Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

• Toyah At Home: Christmas Special 2023 – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch Revisited – Smells Like Teen Spirit – Watch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

Esme Young reveals her touching childhood connection to this year’s Sewing Bee Christmas special

The perfect festive viewing

The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special is going to be back this year with a new celebrity line-up ready to follow those tricky patterns and transform festive materials into something fabulous – and the release date for the episode has also been revealed.

The Christmas episode of the Sewing Bee will air on Thursday 21 December at 9pm on BBC One.

The BBC has also revealed which celebrities have been confirmed to taking on the sewing challenges for the Christmas special. This year we can look forward to seeing actor, musician and punk icon Toyah Willcox, actor and comedian Kerry Godliman, comedian and writer Jessica Knappett and actor Hammed Animashaun.

Judge Esme appeared on BBC’s Morning Live to discuss the upcoming Christmas special. In a clip of the show, contestant Toyah showed Esme a necklace she bought from Esme’s brand Swanky Modes. Toyah said she wore the piece of jewellery when she went out for lunch with Princess Diana.

• Continue reading at Prima. Follow The Great British Sewing Bee at Instagram. (Photo © BBC/Love Productions)

Christmas 2016, and BBC Four aired a repeat Top Of The Pops, which was originally broadcast in October 1982 on BBC1, which included Toyah’s studio performance of the single, Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard). The third single of that year, and a new recording, following only one single – Brave New World – being released from The Changeling, Toyah’s studio album of 1982, and a re-recording of, previously released single, Ieya, renamed, Ieya ’82.

Toyah’s original TOTP performance – first broadcast some 41 years ago – is still an iconic, colourful, classic and completely unforgettable appearance, and has the message of Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) ever been more relevant than in 2023? A song way ahead of its time! On a slightly more superficial note (but still important), Toyah’s imagery for the single’s release was, still is, and always will be, utterly stunning and creative.

While the retro TOTP aired, BBC Four also tweeted: “In 1982, Toyah was so famous, she even had a lion-tailed macaque named after her on Animal Magic, and appeared on the show to meet it“.

The Changeling was placed fifth best reissue of the year from RetroPop

If there’s one thing we love more than new material from our favourite artists, it’s diving into the vaults and unearthing forgotten gems from their classic eras – the hallmark of a strong reissue.

This year, there have been plenty and in addition to revisiting iconic releases and sharing unreleased cuts, an increasing number of acts have taken to reworking and remixing their best-loved recordings for a new avenue of bonus material that bridges the gap between ‘then’ and ‘now’.

Looking back on highlights from the year, here are Retropop’s Top 10 Reissues Of 2023.

5. Toyah – The Changeling (Cherry Red)
The seminal 1982 album from Toyah was expanded across two audio discs – including 20 previously unreleased tracks – and a further three previously unavailable on any CD, for its latest reissue, which contains outtakes, B-sides, an alternate album sequence of ‘work in progress’ variations, and home demo recordings. Meanwhile, the accompanying DVD features a wealth of classic content, plus up-to-date commentary from the lady herself!

• See the full Top 10, plus more year end Best Of 2023 charts, at Retropop. The Changeling is available to buy from Cherry Red Records – a great Christmas gift for the music fan in your life.

Christmas 2022, and a mere 41 years after its original release, Four More From Toyah was rereleased – on expanded eight song neon violet colour vinyl mini LP. Boasting gorgeous artwork and unreleased tracks, the LP, which was remastered from the original master tapes, referenced that original release while bringing the glorious EP bang up-to-date for new and old fans alike.

The Four More From Toyah Extended EP/Mini Album was the latest in an impressive release schedule of colour Toyah vinyl LPs made available over the previous five years – and something which has also continued during 2023.

The Tracklist: Side One: 1. Good Morning Universe, 2. Urban Tribesmen, 3. In The Fairground, 4. The Furious Futures | Side Two: 1. Go Berserk (Tour Intro), 2. Stand Proud, 3. Clapham Junction, 4. I Want To Be Free (Roundhouse Session)

• Click below to browse the album’s page at toyahwillcox.com.

Toyah Guests on Homes Under The Hammer Monday 18 December on BBC One

Pop superstar Toyah Willcox joins Dion Dublin on a special 20th anniversary episode of Homes Under the Hammer. Explore a house in Birmingham and revisit Dion’s early appearances.

Celebrity Special 3: Homes Under the Hammer Series 26, Episode 74 of 80

Homes Under the Hammer is celebrating its 20th anniversary with some special celebrity editions. Pop superstar Toyah Willcox joins host Dion Dublin to explore a three-bedroom semi-detached house in her native Birmingham. Additionally, the episode will include a throwback to one of Dion’s early appearances on the show, as well as a segment featuring Jacqui Joseph visiting a ground floor flat in Lincolnshire.

This hour long anniversary special is set to air on BBC One on 18th December 2023 at 11.15am.

• Continue reading at Memorable TV.

Introducing my giant Dreamscape Christmas card… To wish everyone a great run up to Christmas, I thought I’d feature one of Toyah’s inspirational, beautiful images from 1981, in huge Christmas card form as a way of starting things off.

In a 45+ year career of ground breaking, outstanding, pioneering visual creativity this is up there with the best of Toyah’s iconic images.

Christmas is a great season, but the run up is the really special time for many, so please enjoy the next two weeks. It always feels like there is something magical in the air while heading towards Christmas Eve and the 25th. So, here is to the next two weeks of wonderment, fun, surprises and joy… Merry Christmas Run Up!

Christmas 2023, the Saturday 9th December edition of Toyah At Home was a Christmas Special – Toyah introduced the show saying “Hello everybody, Happy Christmas, it is December, it’s that magical time of the year, I hope you’re ready and have your plans all in hand for what should be, and will be, I promise you, a spectacular four weeks...”.

Toyah briefly summarised what’s to come in 2024: New music (“at least an EP“), the reissue of Love Is The Law, two movies, a radio show, tours for Toyah and Toyah & Robert, and more.

The festive Toyah At Home consisted of various clips, photos and memories, mostly with a Christmas connection: Relax/Trevor Horn; past Christmas times and memories; Toyah’s TVAM Christmas fantasy shopping trip to Liberty in London (accompanied by Messenger the Horse), to the soundtrack of The Vow; Toyah receiving her Walk Of Fame star in Birmingham in 2016 – featuring Toyah’s only ever live performance of I Believe In Father Christmas; Reminiscing about recording Love Is The Law while simultaneously starring in Trafford Tanzi, and the fans who camped outside the Mermaid Theatre; Christmas Eve at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for The Old Grey Whistle Test‘s annual concert – Big hair, big sound, fabulous theatre“; The New Year’s Eve Radio 2 concert; and ending with I Believe In Father Christmas from the 1982 ITV show, Pop Goes Christmas.

•  Watch this festive edition of Toyah At Home here or by clicking below.

Toyah is playing BBC Radio 2’s New Year’s Eve spectacular – Sounds Of The 80s – The Live Tour. She said: “Can’t wait to see in the New Year performing at a very special New Year’s Eve Sounds of the 80s gig at Symphony Hall, Birmingham B:Music with T’Pau/Carol Decker Deniece Pearson (Five Star)”. Tickets are available via the link below.

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 has just been confirmed to play Rebellion Festival 2024 – A festival she has played a number of times previously. Toyah said: “I can’t wait to play Rebellion 2024 at Blackpool Opera House on Friday 2 August. Toyah x”. Click below to book tickets.

Christmas 2018, Toyah became a Mastermind! She won Episode Two of Series 17 of Celebrity Mastermind, which aired on BBC1 on Saturday 22nd December.

John Humphrys put four celebrities to the test in another episode of the classic quiz, which aired across Christmas 2018 in ten episodes on BBC1.

Taking part were comedian Joe Pasquale, Newsround presenter Ricky Boleto, singer Toyah Willcox and Olympian Jeanette Kwakye. They answered questions on werewolf films, 1990s number one singles, Boudica and Disney animations.

Guy Garvey – From The Vaults: Sky Arts: Thursday 21st December: 1.30am
1981. Series 3, episode 4. The Elbow frontman introduces clips from the TV archives from 1981, featuring performances by New Order, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Adam and the Ants, Kirsty MacColl, Kim Wilde and Toyah. Also featured are Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Madness, the Belle Stars, Dave Edmunds with the Stray Cats, and Secret Affair, and there are interviews with the Human League’s Philip Oakey, and Simon Le Bon and John Taylor from Duran Duran.

Christmas 2011, Toyah presented a fantastic, three-hour, music-filled festive spectacular for the, relatively, new music channel Vintage TV.

Toyah’s Vintage Christmas was a constant that Christmas, airing numerous times through December, with Toyah introducing festive pop videos and sharing seasonal trivia. The programme was repeated in subsequent years, and Toyah would go on to present other Christmas shows – including A Very Vintage Christmas, Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo – right through until Vintage TV ceased broadcasting in 2017.

Toyah’s great blog for December/Christmas 2023 is available to read at toyahwillcox.com. Toyah talks 2023, the late Shane McGowan, The Great British Sewing Bee, Homes Under The Hammer, Christmas and more.

A sneaky peek of Toyah recording her solo song for Children Of The Circus, being directed by songwriter Chris Guard.

• See the preview clip, here. More info on the audio adventure, released on 2CD on 14th December, by clicking below.

Children Of The Circus cast: from left to right, Toyah Willcox, Ian Kubiak, Christopher Guard, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Dee Sadler, Kenton Hall, Ian Reddington, and Sophie Aldred. (Photo © AUK Direct)

Welcome to the first day of our Countdown To Christmas…

Christmas 2022, Toyah wished everyone a Merry Christmas Eve on Toyah At Home, on, yup, Christmas Eve. The show aired at You Tube and Facebook. It was a wonderfully festive show, adding to the excitement and anticipation that is always in the air on Christmas Eve – Such a magical day!

Toyah talked Christmas, as well as taking us back to a vintage performance of It’s A Mystery on Top Of The Pops, Christmas Day 1981. It was great to see that performance again as I could still clearly remember watching that edition of Top Of The Pops on Christmas Day all those years ago!

Toyah’s Christmas Eve At Home festive special is still available to watch/rewatch at Toyah’s official You Tube channel – Click below to return to Christmas 2022. (Image © Toyah Willcox)

The Great British Sewing Bee: BBC1: Thursday 21st December: 9pm
Celebrity Christmas Special. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Joining Kiell, Patrick and Esme under the mistletoe are Hammed Animashaun, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman and Toyah Willcox. (Photo © BBC/The Great British Sewing Bee)

• Saturday Morning Song: Victims Of The Riddle (Live 1982) – Watch… • Toyah & Robert: UpBeat Moments – Watch… • Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch Revisited – Bullet With Butterfly Wings – Watch… (Image © Toyah Willcox)

This week’s Toyah At Home is a Christmas Special… Airing at 11am this Saturday (9th December) at You Tube and Facebook.

Toyah has the Christmas trees up, the presents are about to be wrapped and some Christmas memories to share. There’s extra music and a look back to a few momentous Christmases gone by, plus a peak into what’s coming up in 2024. Crack open the mince pies and take a seat for a festive half hour with Toyah.

We are rollercoasting towards December, and you know what that means… Yep, we are reprising our Christmas Countdown/Run Up to the 25th.

This is Dreamscape’s 24th Christmas, and we will be digging out some of our old, but treasured, decorations – posts, really, but I think of them as decorations in December! – to celebrate the festive season.

Just like every December for the past two and a half decades, Dreamscape will be counting down every day until Christmas Eve with festive Toyah posts. There will be lots of past Christmassy bits & pieces but some new content too.

It’s going to be tinseltastic and yule be nutcrackers to miss it. Please join us every day in December for Christmas related updates – photos, info, trivia, memories and news. As well as details on any TV appearances for Toyah during December.