Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Toyah is currently receiving a lot of praise for her performance in the, just released,  Doctor Who related audio drama, Children Of The Circus, in the role(s) of The Band of Infinite Harmony.

Sci Fi Bulletin: Toyah Willcox is spectacular as the Band of Infinite Harmony, a gestalt musician maimed into something approaching harmonious perfection by the Gods of Ragnarok

Warped Factor: Joining them is 1980s icon Toyah Willcox, who plays The Band of Infinite Harmony, a multi-voiced role that she relishes, culminating in a solo song featured as a bonus track.

• So, here’s that question again – When is RTD (Russell T. Davies, Doctor Who showrunner) going to get his arse in gear and cast Toyah in the main, BBC, series? (Image/Logo © BBC/Disney)

Christmas 2022, There was tinsel, fun and music aplenty as Toyah & Robert aired a selection of specials over the Christmas weekend. On Christmas Eve morning there was an exciting and very Christmassy episode of Toyah At Home, later on that day an Upbeat Moments Of The Week helping Christmas Eve evening to continue as festively as possible.

The merriment continued with Toyah & Robert – Merry Christmas and Sunday Lunch – Jingle Those Bells!! on Christmas Day. There was also Episode 21 of Robert At Home which also aired on Christmas Eve!

In one of Dreamscape’s final Christmas posts of 2022, we sent a huge THANK YOU to Toyah & Robert for gifting fans and followers so much in 2022: Albums, singles, tours, reissues, blogs, Sunday Lunch, At Home, Objects Of Desire, Upbeat Moments and, essentially, just a lot of entertainment, happiness and much needed… joy!

Another great review for Children Of The Circus.

Doctor Who
Children Of The Circus
Review

“Children of the Circus,” an audio musical drama from AUK Studios, marks a triumphant reunion for the cast of the Seventh Doctor story, “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.” This limited edition CD set, released on December 14th, 2023 and available to purchase here, commemorates 35 years since the original episode aired on BBC One. Written by Kenton Hall with songs by Christopher Guard and based on an idea by Barnaby Eaton-Jones, the story resurrects the magic of Stephen Wyatt’s “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy,” while venturing into new, imaginative territories.

The story revolves around the Psychic Circus, once a refuge for universal misfits, which later succumbed to the control of malevolent Gods. Years after these Gods have departed, the scars of the survivors linger. However, the Children of the Circus, equipped with the power of song, are ready to confront their past.

Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred headline the cast, but not in their familiar roles. McCoy, as the High Poet, brings a mix of charm and underlying duplicity, while Aldred delivers two distinct performances as Captain Gren and AJ. Aldred’s dual roles as the captain of a Time Ship and sentient rust showcase her range and versatility. Joining them is 1980s icon Toyah Willcox, who plays The Band of Infinite Harmony, a multi-voiced role that she relishes, culminating in a solo song featured as a bonus track.

• Continue reading at Warped Factor. See more on Children Of The Circus, here.

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. A fascinating event, with Toyah discussing the history, origins and traditions of pantomime, as well as her own 20-year panto career.

The V&A, in anticipation of the festive event, said: “Toyah Willcox’s career has encompassed chart-hits, novels and roles on stage and screen, from working at the National Theatre to cult-classic Quadrophenia. She is also a celebrated pantomime performer, having spent many a season playing a variety of roles from Principal Boy to Wicked Queen. Join her as part of the V&A’s Christmas Festivities as she celebrates one of her and Britain’s best loved artforms. Toyah will be in conversation with Senior Curator and Pantomime Editor of the British Theatre Guide, Simon Sladen. (Photos © Damon King)

Incredibly sad that hedgehogs are on the Endangered Red List :(

Toyah has a hedgehog doodle up for auction in aid of Hope for Hedgehogs. Take a look at Hope for hedgehogs. See Toyah’s video on this at Facebook.

#hogdoodle is a collection of hedgehog doodles drawn by well known authors, illustrators, comedians, musicians and celebrities.

Each #hogdoodle is in itself a bespoke one off piece of art created by someone amazing.

#Hogdoodle aims to raise vital funds to support Hope for hedgehogs in their work looking after sick and injured hedgehogs and rehabilitating them back into the wild.

Hedgehogs are on the ‘red list’ as an animal vulnerable to extinction and the reason why so much devotion is given to helping these beautiful creatures. Hope for hedgehogs also aim to promote educational information about our impact upon the hedgehogs natural habitat and how we can support them in the wild.

• Visit Hope for hedgehogs, here, to see Toyah’s and all the other hedgehog drawings & doodles.

Christmas 2023, and Toyah is one of four celebrity guests appearing on The Great British Sewing Bee – Celebrity Christmas Special – airing on Thursday 21st December on BBC One at 9pm. It’s sure to be a seriously festive and fun programme, and a great way to spend an hour a few days before Christmas Day.

Former Christmas special sewer Kiell Smith-Bynoe takes over as host as musician Toyah Willcox, comedian Jessica Knappett and actors Kerry Godliman and Hammed Animashaun are put to the test by judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant. The celebrities begin by putting their own twist on a pattern for a stocking then turn the humble puffer jacket into food-themed children’s fancy dress. In the final challenge, the competitors create an outfit perfect for their dream Christmas Day.

Here is a newly released solo shot of Toyah from The Great British Sewing Bee. See a few more (group) photos from the programme, here. Read features on the Christmas special at Prima and TV Zone. (Photo © BBC/Love Productions)

Toyah & Robert are referenced a couple of times in the latest issue of Classic Pop magazine, in articles on Trevor Horn and his recently released album, Echoes: Ancient & Modern. Toyah & Robert cover, the Frankie Goes To Hollywood 1983 super hit, Relax, on the album. It’s a radically different version of the song too.

Review: The overriding mood on Echoes is stately and graceful. If that means Horn appears to be trolling adherents of the filth and mayhem of the original Relax by getting Toyah to happily croon over a new just-so glide, think of it instead as a fresh remix. That’ll be Mr Toyah, Robert Fripp, doing its precise guitar. Him and Horn know what they’re doing.

Feature: Then Trevor happened to catch Toyah and Robert Fripp covering Slave To The Rhythm on one of their online lockdown shows, and the deck was duly shuffled.

“I’ve always liked Toyah – I’ve bumped into her loads of times, she’s like a ball of energy. I like her vibe. So they did it. And I think it came out pretty well, even though I was afraid of messing around with it too much. I restrained myself. Robert’s solo is definitely one of my favourite guitar solos I’ve recorded.”

• The latest issue of Classic Pop is available to buy instore and online. (Thanks to Minna of The Toyah Willcox Interview Archive for the scans)

A great review for Children Of The Circus, from Sci Fi Bulletin.

Review: Doctor Who: AUK: Children Of The Circus

Years after the events of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, the survivors of the Circus are gathered. Bellboy has a plan. A plan that won’t just save them but stop them needing to be saved at all. All it takes is putting the band back together, a mostly functional time ship and the power of rock and roll.

But who’s Ella?

Kenton Hall, Barnaby Eaton-Jones and Christopher Guard, faced with the impossible task of following up on one of the Seventh Doctor’s oddest stories, have achieved the impossible: they’ve not only done it, but done it as an audio drama and rock opera. Linear time is the characters’ foe but the script’s friend.

The cast are uniformly excellent, but Guard’s exhausted, desperate Bellboy is a standout, a rock star pushing flat out past the redline, burning out and fading away in the hopes that sacrifice will erase itself and give him what all good performers pray for: a comeback. Ideas fly as thick and fast as great performances and there are multiple moments where you have to just sit back and applaud.

• Continue reading at Sci Fi Bulletin. See more on Children Of The Circus, here.

Toyah’s Sack The Stylist?! Top 30: NOW 80s: Friday 22nd December: 1pm
Pop legend Toyah brings 30 memorable videos featuring a cavalcade of clothing calamities from superstars including Bowie, Madonna, Adam Ant and many more in this crazy countdown!

Christmas 2019, Invasion Planet Earth – in which Toyah had/has a starring lead role and also performs the end credits title song, Step Into The New World, released as a digital single simultaneously as the film premiered – was screening in numerous cinemas around the UK.

With the tagline: They’re coming, and reviews boasting “British sci-fi at its best” and “A British classic… War Of The World meets Independence Day“, the film was being compared to enduring sci fi movie blockbusters, and is now considered a cult film.

Invasion Planet Earth – originally titled Kaleidoscope Man – had been an enduring, mammoth, film project and a labour of love for its creator, Simon Cox, for many years.

• See much more info on Invasion Planet Earth, here and here. The film is available on DVD and in digital format. NB. A few months after the original release of Step Into The New World, the song was also released on the Planetary Invasion Mix.

Way Back When! 1981: NOW 80s: Saturday 16th December: 9am
60 minutes of lesser heard hits from 1981. Including The Pretenders, Spandau Ballet, George Harrison, Toyah & The Pointer Sisters.

• 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.