Toyah guested on last night’s Britain’s Favourite Christmas Carol, which aired on Channel 5. A very festive 90 minutes on the Saturday before Christmas. Here are a few screen caps.
Britain’s Favourite Christmas Carol
Channel 5, 6.50pm, Saturday
Countdown shows have fallen somewhat out of fashion since their 1990s heyday, but nobody has ever accused Channel 5 of being ahead of the curve. They’re continuing to resurrect the Saturday schedule-filler with this 90-minute injection of very light entertainment. Feel free to dip in and out of this countdown of the nation’s 20 best-loved Christmas carols that unspools in the usual fashion, by deploying famous(ish) faces to provide humorous or revealing commentary in between clips.
Those expressing their thoughts on Ding Dong Merrily on High et al include Toyah Willcox, radio presenter Katie Thistleton and DJ Pat Sharpe. But what may elevate this special is the addition of musical and historical experts – including Rev Canon Ann Easter, Chaplain to the Queen (no less) – to describe the musical innovations that make particular carols appealing, and to share surprising stories behind some of the classics.
Performances will come both from a raid on the television archives for memorable clips and from choirs nationwide. Of course, television countdowns are no more scientific than a poll of your friends at the pub, but this piece of televisual tinsel should at least put you in a festive mood.
It was like Toyah Christmas came early on prime time BBC1 last night, with a double helping of appearances. Early evening there was the repeat airing of Toyah winning her episode of Celebrity Mastermind, while later she was in the audience at Strictly Come Dancing.
Look out for Toyah again this evening in, the pre-recorded, Strictly Come Dancing – The Results on BBC1 at 7.15pm. Watch last night’s show at BBC iPlayer.
This article, Royal bombshell: Why Prince Charles once asked ‘Shall I go gay?’, at today’s Sunday Express suggests Toyah will be appearing in a new Channel 5 documentary series which begins airing this Tuesday.
Prince Edward may also cringe at the sight of another re-run of his much-maligned It’s A Royal Knockout TV show. The one-off charity extravaganza saw members of the Royal Family compete alongside celebrities from the worlds of sport, music and TV in a series of wacky challenges and events. Toyah Willcox, who took part, reveals that the press took against the show because Edward forced them to stay inside a tent to report on the antics outside.
Paxman On The Queen’s Children: Channel 5: Tuesday 5th February: 9pm
Episode 1. Two part documentary series. Jeremy Paxman explores the lives of Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, the first generation of royals to grow up as celebrities. Attempts to embrace the modern world instead eroded reputations and spoiled the fairytale, not least in It’s a Royal Knockout.
The Golden Globe winner whose big break came from CBBC
Richard Madden winning a Golden Globe capped a stellar year for the actor.
He received glowing praise in the UK for his portrayal of Sergeant David Budd in BBC One’s Bodyguard, but winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama showed just how respected the actor has become in Hollywood.
Barmy Aunt Boomerang
Like many actors, Richard’s first break came in Children’s TV, in a show produced in his native Scotland. Back in 1999, 13-year-old Richard starred in Barmy Aunt Boomerang as Sebastian, a boy whose life is thrown into chaos by the arrival of his ghostly aunt, played by Toyah Willcox. The role set Richard off on the path of full-time acting, a career which has seen him play a number of notable roles.
• Continue reading at BBC Scotland.
Toyah was included on Carol Decker’s Rock Chicks which aired on NOW Xmas on Boxing Day and a few other times over Christmas. Toyah was number 30 on the rundown, with the Thunder In The Mountains video being shown.
From our friends NOW 80s T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of heart and soul a countdown of 80s ladies who like to rock.
Toyah won last night’s episode of BBC1’s Celebrity Mastermind. She braved the famous black chair, became a mastermind and won a donation for her chosen charity. Fantastic, and you can watch it at BBC iPlayer by clicking below.
Toyah was one of the celebrity fans on last night’s Fleetwood Mac: A Musical History which aired on BBC Four. There’s another chance to see the 60-minute programme on Christmas Eve, or watch now at BBC iPlayer by clicking below.
Fleetwood Mac: A Musical History
Friday, BBC4, 8pm
Telling the history of Fleetwood Mac in just an hour is something of a challenge, not least because the group evolved so much from its first incarnation as a 1960s blues-rock-influenced band led by guitarist and songwriter Peter Green to the softer 1970s sound of the all-conquering Rumours. Edith Bowman narrates a brief history of the group while celebrity fans KT Tunstall, Travis frontman Fran Healy, Toyah Willcox, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri pay tribute and share their favourite tracks.
Christmas 1990 saw Toyah play Miss Scarlet in a special festive edition, “Christmas Past, Christmas Present”, of ITV’s Cluedo.
You are invited to a murder: Arlington Grange – home of wealthy widow Elizabeth Peacock; society hostess and patron of the arts. A woman with a reputation she would rather forget.
Colonel Mustard: Secret lover of Mrs. Peacock. A dashing military hero who’s glittering career hides a tarnished past. The Reverend Green: Pastor of the parish who’s means of raising money are not heaven sent. Though a man of the cloth, he has feet of clay. Professor Plum: Nuclear physicist and government advisor. But would his research methods stand the scrutiny of a microscope. Miss Scarlett: vivacious step-daughter of Mrs. Peacock; who’s lust for the high life will let nothing or no-one stand in her way. And Mrs White: for the past 15 years, friend and housekeeper to Mrs. Peacock. But what what dark secret did she bring to Arlington Grange? Six people, all with murder on their minds.
Christmas 1984. Toyah guested on the Pop Quiz Christmas Special on BBC1. The programme aired at 4.15pm on Christmas Eve.
This was the penultimate edition of the original Pop Quiz. There were four series, plus five specials, 48 episodes in total, with Toyah guesting four times. The final Pop Quiz Special aired a few days later on 28th December 1984. Though there have been a number of revivals since.
Pop Quiz was a British television quiz programme that originally aired on BBC1 from 4th July 1981 to 28th December 1984 with a Top of the Pops special on 4th January 1994 hosted by Mike Read. It was then revived from 21st May to 9th July 1994 on the same channel but this time hosted by Chris Tarrant (Toyah also guested on this series, alongside Pete Burns). It was revived again on Red TV from 14th June to 30th August 2008 with Mike Read returning as host. He also hosted two specials on BBC Four in December 2016 and January 2017 – Please click on the caps below for larger versions.
The Christmas series of Celebrity Mastermind begins airing on BBC1 on Friday 21st December at 8.30pm. Please check your, just about to be published, Christmas Radio Times for exact days and times for the full series.
Toyah is one of the contestants during the Christmas 2018 series.
Visit the BBC Celebrity Mastermind website.
BBC Media Centre released details of the BBC’s Christmas 2018 TV schedule today – A bumper box of festive treats to enthrall and enchant audiences across the BBC this Christmas season.
Fleetwood Mac: A Musical History
Fellow musicians, journalists and fans celebrate Fleetwood Mac with a selection of their best loved songs.
Fleetwood Mac are the great survivors of British and American rock music. For more than fifty years they’ve overcome break-ups and breakdowns to become one of the most successful bands of all time. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide, with their 1977 smash Rumours accounting for nearly half of those sales.
They have endured, like all great bands, because of the complimentary talents of their members. From Peter Green to Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, the band has contained some extraordinary songwriters. With brilliant musicians on all instruments, they have been able to turn the songs into commercial gold. Above all, the tough determination of the two men who gave the band their name has seen Fleetwood Mac through thick and thin.
Celebrity fans paying tribute to the band in this hit-filled hour include KT Tunstall, Travis frontman Fran Healy, Edith Bowman, Toyah Willcox, Alan McGee, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri.
• Continue reading at BBC Media Centre.
The Pointless Celebrities website has updated the page for next weekend’s quiz show with a great photo of Toyah and, her quiz partner, Sonique. The programme airs next Saturday, 24th November, at 6pm on BBC1. Click below to visit the page at bbc.co.uk. (Photo © BBC)
This morning’s Jeremy Vine show is now available to watch on demand at My5. Toyah guested on the two-hour programme, which gave viewers the sublime (Sheep Farming in Barnet, Neon Womb) and the ridiculous (Brexit, Donald Trump). Click on the screenshots to watch the show. It’s likely to be UK only unfortunately. Click here for larger versions of the screenshots.
Toyah will guest in one of the Christmas episodes of Celebrity Mastermind this forthcoming festive season on BBC1. She previously appeared on the long running quiz show in December 2009 – Screen caps from that guest appearance below.
• News Source – Toyah’s November 2018 Blog – Click on the caps to read.
Toyah briefly appeared on yesterday morning’s Lorraine, on ITV, in their feature on keeping pets and animals safe during the fireworks and noise of November 5th.
Toyah asked how to ensure smaller pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs etc. are protected and looked after. The reply was, ensure they are indoors and shielded from as much noise as possible. (Thanks to Paul)
As previously reported, Toyah guested on Celebrity Eggheads on BBC2 yesterday evening. Watch the 45-minute episode for the next four weeks at BBC iPlayer. See larger versions of the screen caps from the programme by clicking on them.
Jeremy Vine hosts a special celebrity edition of the show where every day, a new team of challengers take on arguably the greatest quiz team in Britain – the Eggheads. Can a team from the world of arts and entertainment, featuring actor Simon Greenall, singer Toyah Willcox, arts correspondent Nick Higham, award-winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown and Proms presenter Katie Derham, triumph over the general knowledge goliaths and win the cash prize for their charity?
A reminder that the Video Killed The Radio Star Toyah Special premieres tonight on Sky Arts at 8.30pm. There’s also a repeat next Tuesday.
Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Friday 3rd August: 8.30pm
Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Tuesday 7th August: 7.30pm
Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6) A look back at the most memorable music videos of Toyah Willcox, who has had eight Top 40 singles over the last four decades.
Toyah mentioned last August that she was filming for Sky Arts. This was for an episode of Video Killed The Radio Star focusing on the making/creation of her 80s pop videos. The programme airs at the beginning of next month on Sky Arts.
Video Killed the Radio Star reveals the genius, madness, excesses and ideas behind some of music’s most famous videos.
Featuring interviews with iconic bands and artists, directors, cameramen and others involved in the creative process of making the ultimate pop promo.
Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Friday 3rd August: 8.30pm
Video Killed The Radio Star: Sky Arts: Tuesday 7th August: 7.30pm
Toyah Willcox. (Series 7, Episode 6) A look back at the most memorable music videos of Toyah Willcox, who has had eight Top 40 singles over the last four decades.
Toyah is currently voicing continuity on BBC Four’s Smashing Hits! The 80s Pop Map of Britain and Ireland. The final part of the three-episode series airs this Friday at 10pm, with a repeat late night Saturday. The first two episodes are currently available at BBC iPlayer.
Smashing Hits! The 80s Pop Map of Britain and Ireland: BBC4: Fri 20th July: 10pm
Smashing Hits! The 80s Pop Map of Britain and Ireland: BBC4: Sun 22nd July: 0.00am
Two 80s icons explore the distinct sounds that came out of different parts of Britain and Ireland in one of pop’s golden decades. Midge Ure, lead singer of Ultravox and one of the men behind Band Aid, and Kim Appleby, who had a string of hits with her sister Mel in the Stock, Aitken and Waterman-produced band Mel and Kim, go on a journey back in time to the 80s to figure out why certain cities produced their own diverse tunes.
• Further info/Watch the episodes at BBC iPlayer.
