The great Radio Times cover – 2 of 4 editions – announcing the return of Strictly!
Toyah Willcox confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up
The news was announced on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show.
Toyah Willcox has been confirmed to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up.
Willcox was the fourth contestant to be announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2024, following news that opera singer Wynne Evans, comedian Chris McCausland and JLS singer JB Gill would be competing in this year’s edition.
She rose to the fame as the frontwoman of new wave band Toyah, where her most popular singles included It’s a Mystery, Thunder in the Mountains and I Want to Be Free.
Willcox has performed as a solo artist since her 1985 album Minx, with her latest release being 2021’s Posh Pop, which was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and reached number one on the UK’s Independent Albums Chart.
After Toyah and Wynne were announced on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show this morning, Dr Punam Krishnan was also revealed to be joining the line-up, making the TV doctor the fifth celebrity to be confirmed.
• Continue reading at Radio Times.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl cast – where are they now?
What happened to Billie Piper’s co-stars?
ITV2 drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl is enjoying a second wind, courtesy of Netflix.
The series, which was created by Lucy Prebble (Succession, I Hate Suzie) and ran for four seasons between 2007 and 2011, starred Billie Piper as a high-end escort working in London who kept her lucrative double life hidden from her family.
A number of recognisable faces also appeared alongside Piper.
Toyah Willcox played Gail, Hannah’s mother. She didn’t know what her daughter did for a living.
Willcox was an established singer before Secret Diary and continues to perform.
• Continue reading at Radio Times. As well as Netflix, all four series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl recently aired on That’s TV.
Strictly Come Dancing 2020 line-up: All the rumours and potential contestants
Here are our predictions for series 18…
The BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is officially coming back, with the 2020 series now confirmed although for a much shorter run.
Strictly will reportedly begin in October, which means this year’s event could be nine weeks instead of the usual 13. With many shows having to cancel production, due to the coronavirus, we couldn’t be happier that Strictly is still going ahead.
Toyah Willcox: Toyah has been using the lockdown time as a chance to practice her dancing skills.
The musician and her husband pranced around their kitchen to Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock, and while they certainly cheered everyone up, many thought she should consider a stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
One fan shared: “Next stop Strictly Come Dancing 2020!” Another added: “I hope Strictly haven’t finalised their line-up for this year…”
• Continue reading at the Radio Times. Read an earlier RT “Toyah for Strictly 2020!” here.
Even though Strictly 2020 is still up in the air, the rumour mill keeps throwing out new names of celebrities reportedly signing up for the show.
So far, newspaper reports have already suggested that presenter Maya Jama, actress Michelle Keegan, singer Toyah Willcox, presenter Lorraine Kelly, Corrie star Jack P Shepherd and all-round icon Jane McDonald might have agreed to samba and salsa this autumn.
• Continue reading at the Radio Times.
The first series of The Older Woman, the six-part radio drama which was originally broadcast in 1993, begins airing again on BBC Radio 4 Extra from today.
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 25th June: 7am/5pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Tuesday 26th June: 5am
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 30th June: 12pm
Episode 1 of 6. Local hack journalist Roy Hitchcock meets his former English teacher, and sets out on a crusade to win her heart against all odds. Stars Zoe Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox. From January 1993.
• Below are a couple of Radio Times clippings with a little more detail about the series, published when The Older Woman originally aired in January 1993. (Thanks to Anthony Lewis)
The bumper double Christmas issue of Radio Times has just been published, the BBC Christmas idents are here, I’ve just finished writing my Christmas cards, and you can’t move for crazy people in the supermarket – this can all only mean one thing – Christmas is officially… here!!!
Here’s a round up of all things festive related to Toyah:
• Toyah on Christmas TV: Vintage TV are repeating festive Toyah specials from previous Christmas times, including A Very Vintage Christmas and Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo. There’s also a repeat of Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments on Channel 5.
• Toyah Willcox & The Great British Panto: A festive special at the V&A, London: Toyah will be in conversation with Senior Curator and Pantomime Editor of the British Theatre Guide, Simon Sladen on Tuesday 13th December.
• Home For Christmas:“Robert is home any min after 4 months touring and being teetotal….his request… giant margarita“.
• Pop Quizzing at Christmas: The original BBC Pop Quiz returns for two Christmas specials to air on BBC4. Toyah is guesting in one of these, both of which are being recorded at Media City, Salford on Thursday 15th December.
• Christmas at Fripp/Cox: Yuletide 2016 arrived at Robert and Toyah’s place mid November. See the lights.
• Christmas Live 2016: Toyah played a festive gig with The SAS Band at the weekend – There’s also the Birmingham Walk of Stars event, which is sure to have a festive feel, being so close to Christmas.
• A Dreamscape Crimbo: Drop by next week for some more Toyah festiveness at Dreamscape. Yes, December Will Be Magic… Again!
SohoCreate to showcase some of the creative quarter’s brightest talents, with restaurateur Mark Hix and Line of Duty’s Simon Heath joining the list of speakers
Actor Gary Kemp and singer and I’m a Celebrity contestant Toyah Willcox have agreed to take part in SohoCreate, the West End neighbourhood’s inaugural creative arts festival.
Assembling some of the UK’s leading creative minds, the June event will offer insights with sessions featuring a number of other creative specialists .
• Continue reading at the Radio Times.
A reminder that the first episode of, the 1993 radio comedy/drama, The Older Woman airs tomorrow at 7am and 5.30pm on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
You can listen to the 30-minute programme live online or at BBC iPlayer post broadcast.
Just as the series was about to air in 1993 Toyah told ‘Radio Times’: “I don’t regard the different things I do as seperate careers. I’ve always combined music with acting. All my work makes different demands on me, and that keeps me interested.”
Toyah tweeted earlier this week: “I’m thrilled BBC RADIO 4 EXTRA is repeating comedy series THE OLDER WOMEN with myself, Zoe Wannamaker, Martin Clunes details at my homepage“.
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Thursday 23rd May: 7am/5.30pm
The Older Woman: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Friday 24th May: 5.30am
Episode 1 of 6. Local hack journalist Roy Hitchcock tries to win the heart of his former teacher. Stars Zoë Wanamaker, Martin Clunes and Toyah Willcox, with David Troughton and Nicky Henson. (A BBC Radio 4 Extra debut). The Older Woman is written by Tony Bagley.
• Here are a couple of Radio Times clippings from when The Older Woman originally aired in January 1993. (Thanks to Anthony Lewis)
