Birmingham's new 'super-hospital' in Edgbaston is rising at some speed and it won't be long until bosses no longer need Selly Oak Hospital, which it is replacing.

And when they come to demolish the ageing building in Raddlebarn Road, they need look no further than Brummie punk princess Toyah.

Wild-at-heart Toyah, who spent much of her childhood in and out of Selly Oak Hospital, said she would be first in line to press the button that blows up the building.

The 49-year-old star, who now lives with husband and former King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp in Worcestershire, needed years of corrective treatment because she was born with a twisted spine and one leg longer than the other.

Toyah, who was behind hits such as I Want To Be Free, would like nothing better than to see the wards, where she spent so many years, destroyed.

The singer is making a comeback at the moment, recording a new album and starring with Billie Piper in new ITV series Belle De Jour: The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.

[ News Source: www.icbirmingham.co.uk - 24th August 2007 ]

Check back soon for more Battle Abbey photos.

[ Thanks to Paul White ]

Call Girl Diaries will shed light on the world of high-class call girls, and will ask whether the Belle de Jour diaries, which became a best-selling book, are genuine or fake. 

The eight-part drama, called Secret Diary of a Call Girl, will star Piper alongside Toyah Willcox, as her mother, and Cherie Lunghi, who will play her agent. 

It will premiere on ITV2 in September as part of an effort to put more original commissions on the digital channel.

The hour-long, one-off documentary - which will air on both ITV1 and ITV2 - is being made by independent producer World's End Productions.

"It is very different from previous takes on the British sex industry," said the documentary's executive producer, Gregor Cameron.

"There is a massive internet-based escort industry of self-employed women out there. Some people who are perfectly happy for their pictures to appear on the internet ran for cover at the mere idea of an interview. Others just relished the idea of telling their story.

"Some of the call girls we spoke to said the Belle de Jour diaries couldn't possibly be genuine, others claimed they had met her and one person even claimed to share a literary agent."

Secret Diary of a Call Girl is being made by independent producers Tiger Aspect and Silver Apples, and talent agency Artists Rights Group.

[ News Source: www.media.guardian.co.uk - 9th August 2007 ]

Every Thursday, Sunset Feature (show starts just after sunset). The garden opens at 6pm. and tickets cost $7 per person. Includes picnic mats or seats in the garden, a bag of popcorn, and a drink.

Rock & Roll summer kicks off August 16th with Jubilee.

With Jubilee, legendary British filmmaker Derek Jarman channeled political dissent and artistic daring into a revolutionary blend of history and fantasy, musical and cinematic experimentation, satire and anger, fashion and philosophy. With its uninhibited punk petulance and sloganeering, Jubilee brings together many cultural and musical icons of the time, including Jordan, Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Wayne County, Adam Ant, and Brian Eno (with his first original film score), to create a genuinely unique, unforgettable vision. Ahead of its time and often frighteningly accurate in its predictions, it is a fascinating historical document and a gorgeous work of film art.

[ Source: www.uppereastgarden.com - August 2007 ]

[ Thanks to Brian Marsh - Visit Brian's MySpace for more pictures ]

Battle Abbey Set-List: Echo Beach, Thunder In The Mountains, Its A Mystery, Sweet Child O' Mine, and I Want To Be Free.

[ Thanks to Paul Johnson - Visit Paul's MySpace for dozens more pictures ]

The three-disc set includes the episode starring Toyah, 'Blue Marigold'. The opening episode of the series.

Roald Dahl's chillingly brilliant anthology series, Tales of the Unexpected, makes a return to DVD.

Although widely-regarded as one of the greatest children's authors of all-time, Roald Dahl also wrote chilling adult fiction, taking the twisted ideas used to entertain children and thrilling adults with similar themes. Much-gossiped about in its day, the surprising stories - usually with a sting in the tale - enthralled a nation the moment the iconic titles started.

The English Heritage Picnic Concerts take place in the idyllic grounds of some of England's finest stately homes. Concerts will be taking place at Audley End in Saffron Walden, Essex, Marble Hill in Twickenham and Battle Abbey near Hastings. Highlights of this year’s programme include Bryan Ferry, Lemar & Beverley Knight, Katherine Jenkins, The Buena Vista Social Club from Cuba, Jools Holland with special guest vocalist Lulu and our new Party! Nights featuring eighties' pop legends Bananarama, Belinda Carlisle, Midge Ure, T'Pau, Toyah Willcox, Limahl and Nick Heyward. The English Heritage Picnic Concerts are supported by Jacques Fruit Cider, the new Belgian cider from Strongbow.

Battle Abbey, Battle, Hastings
Saturday 25th August – Party! At Battle Abbey featuring eighties’ superstars Bananarama, Belinda Carlisle Midge Ure, T’Pau. Toyah Willcox and Nick Heyward. 

[ You can also watch a clip here, or click the banner above ]

[ Please click on the banner above to go there ]

[ Source: Official Toyah MySpace - Go there for larger versions ]

[ Source: Sean Chapman MySpace - Go there for larger versions ]

2 DAVID “HONEYBOY” EDWARDS
The veteran Mississippi Delta bluesman, who is fast approaching a century, continues his legendary journey up the Blues Highway. The Spitz, E1 (020-7392 9032) Sat 

3 DEVOTCHKA
The best in knees-up Mariachi punk – by way of Denver, Colorado – from the four-piece that soundtracked the indie movie Little Miss Sunshine. 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, E1 (www.93feeteast.co.uk 020-7247 3293), Mon

4 RILO KILEY
A blast of Californian sunshine courtesy of the indie-pop darlings, whose ace new album, Under the Blacklight, even has a little disco dust sprinkled on it. Carling Academy Islington, Parkfield Street, N1 (www.islington-academy. co.uk 0844 4772000), Mon

5 THE ROLLING STONES
So, Keef did snort his Dad’s ashes, but it wasn’t “with” cocaine, but “like” cocaine. Anyway, it doesn’t seem to have done him any harm as the old gang are out on the road...again. O2 Arena, Millennium Way, SE10 (0871 2200260), Tues & Thur

[ Source: www.timesonline.co.uk - Saturday 18th August 2007 ]

[ Please click on the images above to visit Toyah's Official MySpace ]

Please click on the picture above to view (or buy) these. Toyah's photos are from Page 22 onwards.

[ Thanks to Andrew York ]

1. Take On Me - A-Ha
2. Mad World - Tears For Fears
3. Tell Me When - Human League
4. Obsession - Animotion
5. Torch - Soft Cell
6. Quiet Life - Japan
7. Feels Like Heaven - Fiction Factory
8. Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) - A Flock Of Seagulls
9. Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime - Korgis
10. We Are Glass - Gary Numan
11. Mind Of A Toy - Visage
12. New Song - Howard Jones
13. Underpass - John Foxx
14. Love On Your Side - Thompson Twins
15. Einstein A Go Go - Landscape
16. I Want To Be Free - Toyah
17. Drowning In Berlin - Mobiles
18. Da Da Da - Trio

[ Thanks to Angus Turner ]

The woman known as Belle De Jour published her diaries in 2005 and, despite many attempts to discover her true identity, remains anonymous. Her no-holds-barred account of her experiences as a prostitute is frank, funny and highly compelling.

The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl is the story of a 21st-century Moll Flanders, an illuminating glimpse behind the scenes of the high-class sex trade. It is an insight into the secret life of an extraordinary young woman whose conventional family have no idea that she is leading a double life.

The eight-part series, each episode lasting 30 minutes, will be broadcast initially on ITV2 but it is likely it will be repeated on ITV1. It is currently scheduled to be broadcast in Autumn 2007 at a peak airtime.

[ News Source: ITV Media - Inside Out - August 2007 ]

Singer and actress Toyah Willcox is so mean her husband says that her purse screams if she opens it.

Toyah Willcox shot to fame during the punk rock era. Her appearances in Derek Jarman’s 1977 film Jubilee and the cult classic Quadrophenia launched her as an antiestablishment figure.

In the 1980s, she sang hits such as I Want To Be Free and It’s A Mystery. In 1983, she was voted Best Female Singer at the British Rock and Pop Awards. She has also starred in many West End plays, including Taming of the Shrew and Cabaret, and has recently started filming a drama for ITV2, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, starring Billie Piper. 

Willcox, 49, lives with her husband, the former King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, in Worcester. 

Please click here to read the full interview.

[ Source: www.timesonline.co.uk - Sunday 12th August 2007 ]

Disc One:
1. Confide In Me - Kylie Minogue
2. Crazy Chick - Charlotte Church
3. Not That Kind - Anastacia
4. Ain't Got No : I Got Life - Nina Simone
5. I Try - Macy Gray
6. All Around The World - Lisa Stansfield
7. Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
8. Promise Me - Beverley Craven
9. Perfect - Fairground Attraction
10. Life - Des'Ree
11. Who's Zoomin' Who - Aretha Franklin
12. This Is It - Melba Moore
13. Shackles (Praise You) - Mary Mary
14. Back And Forth - Aaliyah
15. See The Day -  Dee. C. Lee
16. 99 Red Balloons - Nena
17. Yes Sir, I Can Boogie - Baccara
18. Ready To Go - Republica

Disc Two:
1. The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush
2. Holidng Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler
3. Right Beside You - Sophie B Hawkins
4. Tell It To My Heart - Taylor Dayne
5. Love Come Down - Evelyn 'Champagne' King
6. Automatic - The Pointer Sisters
7. Manic Monday - Bangles
8. Ruby Tuesday - Melanie
9. Central Reservation - Beth Orton
10. Don't Fall In Love (I Said) - Toyah
11. I Love To Love - Tina Charles
12. The Way We Were/Try To Remember - Gladys Knight
13. That Ole Devil Called Love - Alison Moyet
14. Free - Deniece Williams
15. When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees
16. Heartbreaker - Dionne Warwick
17. Losing My Mind - Liza Minnelli
18. True Colours - Cyndi Lauper

Godforsaken (August 2007):

1) Latex Messiah (Viva La Rebel In You) [Preview clip]. 2007. A Brand New Willcox/Darlow produced track.

2) Heal Ourselves 2007. A Brand New Willcox/Darlow produced track.

3) Lesser God [Preview clip] 2007. A Brand New Willcox/Darlow produced track.

4) God Ceases to Dream (remix).1994. Unreleased remix by Phil Nicholas / Toyah Willcox.. Original version on the album Take the Leap! (Edsel CD DIAB 8081).

5) Dreamchild (Acoustic/Live).1997. Official live version recorded at Bourbon Street, Glasgow / Previously unreleased.

[ Source: Official Toyah MySpace - 10th July 2007 ]

Quatermass : ITV4 - Sunday 12th August : 8.00pm
Lovely Lightning. Professor Quatermass and Kapp watch in horror as a huge bolt of lightning hits the gathering at Ringstone Round, reducing the crowd to a carpet of white ash on the ground. Isabel, the sole survivor of the incident, is taken to London by Quatermass and Annie Morgan, but Kapp and his family must stay behind to face the reprisals of the Planet People.

Brum : CBeebies - Tuesday 14th August : 3.15pm
Brum and The Airport Adventure. The adventures of a little car who lives in a motor museum, narrated by Toyah Willcox. When precious gems are stolen from a famous celebrity at the airport, Brum is soon on the trail of the two thieves.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks : VH1UK - Thursday 16th August : 9.30pm
Another edition of the classic comedy pop quiz with special guests Toyah, Tony Wright, Saul Davies and John Moloney. Mark Lamarr presents.

[ Thanks to Andi Westhorpe for the pictures ]

[ Thanks to Richard Smith ]

[ Thanks to Richard Smith ]