Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

The Chase: Celebrity Special: ITV: Saturday 26th January: 6pm
The Chase: Celebrity Special: ITV4: Tuesday 29th January: 6.55pm
Bradley Walsh hosts the quiz show as four celebrities take on the Chaser. Singer Toyah Willcox, ex-footballer John Barnes, writer Germaine Greer and heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison pit their wits against one of the country’s finest quiz brains in the hope of winning thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.

2019 is a very special anniversary year. It marks 40 years since Toyah’s first recordings – Victims Of The Riddle and the Sheep Farming in Barnet AP were both released by Safari Records in 1979.

The genesis of an astonishing, and ridiculously underrated, music career. Did Toyah record and release even one duff song during five years at Safari?

Even tracks that were given away free by Flexipop magazine – Sphinx, For You – were far superior to actual single releases by other bands at the time.

Post-Safari saw Toyah become really experimental and release albums and music that are now considered works of genius – Prostitute, Ophelia’s Shadow, In The Court Of The Crimson Queen – Toyah’s 40 year discography is one of the finest of any artist/musician/pop star, with incredible song after song after song. Soaring choruses, unforgettable melodies, wonderful lyrics – Each album is a completely different experience. For sure, the past 40 years of music would have been far less of an adventure without Toyah!

Stay tuned to Dreamscape for sporadic anniversary updates to mark Toyah’s 40 years of music.

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.

In less than two month’s time Dreamscape will enter it’s 20th year online.

I started working on creating this website as something to help me deal with my Mother’s death in the late 1990s. Unfortunately it didn’t manage that but it did keep me occupied in my spare time through much of 1999. I put the site online on 10th March 2000 after a previous attempt to launch it on the 1st January that year. My initial intention was that it would be a rolling news service, constantly updated with all the latest Toyah happenings. Some people said the idea would never work. 19 years, and thousands & thousands of posts, later, I like to think it did!

Perhaps if I’d known the hate that would be directed at me over the years I wouldn’t have bothered. In 2012 I almost closed Dreamscape when things got particularly unpleasant, and recently there has been an undercurrent of nastiness again. On a far more positive note, through this site I’ve made fantastic lifelong friends who I really treasure. There were some fake friends too but they, thankfully, fucked off. Grrr, I always have to end on a negative lol!!

Guest Announcement – Toyah Willcox!
Sports Connexion, Ryton, Coventry
Saturday 28th September 2019

Our next Quadrophenia guest is the amazing Toyah Willcox who played Monkey in the 1979 film. Toyah is also known for:

13 Top 40 singles (Her biggest hits include “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”), 24 albums, Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007) – Gail Baxter (Hannah’s mother), Teletubbies Narrator, Doctor Who: Thirty Years in the TARDIS and many, many more TV, film and theatre appearances!

Come and meet Toyah at Covcon! www.coventrycomiccon.uk

• Continue reading at Coventry Comic Con.

Toyah’s first blog of 2019 is available to read at toyahwillcox.com.

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.

Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Sunday 13th January: 4am
Punk. Narrated by Noddy Holder, this eye-opening series turns its attention to the origins of punk music. With Toyah Willcox and DJ Annie Nightingale. (Episode, Series 1, Episode 5)

It’s the final day of our Christmas countdown. Thanks to everyone who visited every day of December.

Christmas 2010, Dreamscape compiled the Toyah Festive 50. A tinseltastic half hundred 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 and utterly unecessary but a lot of festive fun nonetheless!

Another chance for viewers in Ireland to catch Toyah’s 2016 guest appearance on ITV’s The Chase, on the penultimate day of the year.

The Chase: Celebrity Special: Virgin Media One:
Sunday 30th December: 2pm
Bradley Walsh hosts the quiz show as four celebrities take on the Chaser. Singer Toyah Willcox, ex-footballer John Barnes, writer Germaine Greer and heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison pit their wits against one of the country’s finest quiz brains in the hope of winning thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.

A Very Merry Christmas Eve Eve! It’s the penultimate day of Dreamscape’s countdown to Christmas 2018.

Christmas 1983, Toyah, and her Brave New World video co-star Messenger, went early Christmas shopping in November… Pop singer and actress Toyah Willcox has always wanted to do her Christmas shopping on horseback! With a little help from TV-am’s ‘Fantasy Time’, and Liberty’s in Regent Street, Toyah rode a white horse called Messenger through the store. 

Watch the full TVAM clip at Toyah’s Official You Tube channel and click below to see larger versions of the screen caps.

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.

Christmas 2016, and Toyah guested on Pop Quiz – The Comeback which aired on BBC Four on 28th December.

It was the Saturday night smash hit music quiz show that ran for four years between 1981 and 1984. Over 30 years later it’s back, with the original presenter Mike Read hosting the first of two special celebration shows where the biggest pop stars from the 1980s go head to head in a test of their 80s music knowledge.

Guests include Toyah Willcox, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Mari Wilson and Leee John (Imagination).

A selection of Toyah on TV this festive season. Celebrity Mastermind airs early this evening on BBC1.

Celebrity Mastermind: BBC1:
Saturday 22nd December: 5.20pm
Series 13, Episode 2. John Humphrys puts four celebrities to the test in another episode of the classic quiz. Taking part are comedian Joe Pasquale, Newsround presenter Ricky Boleto, singer Toyah Willcox and Olympian Jeanette Kwakye. They answer questions on werewolf films, 1990s number one singles, Boudica and Disney animations.

Fleetwood Mac – A Musical History: BBC4:
Christmas Eve: 00.25am
Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac fan Edith Bowman provides a narrative overview alongside other celebrity fans who all pay tribute to the band in this hit-filled hour. Contributors include KT Tunstall, Travis’ frontman Fran Healy, Toyah Willcox, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri.

Quadrophenia: Film 4 HD: Christmas Eve: 1.25am
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.

Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments: 5Select: Christmas Day: 1.25am
Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments: 5Select: Boxing Day: 0.00am
A merry romp through the most inappropriate, outrageous and appallingly atrocious Christmas television turkeys of all time. These are the kind of disastrous, ill-conceived and downright cringe-inducing moments that it’s a wonder ever made it to air. Among contributors ready to dissect the disasters – many of which they were involved in themselves – are Eamonn Holmes, Toyah Willcox, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Anne Diamond, Steve Punt and Mike Read.

The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Christmas Day: 12.20pm
Part One. Denise Van Outen kicks off a sumptuous two-part celebration of the great songs and performers from the best classic and contemporary musicals – as voted for by the British public. From Astaire to Zellweger, from 42nd Street to 8 Mile, Moulin Rouge! and The Sound of Music, The 100 Greatest Musicals is the definitive guide to the musicals that have both stood the test of time and had a lasting impact on viewers’ lives. The first show counts down from 100 to 51 and features memorable clips from film, stage and TV, interspersed with interviews given by performers, directors, writers and choreographers. Also airing on More4 +1 and HD.

The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Boxing Day: 12.30pm
Part Two. Denise Van Outen concludes the rundown of viewers’ favourite musicals, counting down from 50 to number one. Including memorable clips from film, stage and TV productions, plus contributions by celebrity fans, Hollywood movers and shakers, critics and journalists. Also airing on More4 +1 and HD.

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.

Christmas 1982. Happy Christmas From The Stars, a “Free Christmas Record (12 Minutes of Festive Fun)”, was attached to the December 9-22, 1982 issue of Smash Hits magazine. The festive flexi-disc featured numerous pop stars – Abba, ABC, Adam Ant, Bananarama, Bucks Fizz, Captain Sensible, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Funboy Three, Haircut 100, Imagination, The Jam, Madness, Mari Wilson, Musical Youth, The Piranahs, The Police, Steve Strange, Toyah, Ultravox – sending readers Christmas greetings, messages and Yuletide tunes.

Click below to listen – Toyah arrives at 4.46, in-between Martin Fry of ABC and Steve Strange of Visage. Too-de-loo!! Part One is available here.

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 2018, and only five days until Christmas Day, why not download some, Christmas related, Toyah music…

1. 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 in a 2012 poll) 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. Six years ago, at Christmas 2012, it was released as a standalone digital single. Download at iTunes. 2.Winter In Wonderland; One year on and at Christmas 2013 there was another new digital single, make that an EP, for Christmas – Winter in Wonderland… Download at iTunes. 3. Has God Ceased To Dream You; Toyah released this four-song EP in December 2014 as a companion piece to the digitally released Take The Leap! album… Download at iTunes.

Toyah – Main Stage, Sunday

Singer, TV presenter, actress, producer… is there any limit to what Toyah Willcox can do? She started out in Derek Jarman’s punk epic Jubilee in 1977 and also starred in Quadrophenia. Then she broke in to singing with her first album becoming a Top 40 hit, producing singles that captured the feeling of the eighties; It’s a Mystery and I want to be free. In 1982 she won the Best Female Singer at the Rock & Pop Awards. Over her 30 year career, Toyah has had 13 Top 40 singles and recorded 20 albums.

She’s taken artistic risks and shown her many talents as a singer songwriter and stage performer as well as writing books, making feature films and presenting a wide range of TV programmes. Currently there are more movies in the pipeline and of course live performances coming up for her many die-hard fans.

• Continue reading/Book tickets at the Wychwood Festival 2019 website.

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.

Following sparkling reviews and glowing audience feedback from her autumn tour, Toyah has confirmed she will play over thirty live dates in 2019.

The concerts include a 40th anniversary tour of Scotland plus headline solo electric gigs and intimate acoustic shows across the UK. There are also summer festival dates and an appearance with her full band at Belgium’s W-Fest. Further gig dates will be announced and added to the GIGS page in 2019 so stay tuned.

• Continue reading at toyahwillcox.com.