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.
Christmas 1984, The Ebony Tower – written by John Fowles and originally published in 1974 – aired on ITV on the 9th December.
Toyah filmed the 90-minute television drama, which was produced by Granada TV, in the Dordogne region of France during the Summer of 1983. She starred alongside Sir Laurence Olivier, Greta Scacchi and Roger Rees.
View promo shots from the drama here and here. Read an interview with Toyah, published when The Ebony Tower aired, by Outlook magazine, and another from around the same time, by Cosmopolitan magazine. Read Dreamscape’s 2011 DVD review, and view a couple of our fan adverts. (Thanks to andy for the screen cap below)
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.
Christmas 2012, Toyah guested on Steve Lamacq’s Rock College on BBC Radio 2 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, and is, such a great little gem of audio it seemed a real shame to just let it disappear after its week on iPlayer back in 2012… so here it is! Click below to listen.
Today is the last order date for Official Toyah merch items to be delivered before Christmas. Order online now. Stickers, badges, tees, tote bags & mugs all available at the new merch shop. These #Toyah60 items won’t be reprinted or remanufactured once they sell out.
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 a low quality mp3 of the 30-minute special. Click below to listen/download.
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.
Christmas 2016, saw Toyah Willcox and the Great British Panto take place. The festive event was held at the Victoria & Albert Museum, aka the V&A, London. Toyah discussed the history, origins and traditions of pantomime, as well as her own panto career, with Simon Sladen. (Photos © Damon King)
Browse Toyah’s packed schedule of confirmed 2019 gigs, tours & festival dates by clicking below.
Christmas 2006, Toyah was interviewed in Somerfield magazine. Somerfield was a supermarket chain which traded for almost 140 years before closing in 2011 after being bought over by the Co-op.
Toyah Willcox gets into the festive spirit
What does Christmas mean to you?
For the last 15 years, I’ve been doing panto. So to me, Christmas means entertaining families. On Christmas Day itself, I eat from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. It’s the only time of the year where I’ll eat for 12 hours!
Do you have the works on Christmas Day?
Yes we do. I have a restaurant prepare all the food the day before because what I don’t want to do on my one day off is cook. All I have to do is put it all in the Aga!
Do you enjoy cooking?
I do. I think it’s good to make yourself cook.
Your dream dining companion?
It would have to be John Lennon. If he could see the world today, he’d have more to say than ever before.
Quadrophenia plus a Q&A and live music with Toyah Willcox
Here’s a brilliant evening’s entertainment with not only an anniversary screening of iconic movie Quadrophenia, but a Q&A with one of its stars, the legendary Toyah Willcox and a live music set with her too. Toyah who went on to be a music, film and TV star and an author played the character Monkey in the 1979 Who album-inspired film which depicts the Mods and Rockers era of the late 1960s and which is celebrating its 40th year. The film will be screened before Toyah takes the stage to talk about the movie and her career at Square Chapel. The film stars Phil Daniels as Jimmy, a young 1960s London-based Mod who escapes from his dead-end job as a mailroom boy by dancing, partying, taking amphetamines, riding his scooter, and brawling with the motorcycle-riding Rockers. After he and his friends participate in a huge brawl with the Rockers by the seaside in Brighton, he is arrested and his life starts to spiral out of control. Toyah has had eight Top 40 singles and released over 20 albums, Her biggest hits were “It’s a Mystery”, “Thunder in the Mountains” and “I Want to Be Free”. She has written two books, appeared in over forty stage plays and ten feature films.
• Continue reading at the Halifax Courier.
Christmas 2001, Toyah festively featured in the December/Christmas issue of Woman & Home magazine, in a one-page article.
My Christmas Wish… “My wish is that every calorie consumed is calorie-free and that we all have at least three wishes come true – as long as we all have the sense to wish our lives to be lived to our full abilities, and to be kind and honourable to all our fellow men.” Toyah Willcox, Actress
Toyah attended the Snow White Gala Night at the London Palladium last night.
Daily Mail: Chic and cheerful: Toyah Willcox opted for a purple theme as she teamed a stylish midi dress with an embroidered duster coat and beige mary janes. (Photos © WENN/BackGrid)
Santa and his Elves have been working very hard with The Old Rep team over the past few weeks spreading the Christmas cheer with Pinocchio. And with only two weeks to go until Christmas, we have some amazing gift ideas. There really is something for everyone!
Name a seat at The Old Rep
Naming a seat at The Old Rep is the perfect Christmas gift. For just £150 for 5 years you will play a role in securing the future of the theatre and help us continue creating opportunities for young people and emerging artists.
Each plaque featured in our auditorium is unique and inscribed with a personal message. Your plaque will be installed amongst our patrons Brian Cox, Brian Blessed, Toyah Willcox, June Brown and Albert Finney.
• Continue reading at The Old Rep Theatre. (Photo © Toyah Willcox)
Christmas 2002, Toyah was the cover star of Festival City Theatres brochure, in anticipation of Calamity Jane playing at The Festival Theatre in Edinburgh in January 2003.
Calamity Jane was a great success for Toyah in the early 2000s. The musical toured the UK from September to November 2002, and January to June 2003 (with a break in late April/early May for Toyah’s stint in the second series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!), then transferred to London West End’s Shaftsebury Theatre from June to September of 2003. There was speculation that Toyah would reprise her role as Jane for a further tour but this never happened.
