Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

It’s 1st December, and that time of year again when Dreamscape gets it’s box of old, and not so old, decorations out of the virtual loft, and begins the annual Countdown To Christmas!

This year we’re feeling particularly festive and can’t wait to share Christmas memories-a-plenty through our favourite month of the year.

Christmas 2023, Toyah guests on BBC One’s The Great British Sewing Bee on 21st December, alongside actor and comedian Kerry Godliman, comedian and writer Jessica Knappett and actor Hammed Animashaun.

Toyah took part in a number of festive sewing challenges, creating a variety of outfits for Christmas! Toyah also reminisced with one of the show’s hosts, Esme Young, about Love Is The Law and Princess Diana. It was Esme’s fashion house, Swanky Modes, who concepted and designed Toyah’s iconic and memorable imagery for the 1983 album, Love Is The Law.

There was a tonne of pre-broadcast press for The Great British Sewing Bee, and the programme was a ratings hit for the build-up week to Christmas. Post-airing there was also an abundance of press – print and digital, reporting on Toyah winning the show!

• Revisit this seriously festive Toyah memory from 2023 – via numerous posts – at Dreamscape’s News Archive. (Photos © BBC)

Toyah is interviewed in the latest issue – #130 – of Love Sewing magazine.

Behind the seams with Toyah Willcox – read about her experience on The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Special

• The Great British Sewing Bee – See hugely popular Facebook posts related to the Christmas Special – here, here and here. (Photo © BBC)

It’s January 5th! It’s the last day of Christmas!! Perfect time to look back at one of the most festive TV highlights of December.

The Great British Sewing Bee – Celebrity Christmas Special – aired on Thursday 21st December on BBC1, and was watched by over 3 million viewers on the night, as well as many more on catch up/on demand services later during Christmas week and beyond. The programme was a highlight for many over the Christmas season, with Toyah being crowned the winner of the festive special and she even sang a song to close the programme.

• Browse Dreamscape’s The Great British Sewing Bee, Christmas 2023, news archive; watch a short clip of Toyah winning, courtesy of The Independent; see the ratings; and you can watch/rewatch the programme – available until December 2024 – at BBC iPlayer.

NB: Revisit all of Dreamscape’s Christmas 2023 content, including our Christmas Countdown. Right, I have a couple of hours of taking down my tree and decorations to look forward to tonight… Merry January! (Photos © BBC)

There’s been an abundance of press for The Great British Sewing Bee – Celebrity Christmas Special, and I have endeavoured to collect and compile as much of it as possible for this post (Photos © BBC):

• The Independent: Great British Sewing Bee crowns 2023 celebrity winner: The winner of the Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas special has been crowned – Continue…

• Telly Mix: The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special 2023: This year’s special promises to be a vibrant showcase of sewing prowess, featuring four celebrities under the watchful eyes of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant – Continue…

• iNews: The Great British Sewing Bee review: Kiell Smith-Bynoe is its last hope: With more charm on display than sewing skill, this festive edition of the competition was more watchable than the usual series – Continue…

• AOL: Great British Sewing Bee crowns 2023 celebrity winner: The winner of the Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas special has been crowned: Toyah Willcox, Kerry Godliman, Jessica Knappett, and Hammed Animashaun, battled it out in Christmas-themed challenges during Thursday night’s show (21 December) – Continue…

• The Guardian: TV tonight: cheese, chips and cookies – it’s Nigella’s Amsterdam Christmas: The Great British Sewing Bee: Celebrity Christmas Special 9pm, BBC One – Continue…

• Digital Spy: Great British Sewing Bee reveals celebrity winner of 2023 Christmas special: “I’ve loved every minute, the stress included.” – Continue…

• The Sun: Famous Four: The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special: Who is taking part, when is it on and how can I watch it?: A group of famous faces will show off their sewing skills – Continue…

• Radio Times: Who Is In The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas 2023 line-up: Four celebrities are ready to take on the challenge – Continue…

• TV Guide: Celebrity Christmas Special 2023: 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 – Continue…

• Yahoo! News: The best Christmas 2023 TV to watch on ITV, BBC, C4 and more: The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have an array of festive specials airing this December – Continue…

• BBC iPlayer: In this year’s Christmas Sewing Bee, punk icon Toyah Willcox, actor Kerry Godliman, comedian Jessica Knappett and actor Hammed Animashaun put their sewing skills to the test – Watch for the next 12 months…

• Sharp Dressed Man: Toyah performs the ZZ Top hit – Watch…

Another chance to watch this magical hour of festive fun (and sewing)…

The Great British Sewing Bee: Thursday 28th December: BBC2: 1.50am
Celebrity Christmas Special 2023. 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.

It’s Toyah Day on BBC2 today, with two programmes airing today – both from earlier this week on BBC1 and are being repeated on BBC2. (Photos © BBC)

Homes Under The Hammer: BBC2: Friday 22nd December: 6.15am
Toyah Willcox. Dion Dublin is joined by Toyah Willcox in a 20th anniversary celebrity special, to look around a three-bed semi in her native Birmingham.

The Great British Sewing Bee: Friday 22nd December: BBC2: 1.25pm
Celebrity Christmas Special 2023. 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 Great British Sewing Bee – Celebrity Christmas Special airs on Thursday at 9pm on BBC1, and is also repeated the following day on BBC2.

The Great British Sewing Bee: Friday 22nd December: BBC2: 1.25pm
Celebrity Christmas Special 2023. 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.

Toyah guests on a Celebrity Christmas Special episode of The Great British Sewing Bee this coming Thursday (BBC1, 9pm) – see previous posts from the past couple of weeks on this below – and the programme is featured in a variety of this week’s television magazines. (Thanks to Paul and Ray)

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)

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)

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)