Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Quatermass: Talking Pictures TV: Fri 26th Nov: 8pm
Chapter One: Ringstone Round. Quatermass (John Mills), now living in retirement in Scotland, travels to London in search of his granddaughter, Hettie Carlson, who has gone missing. He is shocked by the scale of the urban collapse that has struck the city – law and order has broken down and marauding gangs terrorise the litter-strewn, decaying streets. The fall of civilization has been general across the world. Appearing as a guest on a television programme covering the “Hands in Space” project, a joint space mission between the United States and Russia, Quatermass is horrified when the two spacecraft are destroyed by some unknown force.

Astronomer Joe Kapp, another guest on the programme, invites Quatermass to join him at his home in the country where he and two friends have constructed two radio telescopes. At the radio telescope site, Kapp’s colleagues report that they detected a powerful signal at the exact time of the incident in space. Quatermass is intrigued by the behaviour of a group of hippie-like youngsters known as the Planet People, who are travelling to various neolithic sites (about 5,000 years old) from where they believe they will be transported to a better life on another planet.

Quatermass suspects Hettie has joined them. Along with Kapp’s wife, Claire, Quatermass and Kapp follow a group of Planet People to a stone circle of megaliths, Ringstone Round. As they watch, the Planet People assembled inside the circle are bathed in a bright light and disappear, leaving only a residue of white dust behind..

This episode originally aired on 24th October 1979 on the ITV network and was watched by 12.4m viewers in the UK.

The 1979, four-part, mini series Quatermass (also known as The Quatermass Conclusion or Quatermass IV) is airing weekly from Tuesday 19th May. Stars John Mills, Simon McCorkindale, Barbara Kellerman, Ralph Arliss, Rebecca Saire, Toyah Willcox, David Yip, Alison Dowling.

• Talking Pictures TV is An Archive Film & TV Channel. Available on the following platforms/channels: Freeview 81, YouView 81, Freesat 306, Sky 328 and Virgin 445. (Photos © ITV)

A great shot of Toyah and band onstage at The Astor Community Theatre in Deal, Kent on the Posh Pop Tour last Friday, 12th November. (Thanks to Brian | Photo © Brian Marsh)

80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s
Thursday 18th November: 5pm
Where are they now? Classic hits, followed by some recent songs – Including Pet Shop Boys, Kylie, Toyah, The Stones, Gary Numan, The Pretenders, New Order, Rick Astley & T’Pau!

Carol Decker’s 30 Rock Chicks!: NOW 80s
Sunday 21st November: 3pm
T’Pau’s Carol Decker brings a bit of Heart and Soul to a countdown of ’80s ladies who like to rock! With Joan Jett, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. (as well as Toyah via the Thunder In The Mountains video)

Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox share cover of Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’

Guess we know who’s pulling the strings in this week’s Sunday Lunch performance…

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, singer Toyah Willcox, have shared a cover of Metallica‘s ‘Master Of Puppets’ – watch it below.

The pair launched their Sunday Lunch video series last year, sharing renditions of songs by Nirvana, David Bowie, Metallica, Billy Idol, The Rolling Stones, Judas Priest, The Prodigy, Guns N’ Roses, Alice Cooper and more through Willcox’s YouTube channel.

• Continue reading at the NME. See also Metal Sucks.

• Toyah At Home & On The Road – It’s A Mystery/Proud Cabaret: Toyah delves into the story behind one one of the songs that changed her life, It’s A Mystery. You will also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Proud Cabaret – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Burning Question (13th November 2021): More of your social, emotional and music tuning predicaments are addressed with care and attention by the deeply unqualified Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp in this Saturday’s Burning Questions – Watch here…

• Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch – Master Of Puppets: So we finally found out who pulls the strings in the Frippcox household! – Watch here… (Images © Toyah Willcox)

Aesop’s Astronauts, an audio drama/play broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 1996, in which Toyah has a main role, has a rare airing on BBC Radio 4 Extra early next month.

Aesop’s Astronauts, by Tony Mulholland, explores what might have happened to the animals used as astronauts in the earliest years of space exploration. In the play the animals develop Accelerated Evolutionary Syndrome and the power of speech.

Toyah plays Mona in The Mona Story ‘episode’. The production was directed and recorded at BBC Pebble Mill.

• Listen to the drama at the BBC Radio 4 Extra website on Saturday 4th December. The audio drama has a running time of 1hr 30m.

Aesop’s Astronauts: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 5th December: 6am
Tony Mulholland’s play answers the question – what did happen to the animals that were sent up to Space in the early days of the Space Race? Produced by Brian Lighthill, with original music written and played by Jeff Mearns. Original first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 17th February 1994 at 2.30pm.

Toyah delves into the story behind one one of the songs that changed her life, It’s A Mystery. in today’s Toyah At Home & On The Road. You will also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of Proud Cabaret. Premieres 11am today. Click here or below to watch at Toyah’s official You Tube channel. Toyah & Robert’s Burning Questions also airs this evening at 6pm.

80s Stars – Then & Now!: NOW 80s: Sunday 14th November: 4pm
Where are they now? Classic hits, followed by some recent songs – Including Pet Shop Boys, Kylie, Toyah, The Stones, Gary Numan, The Pretenders, New Order, Rick Astley & T’Pau!

Toyah’s 1979 debut single, Victims Of The Riddle (Part 1), is included on the forthcoming 3CD Box Set, Revolt Into Style 1979. The compilation is released on 21st January 2022.

• Four exceptional hours of music that defines British pop at the end of a tumultuous decade

• Continuing Cherry Red’s yearly overview of the late ‘70s UK “new music” scene

• Housed in a stylish clamshell box, ‘Revolt Into Style’ features the best of a fast-splintering scene, rife with creativity

If 1977 was the year that punk broke, and 1978 saw the UK turn Day-Glo, then 1979 was all about the aftershock of punk, with the redrawn British musical landscape divided between various youth sub-cultures and factions. The release of the film Quadrophenia gave a focal point to the growing mod revival, power pop bands like The Jags similarly sought inspiration from the mid-‘60s, while 2-Tone recalibrated the ska sound of Prince Buster for a new generation of pork pie hat-wearing rude boys.

Running parallel to those developments, a plethora of bands – prominent among whom were Public Image Ltd, Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Fall and Joy Division – were demanding the future now with an uncompromising sound and nonconformist approach that would subsequently be labelled post-punk. They were joined by the likes of The Human League and Tubeway Army, who brought avant-garde electronic influences and dystopian lyrical themes into the pop charts.

With the more mainstream Spirit-of-’77 bands now rebranded by the radio-friendly marketing term New Wave, 1979 turned out to be an epic pot-pourri of sounds and styles. The likes of Madness, Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Pretenders and Dexy’s Midnight Runners all made their vinyl debuts, while the singles chart boasted instant three-minute classics from The Jam, The Clash, The Skids, Squeeze, The Ruts, XTC and The Undertones.

• Further info on this release at Cherry Red Records. (Thanks to Michael Murray)

Toyah’s iconic 1981 single, Thunder In The Mountains, is included on the 3CD compilation, Musik Music Musique 2.0 – The Rise Of Synth Pop. This was released in October.

• Sequel to the hugely successful ‘Musik Music Musique’, This time exploring 1981, The year synth pop broke into the mainstream.

• Over 50 tracks showcasing the innovation and exploration that gave rise to what would become the decade’s pre-eminent musical form.

• Featuring Ultravox, Duran Duran, OMD, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Devo, Gina X Performance, Fashion, Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell, Heaven 17, Hazel O’Connor, Yello, A Flock Of Seagulls, Toyah, Kim Wilde, The Passage, Chris and Cosey, Japan, John Foxx and countless other electronic luminaries.

• Packed with familiar classics and lesser known gems.

• Further info on this release at Cherry Red Records. (NB. Toyah was also included on Musik Music Musique – 1980 | The Dawn Of Synth Pop collection in 2020.

Kavanagh Q.C.: Drama: Wednesday 24th November: 2.20am
A Family Affair. Kavanagh finds himself caught up in a bitter family feud when he represents a frustrated father who has kidnapped his son in a desperate attempt to win custody. On the home front, Kavanagh’s daughter wants to let her boyfriend stay overnight. Directed by Renny Rye. With John Thaw, Holly Aird, Robert Ashby, Toyah Willcox and Lisa Harrow.

Supermind is available now on Audible, Apple Books, Storytel and more – View the trailer below. See further info at toyahwillcox.com.

In 1930s New York, the hot sensation of the cabaret circuit is urbane illusionist Art Hardwicke, whose stage name – Supermind – hints at his real-life mentalist powers. Aided by his manager, Lady Daphne Witcombe, and manservant Frampton, he fights crime and injustice wherever and whenever he is able.

In this comic melodrama aping the earnest American radio serials of the era, Supermind manages to rescue society heiress Anastasia Del Ray from being kidnapped by hoodlums, and her gratitude comes in the form of declaring she’s going to Hollywood to make a movie of Supermind’s life – but starring herself as Supermind.

Meanwhile, Professor Fenella Vaytell, of the Institute of Brain Studies in New York, has been developing a powerful weapon to seize control of the minds of the entire country. In the employ of her Nazi paymasters, Vaytell’s nefarious scheme will not only endanger Anastasia, Supermind, Lady Witcombe and Frampton, but also the entirety of the United States of America!

Will Supermind use his prestigious powers to save the day? Will Lady Witcombe profit from them? Will Frampton faint at the sight of fisticuffs? And will Professor Fen Vaytell throw her head back and emit a wickedly evil laugh?

Starring – Colin McFarlane, Toyah Willcox, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Julie-Ann Dean and Darrell Maclaine.

Proud Cabaret Review: Toyah Willcox proves she’s still got it in unmissable All Stars show

Toyah Willcox proved age is just a number when she made her debut in the All Stars Cabaret at Proud Embankment on Thursday night as part of her 13-show stint.

Toyah Willcox joined the Proud’s Cabaret All Stars for a series of performances last week and didn’t disappoint. The 63-year-old reprised her quirky punk rocker look to sing a string of hits alongside jazz musicians, award-winning acrobats, fire breathers and burlesque beauties.

During one of her performances, the musician sported a black high-neck mesh top covered with a silver breast plate, fishnet tights, knee-high boots and a quirky hairpiece.

• Continue reading at the Daily Express. See further info on Toyah with Proud Cabaret, here.

Is 60 really the new 40? It is for these stars

Not long ago, hitting your sixties meant getting old. Grandmas and grandads, retirement, perhaps a spot of light gardening and a couple of local committees. It certainly suggested grey hair, wrinkles and a general slowing-down.

But as life expectancy extends and the Boomer population ages, plenty of sixty-somethings are starting again – dating after divorce, remarrying, launching new projects and businesses, and fitting time with the grandchildren (if they have them) in between travel and trips.

This week, Toyah Willcox, known for her wild style and 80s pop hits including It’s a Mystery, appeared on This Morning, talking about her new role. Toyah, 63, looked 20 years younger and social media commentators were quick to admire her appearance – “Not having it that she’s 63” wrote one, while another tweeted, “Toyah looks fantastic!”

She’s not alone in holding back the years, with fellow gorgeous sixty-somethings including Emma Thompson, Andie McDowell, Demi Moore, Madonna and Julianne Moore, all still in the spotlight and looking remarkable.

• Continue reading at Yahoo News.

Read Toyah’s latest blog at toyahwillcox.com.

From Punk Princess To Cabaret Queen, Toyah Willcox On Joining Proud Embankment | This Morning

She first burst onto the music scene in the 80s. But forty years on, Toyah Willcox is going from punk princess to cabaret queen as she joins the impressive line-up at Proud Embankment. Following in the footsteps of Julian Clary, Bill Bailey and Denise Van Outen, Toyah will be treating fans to a spectacular evening of music, burlesque artists, and award-winning acrobatics. Toyah also discusses becoming a viral lockdown sensation.

Toyah Willcox, 63, wows with ageless beauty as she defends stripping off on camera

Toyah Willcox appeared on This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield much to the delight of viewers as they praised the stunning pop sensation for her “fantastic looks”

This Morning viewers were left in absolute awe of pop sensation Toyah Willcox, 63, who appeared on the show this morning.

Toyah joined Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield for a spot on the sofa to discuss her transformation from punk princess to cabaret queen – and while she was chatting away, fans couldn’t help but focus on her glam exterior.

Toyah was wearing a purple and floral plunging top with a stunning blue necklace as she opted for a full face of glam makeup.

The blonde beauty had her hair neatly flicked out for volume and opted for a dark eye look and finished off with a bright red lip – and she certainly looked every inch of glamour as she spoke about her upcoming plans.

• Continue reading at the Daily Star. See also the Liverpool Echo.

Watch Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox cover Iggy Pop

“Here we are rocking out with T on the kitchen table – mercy!”

Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp have covered Iggy Pop’s ‘The Passenger’ in the latest of their Sunday Lunch video series.

The video specials began during the first coronavirus lockdown in the UK last year and quickly went viral as the couple put their spin on songs by David Bowie, Metallica, Britney Spears, Soft Cell and more.

• Continue reading at the NME. See also Metal Sucks.

The Adventures of Supermind (Series 1: The Brain Drain) – the new audio drama starring Colin McFarlane and Toyah – is available now! Click below for more info.

Toyah Willcox, 63, dons a kooky silver breast plate and multicoloured hairpiece as she storms the stage for a performance at All Stars Cabaret

Toyah Willcox donned a fun multicoloured hairpiece and a kooky silver breast plate as she performed at All Stars Cabaret at London’s Proud Embankment on Friday.

The singer, 63, was known for her quirky ensembles when she rose to fame in the 1980s, and she looked spectacular in the outfit for her performance.

Completing the look, she wore a mesh mock neck T-shirt with racy hot pants which she paired with fishnet tights and thigh high leather boots.

She also wore a black tulle skirt which she fastened to the back of the shorts. On stage, the songstress changed into a smaller gold breast plate which she paired with a matching belt.

While performing, she changed into differing head dresses including an orange and cream one which fanned out over her head. She put on a lively display on stage as she laid back on the bannister of some stairs while belting out tunes.

The performance comes after Toyah starred in videos on YouTube wearing very racy ensembles during lockdown. She covered her nipples with black tape and went braless under a sheer embellished blouse in one video and shared the hashtag #FreeBritney, Toyah belted out her famous hit, Toxic, as she performed alongside her guitar-playing husband Robert Fripp, 74.

As well as her see-through top, Toyah wore a black mini skirt and top hat, wearing Clockwork Orange style make-up on one eye.

• Continue reading at the Daily Mail. See further info on Toyah with Proud Cabaret, here.