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Archive for December, 2014

Merry Christmas from Dreamscape

December 24th, 2014

2014 has been an exceptionally busy year for Toyah, and for Dreamscape. We’ve just about managed to keep up with our favourite workaholic over the last 12 months. After all these years it’s still fun and a privilege to run a fansite dedicated to such a great artist… Wishing all our visitors a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2015.

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This evening Toyah has tweeted a festive greeting: “HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FRIPP/COX’S. MAY YOUR LOVED ONES B SAFE AND MAY HAPPINESS COME 2 STAY XXX”

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Official Toyah Advent 2014

December 24th, 2014

The Official Toyah Christmas 2014 Advent is now complete, with today’s final door opened. It’s been a great countdown to Christmas with rare and interesting Toyah goodies over the last 24 days. Click below to open door 24 and revisit the full countdown…

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Toyah Newsy Bits & Pieces!

December 24th, 2014

ciwf14a• Welcome to our final “Toyah Newsy Bits & Pieces!” post of the year…

Compassion in World Farming: Compassion is proud to stand alongside a diverse group of celebrity ambassadors whose incredible talents are helping us to end factory farming. Here is what our ambassadors have to say about their work to end factory farming: Toyah Willcox “A cage is never enough for any animal and that means rabbits too. Compassion in World Farming want to make sure rabbits have a fair and just life, without unnecessary suffering. I fully support their aims in making sure rabbits get a fair deal. I am utterly convinced people do not want the meal on their plate to have come via suffering and exploitation.” – Continue reading…

Toyah & Willyfred: A wonderful photo. View here…

Birmingham Hippodrome Blog: Jack and the Beanstalk press night at Birmingham Hippodrome: We held the official press night for Jack and the Beanstalk last night (22 Dec). Taking place in one of our dance studios it was attended by over 100 media and guests who came from all over the region… Regional bloggers came in force and singer Toyah Willcox was also spotted – Continue reading…

Mad World: Mixtape: Toys & Games: Once again, Chris Rooney digs deep into his sack. Ho! Ho! Ho! and Oy, Vey! / Here are 11 fun songs you should play / A holiday mixtape about games and toys / For all the naughty or nice New Wave girls and boys!: Toyah, “I Want To Be Free” (1981) Even before she was a singer, Toyah Willcox exercised her rebel instincts by experimenting with hair color and style. To this day she doesn’t know why her parents gave her the unusual name of “Toyah”. Recommended Toy: Launched as a TV show tie-in, the Barbiesque doll named Jem was a rock star like Toyah sporting a shocking pink head of hair and was “Truly Outrageous” according to the show’s theme song – Continue reading…

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Toyah @ Christmas: Pop Goes Christmas

December 24th, 2014

christmas14bThe build up to Christmas wouldn’t be complete at Dreamscape without this… I think I’ve mentioned I Believe in Father Christmas every December for the last 14 years, so here we go again… Toyah covers the Greg Lake 1975 classic (which I didn’t realise also features Robert Fripp until Toyah mentioned it a couple of years ago on Toyah’s Christmas at the Zoo) for ITV’s Pop Goes Christmas in 1982. She sounds great, looks amazing and Keith Hale and Joel Bogen are having a right old festive time in the forest of lit up trees. Bravo!

Christmas 2014 @ Dreamscape

December 24th, 2014

Take a look back over all of Dreamscape’s Christmas 2014 related content…

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Categories: Christmas 2014 Tags:

Toyah @ Christmas: Toyah Talks Christmas (1 Day To Go)

December 24th, 2014

sunexp13cA trio of festive articles from Christmases past. Christmas Memories from ‘No. 1′ magazine in 1983, Star Surprises from ‘Celebs’ magazine in 2005, and a Christmas feature from ‘Sunday Express’ magazine in 2008 (which included a festive illustration by Daniel Mitchell).

O Come, All Ye Faithful: Express Magazine (21st December 2008)

The festive season isn’t just about parties and presents, even for the stars. Gillian Rowe talks to some well-known people about where they worship on Christmas Day, and what the occasion means to them.

Toyah Willcox: Each Christmas Eve my husband Robert and I go to the midnight carol service at my local parish church. I’m normally working over Christmas, singing at rock concerts or appearing in panto, so I find myself rushing home from wherever I am to get to the service on time. The church is full to the rafters, with 300 people or more, and everyone takes communion.

I believe in remembering the Christian values of Christmas, which for me are about bringing a community together and celebrating the birth of all children. Also, for me, Christmas is more important than the New Year as a time to look over what you have achieved in the previous 12 months. I love singing Silent Night and Away In A Manger. I first sung them at school, and we were all so innocent then. There was no persecution, terrorism or religious hatred when I was growing up in Birmingham. Of course, the history of Christianity, like many religions, is peppered with violence, but for me the principles of Christianity are sound. I think it’s important for children to be taught the power of prayer, the importance of community and compassion. For me a carol service awakens this in all children.

Star Surprises: Our Fave Gifts: Celebs Magazine (December 2005)

The celebs reveal all about the very best pressies they’ve ever found under the Christmas tree. Amazingly, they aren’t all diamonds and sports cars.

TOYAH WILLCOX ‘A lifesize terracotta statue of a horse and warrior. On Christmas day in 1991, my husband insisted I walk around the garden and there it was. I still love it.’

Christmas Memories: No. 1 Magazine (24th December 1983)

What was the best Christmas you ever had?

The best Christmases ever was when I was a kid because I had the security of my family and all the traditions were kept. I used to get tons and tons of pressies. Up until the age of ten I was having really good christmases. I spent one Christmas in complete euphoria after doing the Drury Lane Whistle Test which was two years ago. It was such a wonderful night.

• Continue reading Christmas Memories at Dreamscape’s Press Archive.

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Toyah on TV: A Toyah Telly Christmas

December 24th, 2014

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.

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100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross: More 4: Christmas Day: 3pm
A countdown of the nation’s favourite games, gadgets and playthings, as decided by a Channel 4 online poll. Inventors and toymakers tell the inside stories of their creations and successes. (Toyah appears briefly, via 1981 “Rubik Cube” footage)

Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 9pm
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you a selection of fine Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by a variety of creatures great and small.  (This originally aired as a two-hour special. These are cut-down one hour programmes)

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 11.30pm
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 27th December: 11pm
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs. (Part 1)

The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Boxing Day: 4.35pm
The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Hogmanay/New Year’s Eve: 8pm
Part One, 100 – 51. Denise Van Outen presents the first in a two-part rundown of the 100 best musicals as voted for by viewers, featuring 42nd Street, 8 Mile and The Sound of Music. The first show counts down from 100 to 51 and features memorable clips from film, stage and TV, interspersed with interviews given by performers, directors, writers and choreographers. Also airing on More4 +1 and HD.

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 7pm
Snuggling up by the fireside with Toyah Willcox and Roy Wood for some Christmas chat and festive songs are pop rock act The Feeling and Imagination’s Leee John. (Part 2)

The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Sat 27th Dec: 4.10pm
The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: New Year’s Day: 8pm
Part Two, 50 – 1. Denise Van Outen concludes the rundown of viewers’ favourite musicals, counting down from 50 to number one. Including memorable clips from film, stage and TV productions, plus contributions by celebrity fans, Hollywood movers and shakers, critics and journalists. Also airing on More4 +1 and HD.

Categories: Christmas 2014, TV/Radio 2014 Tags:

Official Toyah Advent: Desert Island Desires

December 23rd, 2014

fait14aA gorgeously festive Toyah is behind door 22 of toyahwillcox.com’s 2014 advent, the first part of Toyah’s Desert Island Desires.

Breaking Through, The Official Toyah newsletter say: Have you been opening each door of the Toyah Digital Advent Calendar? Audio and visual delights have been unlocked daily in the countdown to Christmas with live songs from the most recetnt our and a flashback to rare and thought-never-to-exit concert footage from September 1980..

We’ve reached the final three days and for those three days comes an exclusive three-part special. Open door 22 now to start watching Toyah’s Desert Island Desires.

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• Above: A couple of screenshots from Toyah’s Desert Island Desires: Part 1 | Sign up to ‘Breaking Through’ here | The Christmas newsletter mailout also includes info on all of Toyah’s 2015 live dates so far.

Toyah @ Christmas: Open House 2002 (2 Days To Go)

December 23rd, 2014

christmas14fChristmas 2002, Toyah guested on Gloria Hunniford’s Open House on Channel 5. This was a panto special with Toyah in full costume, she talked about her panto for that year, Aladdin at The Anvil in Basingstoke, Calamity Jane and more.

A singer, actress, and presenter who has brought punk to panto, Toyah Willcox…

Gloria: You’ve lost so much weight!

Toyah: I’ve been touring Calamity Jane for months. It’s made me lean and mean!

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Christopher Biggins: Her muscles are incredible

Toyah: I have to swing from rafters and I’m thrown everywhere. It’s good. And that’s just in my dressing room!

Gloria: It seems odd that someone who was always very different…panto seems to be almost tame.

Toyah: You think it’s tame to dress like a boy twice a day, go onstage and pretend to be male, and marry a woman at the end of the show? I think it’s the best thing anyone could ever do! I know what you’re saying. I don’t think I would ever have dreamt 20 years ago that I would have done panto. Now that I’ve done it for 10 years I’m passionately in love with it.

• Read a full transcript of Toyah’s interview here, and view larger versions of the screen caps here.

AFC Business: Toyah Lights Up Bournemouth

December 23rd, 2014

afcbus14aHigh Priestess of Punk Toyah Willcox lights up Bournemouth hotel

Singer and actress Toyah Willcox fired-up this year’s Christmas celebrations at the Days Hotel Marsham Court by setting light to the Christmas pudding. Toyah, whose famous hits include It’s a Mystery and Thunder in the Mountains was at the hotel in Russell Cotes Road, Bournemouth, as the special guest of the Dorset Ladies Luncheon Club.

The Club, which has over 180 members, is celebrating its 40th anniversary and invited Toyah to be guest speaker at its annual Christmas Lunch.

…Rosie Wallace, general manager of the Days Hotel Marsham Court said: “It was great to have Toyah at the hotel. She is a fascinating woman and full of sparkle – the perfect choice to perform the traditional lighting of the pud.”

• Continue reading at www.afc-business.co.uk.

Categories: Press Clips Tags:

Christmas 2014: Toyah @ Vintage TV

December 22nd, 2014

christmas2013aFor the fourth consecutive year Toyah has been omnipresent on Vintage TV throughout December. This year the 2011 special Toyah’s Vintage Christmas, 2012’s Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo and 2013′s two-parter, co-hosted by Toyah and Roy Wood, A Very Vintage Christmas have all aired numerous times over the last few weeks.

There are still chances to catch both parts of A Very Vintage Christmas and Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo. Toyah will be popping up a couple of times on the channel on Christmas Day.

Here are the days and times for the final airings of Toyah’s specials on Vintage TV this Christmas.

Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Tuesday 23rd December: 11.30pm
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 9pm
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you a selection of fine Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by a variety of creatures great and small.  (This originally aired as a two-hour special. These are cut-down one hour programmes)

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Christmas Day: 11.30pm
A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 27th December: 11pm
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists on our new show as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs. (Part 1)

A Very Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 7pm
Snuggling up by the fireside with Toyah Willcox and Roy Wood for some Christmas chat and festive songs are pop rock act The Feeling and Imagination’s Leee John. (Part 2)

Toyah Pays Tribute To Billie Whitelaw

December 22nd, 2014

Toyah tweeted a tribute to Billie Whitelaw this morning: “R.I.P & GOD BLESS BILLIE WHITELAW! thank you Billie for being a role model and an inspiration.“. BBC News and the Coventry Telegraph have included Toyah’s message in their news reports on Billie’s death.

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Toyah @ Christmas: Once Upon A Christmas (3 Days To Go)

December 22nd, 2014

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Christmas 1996, Toyah contributed a touching recollection of childhood Christmasses to the charity publication ‘Once Upon A Christmas’. This book is now out of print.

In this delightful Christmas book, a host of our most popular and well-known celebrities from all walks of life have contributed stories, memories, recipes and thoughts about Christmas to make this the most irresistible festive anthology there is… Once Upon A Christmas will help to put – and keep – you in the Christmas spirit.

Toyah Willcox: Broadcaster and Singer

Childhood Christmasses were the most magical.

It was the appearance of the Christmas tree that cued two weeks of sheer all-encompassing joy. I’m talking about being four years old. Just able to talk but unable to comprehend the hidden meanings of the words of wisdom from the giants, the adults. My family home, although modest, was a castle to me and everything in it was rare and precious. But the Christmas tree was proof that Narnia, fairies, hobgoblins and fauns truly did exist…

• Continue reading at Dreamscape’s Press Archive. (Thanks to Paul Lomas)

Rest in Peace, Billie Whitelaw

December 21st, 2014

The legendary Billie Whitelaw died today. Toyah often cited Billie as her favourite actress in interviews over the years. Billie’s Aunt delivered me into the world in 1967… Rest in Peace to a wonderfully feisty and intelligent woman.

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Toyah @ Christmas: Dreamscape Festive 50 (4 Days To Go)

December 21st, 2014

It’s almost Christmas!

A few years ago Dreamscape compiled the ‘Toyah Festive 50′. A tinseltastic half-tonne of Yuletide related Toyah facts, information, figures and trivia. Revisit the full rundown here.

Why was Toyah Scarlett at Christmas? … Who would be her dream dining companion? … Just how many town’s lights did Toyah switch on at Christmas 2003?…

What were Toyah and Tony Robinson doing at Christmas 1988? … Which other programmes were aired the Christmas Eve night that Toyah’s legendary Theatre Royal, Drury Lane concert was watched by millions on BBC2?

Discover the answer to these and much more in our Toyah @ Christmas/Festive 50 information overload! Completely unecessary but a lot of fun nonetheless!

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Toyah on TV: Maigret & The Hotel Majestic

December 21st, 2014

maigret14aMaigret: ITV Encore: Monday 12th Jan: 5.50pm
Maigret and the Hotel Majestic. Crime series featuring Georges Simenon’s celebrated Parisian detective. Maigret is called to the scene when a beautiful woman is found dead in the basement of the Hotel Majestic with a gun in her handbag. The Chief Inspector’s investigations initially centre around the staff at the hotel – until he discovers that the woman’s husband booked a trip to Rome that he never made. Starring: Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Hutchings, Michael Shannon, Toyah Willcox (1993). Also airing on ITV Encore HD and Plus 1.

Toyah on TV: The Janice Long Review Show #2

December 20th, 2014

jlrs12fThe edition of The Janice Long Review Show which featured a second guest appearance from Toyah, and a look back at the 1982 album ‘The Changeling’, is also being repeated next month. This originally aired in August 2012.

The Janice Long Review Show: Vintage TV
Tuesday 13th January: 3am
Toyah and Sex Pistols. Broadcaster Paul Sexton returns, alongside producer Trevor Horn and 80s starlet Toyah, to discuss her 1982 gothic release ‘The Changeling’ and Sex Pistols’ ground-breaking ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’.

Toyah @ Christmas: Happy Xmas From The Stars (6 Days To Go)

December 19th, 2014

christmas14fHappy Christmas From The Stars, a “Free Christmas Record (12 Minutes of Festive Fun)”, the flexi that was attached to the December 9-22, 1982 issue of ‘Smash Hits’ magazine, featured numerous pop stars sending readers festive greetings. Click below to listen – Toyah arrives at 4.46, inbetween Martin Fry of ABC and Steve Strange of Visage. Too-de-loo!!

Official Toyah Advent: Daily Toyah Treats

December 19th, 2014

offadvent14cThe countdown to Christmas Day has been continuing daily at toyahwillcox.com’s Christmas Advent, with wonderfully colourful and rare Toyah content, including photos and video footage.

The festive countdown continues right through until Christmas Eve… at The Official Toyah Willcox Website.

Toyah on TV: The 100 Greatest Musicals

December 19th, 2014

The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Boxing Day: 4.35pm/Hogmany: 8pm
Part One, 100 – 51. Denise Van Outen presents the first in a two-part rundown of the 100 best musicals as voted for by viewers, featuring 42nd Street, 8 Mile and The Sound of Music. The first show counts down from 100 to 51 and features memorable clips from film, stage and TV, interspersed with interviews given by performers, directors, writers and choreographers. Also airing on More4 +1 and HD.

The 100 Greatest Musicals: More4: Sat 27th Dec: 4.10pm/New Year’s Day: 8pm
Part Two, 50 – 1. Denise Van Outen concludes the rundown of viewers’ favourite musicals, counting down from 50 to number one. Including memorable clips from film, stage and TV productions, plus contributions by celebrity fans, Hollywood movers and shakers, critics and journalists. Also airing on More4 +1 and HD.

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Toyah on TV: The Janice Long Review Show

December 19th, 2014

jlrs13aThe Janice Long Review Show, the first (of two), featuring Toyah as a guest is repeated early in 2015 on ‘Vintage TV’. This originally aired in July 2012.

The Janice Long Review Show: Vintage TV
Thursday 8th January: 3am
Earth, Wind and Fire and Seal. Prolific producer Trevor Horn, punk princess Toyah Willcox and music journalist Paul Sexton head to Boogie Wonderland to chat disco classic ‘I Am’ and UK No 1 ‘Seal II’, home to hit ‘Kiss From A Rose’.

Categories: TV/Radio 2014, Vintage TV Tags: