectic Light Show. She discussed her life and career and chose six songs that soundtracked her life.

This great Toyah on the radio special aired on Christmas Eve that year and at that time Marlow FM didn’t have a Listen Again function so I recorded the show and uploaded to Dreamscape a low quality mp3 of the 30-minute special. Click below to listen/download.

Toyah guested on Toni McDonald’s show on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester earlier today.

While Toyah is at home in Worcestershire, she embraces technology with her own YouTube channel with 215,000 subscribers and counting. We first saw her as an actress in the late 70s on stage, TV and in the films Quadrophenia and Jubilee, before her music career took off. Toyah has achieved 8 top 40 singles – including 3 top 10 entries – with her self-titled band and as a solo artist, has had 9 top 40 albums so far, and tours regularly.

• Listen to an excerpt here and the full show at BBC Sounds.

Here’s a festive treat for Christmas 2024…

The complete four-part radio version of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, with Toyah in the title role, airs again on BBC Radio 4 Extra later this month, over four consecutive days – with four airings for each episode. This was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1995.

The most recent airing was almost a decade ago, in October 2015.

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of J. M. Barrie’s tale of childhood adventure starring Toyah Willcox as Peter Pan and Ron Moody as Captain Hook. These audio editions, especially dramatised for BBC Radio, are of timeless stories that have enchanted generations of readers both young and old.

Also starring Roy Hudd as Smee and June Whitfield as Mrs Darling, this sparkling production is directed by award-winning producer Dirk Maggs, with an original music score and stunning sound effects.

Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Tue 17th Dec: 6am/11am/5pm | Wed 18th Dec: 1am
Episode 1 of 4. Away to Neverland. A strange visitor transforms the Darling household one bedtime. Stars Toyah Willcox, Ron Moody and June Whitfield.

Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Wed 18th Dec: 6am/11am/5pm | Thu 19th Dec: 1am
Episode 2 of 4. In The Mermaid’s Lagoon. The mischievous boy and the children arrive in Neverland. Stars Toyah Willcox, Ron Moody, Georgina Cates and Roy Hudd.

Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Thu 19th Dec: 6am/11am/5pm | Fri 20th Dec: 1am
Episode 3 of 4. An Awfully Big Adventure. Captain Hook turns the tables, as the battle between the Lost Boys and the pirates begins. Stars Toyah Willcox and Ron Moody.

Peter Pan: BBC R4 Extra: Fri 20th Dec: 6am/11am/5pm | Sat 21st Dec: 1am
Episode 4 of 4. Spring Cleaning Time Again. Wendy longs for home, but first she and the brothers must be rescued from Captain Hook. Stars Toyah Willcox and Ron Moody.

Toyah is guesting on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends this Christmas, joining Clive Anderson on Saturday 21st December. Listen live or at BBC Sounds post-airing.

Loose Ends: BBC Radio 4: Sat 21st Dec: 6.15pm
Loose Ends: BBC Radio 4: Boxing Day: 9pm
Toyah Willcox, Adam Riches and John Kearns, Barb Junger, 30 years of Stay Another Day. In a glorious fusion of 1990s boy and girl band nostalgia Loose Ends will celebrate the 30 years since boyband East 17 scaled the charts with Stay Another Day – songwriter Tony Mortimer will perform the song with Edele Lynch of B*Witched for a festive Loose Ends recorded with a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre.

Clive talks to punk princess Toyah Willcox about her Xmas Party tour with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and a blistering year that’s seen her perform at Glastonbury, take part in Strictly Come Dancing and join the cast of Now That’s What I Call Music, the musical.

We’re promised bromance, baubles and banter with Edinburgh Comedy Award winners Adam Riches and John Kearns who are collaborating on a “once in a lifetime, yuletide extravaganza” show at the Soho Theatre

On the eve of her 44th single being released… Toyah will be joining Jackie Brambles on Greatest Hits Radio tonight for a Great Conversation from 8pm, ahead of her & Robert Fripp’s performance at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival this weekend. There may be a surprise too. Post-airing listen to the show here…

The first series of The Older Woman, the six-part radio drama which was originally broadcast in 1993, is currently airing again on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Toyah plays Elsa, alongside Martin Clunes and Zoë Wanamaker as Roy and Jane in this excellent, and slightly surreal, drama by Tony Bagley. Toyah also performs the theme song to The Older Woman.

The series, produced by Paul Schlesinger, also features David Troughton, Geoff McGivern, David Holt, Keith Drinkel and Melanie Hudson in a variety of roles.

The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 31st May: 7am/12pm/6pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 1st June: 2am
Episode 3 of 6. Roy’s quest to insinuate himself further into Jane’s good books gets a new lease of life when she requests his help to save a tree. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From January 1993.

The Heritage Chart Show: North Wales TV: Friday 24th May: 5pm/11pm
The Heritage Chart Show: Teeside TV: Saturday 25th May: 9am/12pm/5pm
Special 100th Anniversary Edition. The Heritage Chart show is presented by Mike Read and features the top 40 heritage hits, voted on by people in 80+ countries across the globe. Including messages from many number 1 artists: Limahl, Paul Young, Gary Kemp, Right Said Fred, Kim Wilde, Boy George, Marty Wilde, Toyah, Dean Friedman, Mungo Jerry, Suzi Quatro Tony Hadley, Cliff Richard, Katrina, Nik Kershaw and many more! Visit theheritagechart.co.uk. (Airing on North Wales TV and Teeside TV simultaneously)

The first series of The Older Woman, the six-part radio drama which was originally broadcast in 1993, begins airing again on BBC Radio 4 Extra from next Friday.

Toyah plays Elsa, alongside Martun Clunes and Zoë Wanamaker as Roy and Jane in this excellent, and slightly surreal, drama by Tony Bagley. Toyah also performs the theme song to The Older Woman.

The series, produced by Paul Schlesinger, also features David Troughton, Geoff McGivern, David Holt, Keith Drinkel and Melanie Hudson in a variety of roles.

The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 17th May: 7am
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 17th May: 12pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 17th May: 6pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 18th May: 2am
Episode 1 of 6. Local hack journalist Roy Hitchcock meets his former English teacher, and sets out on a crusade to win her heart against all odds. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From January 1993.

The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 24th May: 7am
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 24th May: 12pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 24th May: 6pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 25th May: 2am
Episode 2 of 6. Can Roy impress Jane by joining a green pressure group? Meanwhile, Pavarotti appears in his dreams with some invaluable advice. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From January 1993.

• Below are a couple of Radio Times clippings with a little more detail about the series, published when The Older Woman originally aired in January 1993. (Thanks to Anthony Lewis)

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.

Toyah & Robert guested on BBC Radio Wales last week.

Engaged after just a week! Musicians Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp have been married for 37 years and it was a whirlwind at the start…

They spoke to Carol Vorderman and revealed their Welsh connections too.

• Watch at BBC Radio Wales/Facebook.

Toyah joined Ken Bruce for Golden Years and took us through the year of 1972. She tells Ken about her love for Roxy Music and Elton John amongst others. Toyah talks about the impact of the 1970s and recalls what she remembers about the decade.

She also shares a story about her early life in school and how she may have cause some trouble in school. One story involves several alarm clocks, a school stage and a former Prime Minister!

• Listen to the great interview below or at You Tube.

Craig Charles: BBC Radio 6 Music: Thursday 29th June: 1pm
Your early afternoon party with Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox

Craig Charles brings a joyous mix of the big tunes and catches up with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and singer Toyah Willcox. They chat about the success of their Sunday Lunch YouTube series, which has been viewed 111 million times, and how it has turned into a UK tour.

Toyah guested on Absolute Radio’s My Absolute 80s on Thursday night. The first of a new series, with Toyah choosing the songs that defined the decade for her. Listen by clicking below.

Babs Michel: BBC Three Counties Radio: Saturday 24th June: 6am
Toyah guests on Babs Michel’s breakfast show this morning – at approximately 8.10am. Listen live or available at BBC Sounds later.

BBC Breakfast: Ahead of their Sunday performance at Glastonbury 2023 Catch Toyah & Robert on BBC Breakfast at 07:50am on BBC One, Wednesday 21st June (aka later this morning)…

Vectis Radio: Isle of Wight Festival 2023 – Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp on taking their Sunday Lunch on tour and the covers you haven’t heard yet: After their barnstorming set in the Big Top, Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp chat to Nik and Kieren about their upcoming tour, working together after 37 years of marriage and the tracks you haven’t heard them cover live… yet! – Listen at Audio Boom…

It’s A Mystery, Toyah’s forever iconic 1981 hit, from the Four From Toyah EP, was the “Big 45” on The Simon Mayo Drivetime Show on Greatest Hits Radio on Tuesday.

Toyah and Robert guested on Mike Sweeney’s BBC Radio Manchester Show yesterday.

Mike chats with Toyah and Robert about their career ahead of their show at The Lowry later this year.

• Listen to the show, for the next month, at BBC Sounds.

My 80s Playlist: Toyah Willcox picks her favourite 80s tunes from Bowie to Kate Bush

80s icon Toyah Willcox made her name not just on the charts but on the screen too.

She first kicked things off in the band Toyah until 1983, before embarking on an impressive solo career, with top 10 singles including I Want To Be Free and Thunder in the Mountains. Toyah also found fame on the big screen as Monkey in 1979’s Quadrophenia, and worked alongside Katharine Hepburn in The Corn is Green.

While at the Top of the Tower at Virgin Radio 80s Plus Toyah sat down with Steve Denyer for My 80s Playlist, and shared the top 80s tunes that made the era.

• Continue reading at Virgin Radio.

The iconic Toyah Willcox joins Steve Denyer on My 80s Playlist.

Toyah guested on Friday evening’s edition of Jake Yapp’s Unwinding on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

The live show had a runtime of three hours and was a mix of live guests, sketches, archive comedy, interviews and more.

Jake Yapp’s Unwinding | Series 1 Episode 15 of 20
Comedian and broadcaster Jake Yapp with a new live show for January evenings; three hours of comedy, guests and games. Tonight he’s joined by Toyah.

• Listen to the show at BBC Sounds for the next month. See Toyah’s tweet about guesting on Jake Yapp’s Unwinding.