Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

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?

Unfortunately the Women Power concert, featuring Toyah, has been postponed by the promoters. See the official Facebook post regarding this by clicking below.

Issue 44 of Classic Pop magazine, which includes a six-page Toyah feature, is on sale now. See below for a (non readable) preview of this.

Get your copy in-store for just £5.99. Alternatively, you can buy a digital issue at the Classic Pop website. Available in-store from WH Smith, Tesco, Tesco Ireland, independent newsagents, Eason and selected McColls.

In the latest issue we speak to Soft Cell‘s Marc Almond and Dave Ball as they prepare for their farewell gig at the O2 in London and release a career-spanning boxset, Keychains & Snowstorms. We also take a look at their Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret LP in our Classic Album feature.

Elsewhere, we have an exclusive interview with the world’s biggest record producer, Mark Ronson, catch up with The Proclaimers who return with their politicised new album Angry Cyclist and talk to Level 42‘s Mark King about his life in pop’s funkiest band.

This month, we look back on the glory days of house music and Toyah tells us how she brought the punk aesthetic to the pop world.

• Visit the Classic Pop website or Twitter. (Thanks to Minna for the magazine scans)

Toyah has taken part in a new film – Afterlife – being produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Film Festival. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help with finances for the film.

This is an independent, factual and investigative documentary, being made on a non-profit basis.

The Producer and crew are not making any money from this production; this is about getting this project made and getting it seen by the backers and public. Your donations will pay for the time of our contributors and will ensure we can travel to them for their interviews, plus donations to hospitals, research centres and other venues as a thank you for the hospitality and assistance.

We are also speaking to people who will relive unexplainable experiences including singer and actress Toyah Willcox who not only has a deep interest in the subject, but lives in what could be one of the most haunted homes in the UK which she describes as a “house of shadows”.

• See further info on Afterlife and how you can help via the crowdfunding campaign here or by clicking below.

Another chance to hear highlights from Toyah’s 1981 Christmas Eve Drury Lane concert, originally broadcast on The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 on Christmas Eve 1981, at the end of the month on BBC 6 Music’s Live Hour.

6 Music Live Hour: BBC 6 Music
Wednesday 29th August: 2.30am
Toyah in concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London in 1981, plus a session recorded by the Quads on this date (29th August) in 1979 and one from Stereophonics (22/1/1997). Presented by Chris Hawkins. Duration: 1 hour. (Available at BBC iPlayer after airing)

Toyah and The Moondogs: Chris Hawkins presents recordings from the BBC’s archive of live music. Tonight including Toyah recorded at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London in 1981, plus The Moondogs in session.

Toyah is guesting on Celebrity Eggheads at the end of the month on BBC2, alongside Simon Greenall, Nick Higham, YolanDa Brown and Katie Derham.

Celebrity Eggheads: BBC2: Friday 31st August: 6pm
Series 9, Episode 15. 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?

Check out all the latest news and happenings direct from Toyah at Twitter. Recent posts include: Backstage at Rewind South (Toyah was a Guest Presenter this weekend), Gary and Gemma Numan having tea with Toyah and Robert, playing Weyfest 2018 last night with The SAS Band, and re-recording America For Beginners for a forthcoming film. (All photos @ Toyah Willcox)

Look out for the next issue (44, September 2018) of Classic Pop magazine. It includes a six-page interview feature on/with Toyah. The magazine is published in around a week’s time, so not long to wait. In the meantime click below to browse our previous updates on Toyah in Classic Pop.

Toyah has recorded a new version of the song America For Beginners, which was originally a track on her 1985 album Minx. The song was written by Steve Skaith and Mike Jones of the band Latin Quarter. Toyah has recorded the 2018 version for inclusion in the forthcoming 1985 The Film.

Beautiful Britain: BBC Radio 4: Saturday 1st September: 10.30am
Over the sound of ripping wax-strips, nail drills, clippers and trimmers, Toyah Willcox invites us to eavesdrop on usually private conversations taking place in hair and beauty salons across the UK. Duration: 30 minutes. (Photo © BBC)

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, with Toyah and Tony Blackburn, which originally aired in October 2011 on BBC Two, is showing again next week on Really – Sky 142, Virgin Media 129, Freeview 17, Freesat 160, Sky (Ireland) 155 – Click below to view larger screen caps.

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip: Really: Friday 24th August: 7pm
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip: Really: Saturday 25th August: 12pm
Series 1, Episode 4. Tony Blackburn and Toyah Willcox take to the road with antiques experts Charlie Ross and Charles Hanson. Their journey starts in the historic town of York and ends up with an auction in Stansted, Essex.

Minder: ITV4: Wednesday 22nd August: 2.55pm
Minder: ITV4: Thursday 23rd August: 9.30am
Minder: ITV4: Friday 24th August: 2.05am
Minder: ITV4: Monday 27th August: 1.30am
All Mod Cons. Drama series about the shady dealings of a spiv and his reluctant sidekick. While Terry is trying to evict two squatters, Arthur decides to sell Terry’s flat without his permission. Meanwhile, Terry gets a job minding at a local club and ends up getting into more trouble than he had planned for when he realises the club’s manager is on the fiddle. Starring: George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Toyah Willcox, Simon Cadell, James Ottaway, and Tony Osaba. (Series 2, Episode 8, 1980). Also showing on ITV4 HD.

Read Toyah’s Blog for August 2018 at toyahwillcox.com.

Toyah guests on BBC Radio WM’s The Other Side Of… tomorrow at Midday, discussing her career, early years, the music of Kate Bush and more. The programme has a running time of 60 minutes.

Listen to a short excerpt from the show – “I was not scared of being disliked by men” says Toyah.

The Other Side Of…: BBC Radio WM: Sunday 5th August: 12pm
Celebrating 40 years in show business in her 60th year. She talks about growing up in Kings Heath, how Top Of The Pops helped her stay alive and the power of Kate Bush’s music.

• Listen to the interview live while it airs or post airing at BBC iPlayer Radio. (Photo © BBC)

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 brings acoustic show to Diss

Charismatic, outspoken and impossible to categorise, Toyah Willcox is both a boundary-smashing musical survivor from the punk era, much-loved actress and presenter of programmes as diverse as The Good Sex Guide and Songs of Praise.

In a career spanning 30 years, during which she has had 13 top 40 singles, recorded 20 albums, written books, appeared in over 40 stage plays, made 10 feature films and been a fixture on television, she has managed to balance a deeply rebellious streak with becoming something of national treasure.

Next month she will be visiting Diss as part of her Up Close & Personal tour that will include a chance to hear her perform an intimate acoustic set. A talented duo of guitarists, Chris Wong and Colin Hinds, will accompany Toyah on unplugged versions of the hits It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, I Want To Be Free and Good Morning Universe.

“I love performing the songs acoustically,” she said. “They sound fresh and contemporary. The lyrics have more meaning and clarity in the sonic space of the two acoustic guitars.”

• Continue reading at the Eastern Daily Press.

A British musical icon will be taking to the stage at the Corn Hall in Diss later this year.

Toyah Willcox will be playing live at the recently-renovated venue on September 1 in an intimate gig.

The show, Toyah: Acoustic, Up Close and Personal, promises audiences acoustic covers of her well-known hits, alongside recalling stories from her colourful 35-year career. Guitarists duo Chris Wong and Colin Hinds will accompany Toyah on meticulous and melodic acoustic versions of It’s A Mystery, Thunder In The Mountains, I Want To Be Free, Good Morning Universe and Sensational.

• Continue reading at the Diss Express.

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. with the final episode on this week.

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: Monday 30th July: 7am
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Monday 30 July: 5pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Tuesday 31st July: 5am
Episode 6 of 6. A letter and phone calls lift the lid on Jane’s chaotic love life. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From February 1993. Last in Series.

Toyah
Saturday 15 September, Esquires

The iconic TOYAH will be gracing the main stage at Esquires on Saturday 15 September. This is a full band, non-acoustic show looking back over her full back catalogue.

Tickets are £20 advance, on sale now here: seetickets.com/event/toyah/bedford-esquires/1249241 and from Monday 23rd July from Slide Record Shop, Esquires and Mario’s Hair Design.

• Continue reading at The Bedford Clanger.

Fantastic photos of Toyah at yesterday’s Nottinghamshire Pride. The set-list was: Good Morning Universe, Echo Beach, Thunder In The Mountains, Rebel Yell, It’s A Mystery, Sweet Child O’ Mine, I Want To Be Free. View larger versions of these photos at the, just resurrected, Dreamscape Gallery. (Thanks to Ray | Photos © Ray Sears)