Not sure what’s going on with Top Of The Pops: 1981 at BBC Four. Despite being advertised as appearing on last night’s re-airing Toyah didn’t feature in the programme, which was half the length of a usual 40 minute show.
BBC Four even tweeted about Toyah appearing yesterday: “You may need a bigger TV screen for tonight’s Top of the Pops ’81 at 7.30pm http://bbc.in/1So8Hk5 @toyahofficial” (though obviously that isn’t how Toyah would have looked on the show!!). Maybe we will have better luck with next week’s, Toyah is listed as appearing in that too, though I think that may be the IWTBF promo video rather than a studio performance.
Yet another retro Top Of The Pops featuring Toyah has just been added to the television schedules, airing later this month on BBC Four. This edition was originally shown on 4th June 1981 and includes a play of the, Godley & Creme, promo video for I Want To Be Free.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 11th March: 7.30pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Saturday 12th March: 0.00am Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 13th March: 2.20am 04/06/1981. Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees (Spellbound), Shakin’ Stevens (You Drive Me Crazy), Kate Robbins (More Than in Love), Squeeze (Is That Love?), Imagination (Body Talk), The Jam (Funeral Pyre), Michael Jackson (One Day in Your Life), Toyah (I Want To Be Free), Phil Collins (If Leaving Me Is Easy), Adam & The Ants (Stand & Deliver), Odyssey (Going Back To My Roots).
• Toyah’s next appearance on Top Of The Pops after this was on 1st October 1981, with the band performing Thunder In The Mountains in the studio. The TITM promo video was also shown on 15th October. On 26th November the band performed Good Morning Universe. All of these will re-air on BBC Four in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Toyah is, again, the pictured artist on the BBC website for an upcoming re-airing of a retro Top Of The Pops. This will include Toyah’s studio performance of I Want To Be Free from May 1981.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 4th March: 7.30pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Saturday 5th March: 00.30am Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 6th March: 2.25am 14/05/1981. Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme. Includes appearances from Toyah (I Want To Be Free), Thin Lizzy (Are You Ready?), Department S (Is Vic There?), Tenpole Tudor (Swords Of A Thousand Men), Sheena Easton (When He Shines), Kim Carnes (Bette Davis Eyes) and Adam & the Ants (Stand & Deliver), plus a dance performance by Legs and Co.
There’s another retro 1981 Top Of The Pops appearance from Toyah on BBC Four in early March.
I *think* this is the edition that originally aired on 14th May 1981 and was a “Cup Final Special”, with Toyah performing I Want To Be Free in the studio. More detailed info should be available soon. (Update: BBC website have now confirmed it is!!)
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC4: Fri 4th March: 7.30pm / Sat 5th March: 00.30am Sunday 6th March: 2.25am
Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme. Includes appearances from Toyah, Thin Lizzy, Department S, Tenpole Tudor, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes and Adam and the Ants, plus a dance performance by Legs and Co.
Toyah’s iconic first Top Of The Pops performance aired on Thursday night on BBC4. Watch the full episode at BBC iPlayer. TOTP is repeated late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, at 1.45am.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Thursday 4th February: 7.30pm/11.30pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 7th February: 1.45am
Mike Read presents. Duran Duran (Planet Earth), Talking Heads (Once In A Lifetime), Adam & The Ants (Kings Of The Wild Frontier), Toyah (It’s A Mystery), Shakin’ Stevens (This Ole House), Motorhead & Girlschool (Please Don’t Touch), Phil Collins (I Missed Again), Kool & The Gang (Jones Vs Jones), Teardrop Explodes (Reward), The Who (You Better You Bet), Joe Dolce (Shaddap Your Face). This originally aired on BBC1 on 5th March 1981. Toyah’s appearance is a repeat of their first studio performance which aired two weeks previously on 19th February 1981.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Thursday 11th February: 7.30pm/11pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Sunday 14th February: 1.40am
Peter Powell presents. The Jacksons (Can You Feel It?), Sharron Redd (Can You Handle It?), Shakin’ Stevens (This Ole House), Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone (What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?), The Who (You Better You Bet), Stevie Wonder (Lately), Phil Collins (I Missed Again), Bucks Fizz (Making Your Mind Up), Visage (Mind Of A Toy), Duran Duran (Planet Earth), Toyah (It’s A Mystery), Roxy Music (Jealous Guy). This originally aired on BBC1 on 19th March 1981 and was Toyah’s second studio appearance/performance (pictured above).
Last Thursday’s repeat of Top Of The Pops on BBC4 included Four From Toyah in “The Charts” rundown. The EP had climbed into the Top 30 for the first time. Click here to view larger versions of the screen caps and below to watch the programme at BBC iPlayer.
Top Of The Pops: 26/02/1981: Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Status Quo, Kim Wilde, Madness, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast, the Passions, Roxy Music and Joe Dolce, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.
Another retro Top Of The Pops appearance from 1981 for Toyah, airing 35 years later on BBC4 in February. There’s more info at the BBC website.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC4: Thursday 11th February: 7.30pm/11pm
Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Sharon Redd, Bucks Fizz, Colin Blunstone and Dave Stewart, Toyah, the Who, Phil Collins, Shakin Stevens, Visage, Roxy Music and Duran Duran, and a dance performance from Legs and Co.
• Look out for further retro Toyah on Top Of The Pops appearances this year on BBC4 – In 1981 Toyah guested in the Top Of The Pops studio six times, performing ‘It’s A Mystery’ (three times), ‘I Want To Be Free’, ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ and ‘Good Morning Universe’.
Toyah’s amazing very first appearance on Top Of The Pops, from February 1981, re-airs 35 years “almost” to the day it was first broadcast on BBC4 early next month…
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC4:
Thu 4th Feb: 7.30/11.30pm|Sun 7th Feb: 1.45am
Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Shakin Stevens, Phil Collins, the Who, Adam and the Ants, Toyah, Motorhead and Girlschool, Joe Dolce, Talking Heads and the Teardrop Explodes, and a dance performance from Legs and Co.
• Look out for further retro Toyah on Top Of The Pops appearances this year on BBC4 – In 1981 Toyah guested in the Top Of The Pops studio six times, performing ‘It’s A Mystery’ (three times), ‘I Want To Be Free’, ‘Thunder In The Mountains’ and ‘Good Morning Universe’.
Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Christmas Day: 1.55am Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Wednesday 30th December: 1am
Documentary examining how the BBC’s flagship pop show reflected changes in British music and culture during 1976. As the popularity of glam rock faded, no dominant musical scene emerged to replace it, leading to chart success for bands including Abba, Showaddywaddy, the Brotherhood of Man and the Wurzels – while outside the mainstream, punk rock was rapidly growing in popularity. Contributions by Tony Blackburn, Paul Morley, Toyah Willcox, David Hamilton and Dave Haslam.
Originally shown in April 2011 on BBC4. Top Of The Pops: The Story Of 1976 is airing again over the festive season, on the Yesterday channel, with showings on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Toyah appears throughout the programme.
Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Christmas Day: 11am Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Boxing Day: 11.20pm
Documentary examining how the BBC’s flagship pop show reflected changes in British music and culture during 1976. As the popularity of glam rock faded, no dominant musical scene emerged to replace it, leading to chart success for bands including Abba, Showaddywaddy, the Brotherhood of Man and the Wurzels – while outside the mainstream, punk rock was rapidly growing in popularity. Featuring contributions by Tony Blackburn, Paul Morley, Toyah Willcox, David Hamilton and Dave Haslam.
Originally shown in April 2011 on BBC4. Top Of The Pops: The Story Of 1976 is airing again this weekend on the Yesterday channel. Toyah appears throughout the programme.
Top Of The Pops: The Story of 1976: Yesterday: Sunday 12th January: 9.00pm
Documentary examining how the BBC’s flagship pop show reflected changes in British music and culture during 1976. As the popularity of glam rock faded, no dominant musical scene emerged to replace it, leading to chart success for bands including Abba, Showaddywaddy, the Brotherhood of Man and the Wurzels – while outside the mainstream, punk rock was rapidly growing in popularity. Featuring contributions by Tony Blackburn, Paul Morley, Toyah Willcox, David Hamilton and Dave Haslam.
On this day, 21st October 1982, exactly 30 years ago Toyah made their final studio appearance on Top Of The Pops – performing Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard).
• Toyah Willcox is topping the bill for this year’s Music in the Park
• The 56-year-old is headlining the annual event in Vale Park
• Toyah is best known for her 80s solo hits including It’s a Mystery
Popstar, author and presenter Toyah Willcox has been announced as the headline act for this year’s Music in the Park. The 56-year-old is top of the bill for the free outdoor music event in Vale Park, Aylesbury on Saturday August 29.
“I am thrilled to be playing Live in the Park” Toyah Willcox
Toyah will be on stage at 8.30pm and she said she is very excited to be performing in the town.
Toyah said: “I am thrilled to be playing ‘Live in the Park’ in Aylesbury! “It will be a wonderful, fun day with great music.”
Organisers of a popular summer music festival are drawing up exciting plans to attract even more families from Worcester and across the county.
Upton Music Festival returns to the town from August 23 to 25 with a host of big acts including 80s Brit pop sensation Bucks Fizz, local superstar Toyah Willcox and former chart toppers Slade.
New to the festival this year will be a variety tent packed with family entertainment as well as a Top of the Pops tent where DJs including former Fun House presenter Pat Sharp will get people of all ages filling the dance floor.
Christmas 1984, and Toyah had released no new music during the year for the first time since very early 1979, although the compilation album – on vinyl, cassette and video – Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (unofficially, and latterly officially sub-titled “All The Hits”, and not to be confused, and never really has been aside from a few chart compilers, with the live 1980 album with the same title) was released in February of this year. This is significant as it was the first ever Toyah hits compilation.
Despite no new music this year, Toyah still appeared in many of the music magazines in 1984, including this Christmas feature from Smash Hits special issue… Smash Hits Christmas Party – featuring Frankie Goes To Hollywood on the cover – published in association with Woolworth – in December: Will You Be Watching The Queen’s Speech? When you jump up after the Christmas Top Of The Pops, is it to stand to attention for Her Majesty or a mad dash to switch off the TV? We asked a selection of pop stars if they’d be tuning in to that speech?
You can read Toyah’s response below, but more interestingly, in retrospect, Toyah appears to be incredibly prescient about the Royal Family…
Welcome to the first day of our Countdown To Christmas for 2025…
At Dreamscape headquarters we are seriously excited about Christmas this year, and hoping December will be magic again, after a tricky few months… and we are travelling back three years for our first festive missive… Stay tuned all month as we dig out or old – and a few shiny and new – decorations to get you into the festive mood, with an extra sprinkling of Toyah Christmassy magic!
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!
80’s Icons Toyah Willcox and Cheryl Baker bring Brighton to life at gala night, raising £30,000 for charity
The Sussex business community came together last Thursday, 20th November, at The DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel for an unforgettable 80’s-themed Gala Dinner, featuring iconic performances and celebrity appearances that had guests dancing the night away.
This year’s event was headlined by legendary 80’s stars Toyah Wilcox and Cheryl Baker, who brought fantastic energy and insight into their illustrious careers. Toyah shared highlights from her groundbreaking appearances on Top of the Pops and reflected on her experiences on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, while Cheryl recounted her memorable win at Eurovision in 1981 with Bucks Fizz, her appearances on Dancing on Ice
Another chance to see a retro edition of Top Of The Pops, airing in early June on BBC Four. This edition was originally shown – almost exactly 44 years ago – on Thursday 4th June 1981 and includes a play of the, Godley & Creme, promo video for I Want To Be Free.
Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Friday 6th June: 7.30pm Top Of The Pops: 1981: BBC Four: Saturday 7th June: 2.05am 04/06/1981. Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees (Spellbound), Shakin’ Stevens (You Drive Me Crazy), Kate Robbins (More Than in Love), Squeeze (Is That Love?), Imagination (Body Talk), The Jam (Funeral Pyre), Michael Jackson (One Day in Your Life), Toyah (I Want To Be Free), Phil Collins (If Leaving Me Is Easy), Adam & The Ants (Stand & Deliver), Odyssey (Going Back To My Roots).
• Toyah’s next appearance on Top Of The Pops after this was on 1st October 1981, with the band performing Thunder In The Mountains in the studio. The TITM promo video was also shown on 15th October. On 26th November the band performed Good Morning Universe.
Christmas 1984. Exactly 40 years ago this month, 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.
