Keep an eye out for Toyah on a TV near you. She is bound to pop up somewhere in the schedules over the festive period.

See you all in 2008!

On Christmas Eve 1981, 26 years ago this very day, Toyah played the final date of the Good Morning Universe European Tour, at the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. This was, famously, broadcast live on BBC2 on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Toyah later remembered: "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. After we'd done it Tom and I drove down to his parent's estate and people were running out of their houses to tell us how much they'd enjoyed it. I can remember driving home to Birmingham that night and it was snowing. Everything was just wonderful and I remained on a high after doing that show for about ten days."

Transmitted in an era dominated by the New Romantics and synthpop, the celebrity teams would invariably feature at least one member of Duran Duran, Ultravox and Spandau Ballet each week. 

Mike Read hosted the show, and it ran for three years between 1981 and 1984. Toyah guested on the show four or five times during it's run.

Pop Quiz is probably best remembered for the lyric round. 

Dickinson's Celebrity Real Deal : ITV1 - Fri 4th Jan : 2.00pm
Celebrities sell treasured family heirlooms to raise cash for charity. Sherrie Hewson discovers sentimental value doesn't necessarily translate into cold hard cash when her grandmother's scent bottle comes up for sale, Toyah Willcox proves she knows more than the Real Deal dealers when her print hits the sale room, and sports commentator Jim Rosenthal battles with dealer Mike Melody over his train set.

The interview mainly focused on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in which Toyah and Shaun were appearing in Kent. 

However, Toyah also talked about her role in Calamity Jane.

Toyah also briefly metioned the novel she had been working on, and that she had been asked to contribute ideas to the third series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. Toyah also confirmed that her one-woman-show would definitely be going ahead. 

Some of BBC Breakfast will be broadcast from the Hexagon in Reading. Toyah is currently climbing beanstalks as Jack in Jack & The Beanstalk at that venue.

With the rare exception of a few barbed comments about the sort of people to be seen in Reading's Oxford Road (which prompted sniggers among the adults), the opening matinee was pitched fair and square at the little ones, although the most raucous members of the audience were a group of adolescent girls from a local school, who cheered and whooped, not least at the antics of Buttercup the cow, who stole the show.

Roller-skating Silly Billy (Harvey James), brother of Jack's girlfriend Jilly (Kelly Bibb), had little trouble stirring up sympathy as he lamented being lonely and single - and successfully encouraged everyone to yell at the giant's henchman, Burp (Simon Ludders). As now seems almost mandatory in pantomime, Burp responded with the catchline made popular in recent years by TV comedienne Catherine Tate: "Am I bovvered?"

The high point was the tunes - a mixture of schmaltzy ballads, soft rock and Broadway-style razzmatazz. Toyah belted out the numbers with gusto, accompanied by agile dancers (On the Other Side of the Tracks proved particularly successful). On one occasion, she was borne aloft by a stiff-backed duo who appeared to have borrowed their look from the German musical synthesizer pioneers Kraftwerk, which was odd, if refreshingly different from the usual thigh-slapping fare.

It was a low-tech production until, to my surprise, the giant appeared on stage in the second act. The towering animated figure was too lumbering to scare even the tiniest folk in the stalls, but was impressively monstrous nonetheless.

Jack and the Beanstalk continues until January 7 (box office call 0118 960 6060).

Source: Oxford Times: 18/12/2007

On Sunday night, as I stepped into Cliveden House for Dame Shirley Bassey's 70th birthday party, I didn't for one moment worry about what I looked like, or whether I was going to be the youngest-looking person in the room. 

For really, at the age of 49, what do I care? I don't attend parties to be snapped by the paparazzi. Nor do I attend parties merely to be seen by my fellow partygoers. 

I go, particularly in the case of good old Shirley, to celebrate the birthday of one of my friends. And for wonderful conversation. And to celebrate the liberation and freedom of being an 'old bird' on the razzle. 

Indeed, as I stepped into that party on Sunday evening, all I cared about was finding interesting people to talk to - from worlds as varied as business, politics and showbusiness - and that Shirley, Cilla Black, and Joan Collins wouldn't out-dance or out-last me on the dance floor. 

Sadly, that's exactly what they did - partying until the early hours while I had to return home to bed at midnight so I could prepare for my pantomime appearance - I am currently playing Jack in Jack And The Beanstalk at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading - the next morning. 

If not for that, I would have been clamouring to stay out with the rest of them. No wonder we ended up on page three of the Mail under the headline Golden Girl Power. 

The truth is that the days of slippers, blankets and a crossword are long gone for women of a "certain age". Now, it's parties, sparkling conversation and a lust for life that no longer need be dampened by outdated social expectations. 

My mother's generation was brought up to effectively give up on life after 30. Once they were married with children, they were encouraged to fade into the background, to stop worrying about fashion and careers and to get on with motherhood. 

When I was a twenty-something pop star in the Eighties, I could barely look beyond the age of 40 - let alone imagine that I would ever be 50. Now I feel there is nothing standing in my way. And much of that, I feel, is down to women such as Shirley, Joan and Cilla. 

Thanks to them, we 'oldies' have been given licence to indulge ourselves and prolong our careers, spend money on clothes and pampering, and generally get out and have fun without being labelled as barmy old birds who should know better. 

Never was that so clear as on Sunday night, when it was very much the glamorous older women who were commanding all the attention - from men of all ages. The males in the mix positively drooled, and not just at the jaw-dropping, floor-length gowns, but at these women's wit, their life experience, their inner "we've done it all" confidence. 

I remember watching Shirley take to the stage at around 10pm and the entire room stood silent, hanging on to her every word as much as gawping at her fantastic figure. We have simply never seen women like her looking like this at such an advanced age before. Who would have thought, even 30 years ago, that any woman could have a lasting and sustainable career after 40? 

As a young woman when I was singing and presenting on TV, it was drummed into me that I should do all I could before I hit 30. God forbid, if I was still working at 40 - well, said all the male executives, I should count myself incredibly lucky. 

Remember, even as we hit the Eighties and early-Nineties, there appeared little place for women over 40. So many Hollywood actresses were sidelined, while men such as Robert Redford and Sean Connery were celebrated for their wrinkles. 

But, quietly in the background, women such as Shirley, Joan and Cilla grafted away - still making music, writing books and presenting TV. Gradually people realised that despite their "old age" - if you can really call it that - these women weren't going anywhere. 

At the same time, glossy magazines started targeting the older readers, realising that with the everlengthening life expectancy, women wanted to look after themselves. And that, of course, is where plastic surgery comes in. I'll admit, this is where the argument gets tricky. Are the women using plastic surgery to recapture a lost youth or prolong their vivacity? 

At Shirley's party on Sunday night, I met Cindy Jackson, 52, a self-confessed devotee of plastic surgery. We've met before, and as we looked around the room, we both remarked on how well all the ladies at the party looked - some, perhaps, would admit to a few nips and tucks, others would claim a great diet and a dedicated personal trainer. 

But as we talked, it came down to one thing - looking after oneself. 

Now, while I am also a follower of plastic surgery - having had one facelift three years ago and Botox for the past seven years - I do so merely as a preventative measure. Personally, I think I look my age, and because I like acting, I choose a low-level of Botox in order not to freeze my forehead. I want my face to reflect how youthful I feel inside. 

However, Cindy freely admits that her use of plastic surgery is in order to turn back the clock. It is not a choice that I would make, but nevertheless I believe she has every right to do as she wishes. 

In fact, that freedom of choice is one of the reasons older women have so much power now. We have heard about the "grey pound", and more recently, "silver surfers", the older generation who frequently use the internet. 

But the reality is that in everyday life, we now have the option to look as old or as young as we like, and I bet you'd hardly find a woman at that party who wants to look her age, not when she feels so empowered and successful inside. 

And to me, that is one of the greatest changes in the past 20 years - wealth and success. When I was younger, I took advice on everything. I had control of my acting and television career but for everything else - my businesses, property and finances - I had to turn to men for advice. 

In the past few years, not only have I taken over everything myself, but I have seen a huge rise in the number of female entrepreneurs making millions from their own hard work. 

With that new-found money comes a freedom to indulge yourself and do exactly what you want when you want. For many of these women, their most successful years have come as they've turned 50 and they want to look as glamorous and powerful as they feel. 

That was particularly evident at the party - hundreds of women in the most beautiful, expensive dresses. Yet, interestingly, there was no competition and no feeling of one woman trying to outdo the rest. 

At 50, 60 and 70, there is little to outdo. Everyone looks their best and everyone has achieved their best. What I marvelled at most was how every woman there admired each other - not just for their looks but for their achievements. 

Yes, of course the car park was filled with Bentleys and £500,000 Rolls-Royces, but the difference at this party was that everyone had them, therefore there was no need to compete. And, just for the record, at least half the cars in the driveway belonged to the women. 

But what about the fashions? Again, that was one of the most liberating things about partying with a bunch of "older women", if you can call them that. 

The rule-books can be chucked out the window. Why worry about bingo wings or a bit of a flabby stomach? Why not just sling on the dress you've always dreamed of wearing and sod the critics. Twenty-year-olds might have firmer thighs and fewer wrinkles, but they can only dream of the innate confidence that comes with a life lived to the full. 

Over the past few years I have gone out maybe four times a year with Cilla, Rula Lenska and Shirley Bassey. We always hit the nightclub Tramp in London, and we are always the last ones to leave. 

That's one of the joys of "growing up". We don't care what other people think. Why should there be an age limit to enjoying yourself? The truth is I am happier now than I have ever been. Now, I no longer worry about anything more than enjoying myself. And if, in a few months' time, when I reach 50 and I stay out partying until the nightclub closes, well then I'll just crack a smile and raise a toast to the future.

Source: dailymail: 19/12/2007

December 1999: Toyah continues to work on her autobiography, which would be published in August 2000, titled; 'Living Out Loud'.... Appears on the Slade tribute documentary It's Slade.... Plays the title role in Peter Pan at the Marlowe Theatre in Kent. 

December 2000: Toyah plays the Wicked Queen in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage, Kent.

December 2001: Toyah places at number 48 in 'Q' magazine's '100 Greatest Women In Music' poll.... Helps launch the Christmas festivities in Stockport.... Plays the title role in Aladdin at the Plaza Theatre in Stockport. 

December 2002: Toyah appears naked in the 'Daily Mail'.... Guests on the Open House panto special, with Gloria Hunniford, on Channel 5.... Toyah records an interview for inclusion in the Rock Legends documentary, shown in January in Carlton/Central TV region of the UK.... Plays the title role in Aladdin at the Anvil in Basingstoke. 

December 2003: Helps launch Christmas festivities in Ashford, Dover and Whitstable.... Appears as the Wicked Queen in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at the Marlowe theatre in Kent. 

December 2004: Toyah stars as the Wicked Fairy Queen in Sleeping Beauty at the Marlowe Theatre in Kent... She also attends the UK premiere of the Bobby Darin "biopic" film Beyond The Sea... and parties at Shirley Bassey's Christmas get-together... Toyah also guested in the audience of The X Factor and appeared on Blue Peter... Toyah was also all over the Christmas TV schedules. 

December 2005: Toyah, once again, played the Wicked Queen in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, this time at the Milton Keynes Theatre.

December 2006: Toyah plays two Christmas gigs with The SAS Band... She begins her role as Siobhan in the BBC Radio soap Silver Street... Toyah plays the final show of the 'Hitmakers' UK Tour... She is interviewed by the 'Daily Mail' and 'The Independent'... and guested on BBC Radio 2's Radio Rivron... And Toyah's panto for 2006 was Aladdin, she played The Genie Of The Lamp alongside Chico.

Growing old disgracefully: Dame Shirley and Cilla show they can party just as hard as their younger contemporaries

It was 11 months late, but Dame Shirley Bassey finally celebrated her 70th birthday. 

The Welsh diva invited a host of her famous friends, including Joan Collins, 74; Cilla Black, 64; and 'King of the Jungle' Christopher Biggins, to the lavish bash at Cliveden House, the Berkshire stately home and hotel. 

It was a double celebration for Dame Shirley and Biggins - the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! winner turned 59 on December 15th. Despite their advancing years, Dame Shirley and her pals showed they could party just as hard as their younger contemporaries. 

Dame Shirley and her Golden Girl pals spent the night quaffing champagne and showing off their moves on the dancefloor. Dressed in a red fur bolero, Dame Shirley arrived at 8pm and entered her party flanked by the self-styled Fantasy Boys - a topless male dance troupe dressed in white satin trousers 

While most of the 500 guests kept to the glitzy dress code, ageing punk rocker Siouxsie Sioux and designer Pam Hogg arrived in a low-cut metallic catsuits and garish make-up. Despite celebrating her own birthday, Dame Shirley belted out 'Happy Birthday' to herself, before cutting her four-tiered red birthday cake. 

The singer wore a low-cut red satin sheath dress to the Scarlet-themed party, which cost a reported £500,000 (paid for by Andrew Davis, chairman of von Essen which owns Cliveden) and was named 'Let the Party Start' - a nod to her cover of the Pink song which she performed in the Marks & Spencer Christmas TV ad last year. 

Guests including Bruce Forsyth, Honor Blackman, Tony Hadley, Rolf Harris, Lord Brocket, Toyah Willcox, Tony Christie and Raine Countess Spencer feasted on a lavish spread of Scottish lobster, langoustine, foie gras and Beluga caviar. 

Former Blind Date host Cilla attracted a lot of attention with her public displays of affection with her boyfriend John Madejski. Cilla, who started dating the Reading FC boss in 2004, couldn't keep her eyes off her lover and was spotted caressing his hands at the dinner table. 

Besides Dame Shirley's famous voice, upcoming singer/songwriter Tallulah Rendell and operatic boy band Blake provided the entertainment. The diva was serenaded by Blake - who formed after meeting on social networking site Facebook earlier this year - before being kissed by all four members. 

Dame Shirley turned 70 on January 8 this year, but has been too busy to organise a big celebration until now. 

The Monaco-based singer spent months in a recording studio earlier this year making her hit remix album Get the Party Started, which was released in June. The same month, she was helicoptered into Somerset to headline the Glastonbury Festival. 

Dame Shirley wowed the festival crowd with hits including Big Spender and Goldfinger, dressed in a Julien McDonald dress and wearing £3,000 diamante-encrusted 'DSB' wellies. And in July, she signed a new record deal with Universal Music Group's Decca Records, and is set to release a new album in the new year. 

Source: dailymail: 18/12/2007

December 1989: Toyah appears as Mary Lou in Whale, at the Lyttleton Theatre, South Bank, London. 

December 1990: The Tale Of Little Pig Robinson is shown on UK TV.... Toyah records 'Kneeling At The Shrine' which is released in 1991 by Sunday All Over The World.... Toyah appears in concert with Girlschool, calling themselves the She-Devils, at the 'Women In Rock' festival.... Plays Miss Scarlet in the Christmas edition of Cluedo on ITV. 

December 1992: Toyah hosts the arts programme First Night on TV in the Midlands region.... Films a ten-part series for inclusion in Good Morning With Anne & Nick. 

December 1993: Toyah rounds off the highly successful UK 'Take The Leap!' tour. 

December 1994: Toyah rounds off the 'Has God Ceased To Dream You?' UK tour. 

December 1996: Toyah appears in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal in Norwich. 

December 1997: Presenting TOYAH on VH1.... Appears in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Kent. 

December 1998: Toyah presents Boys From The Black Country - The Slade Story on BBC Radio 2.... Appears in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Richmond Theatre in Surrey. 

She was keynote speaker at the conference and gave an inspirational talk about how events in her music career had led to her taking charge of her finances, managing herself and building up a property investment portfolio.

Emphasising the importance of paying attention to new technologies, Toyah, who now lives near Pershore, explained how social networking sites such as myspace, have enabled her to get her music heard by the masses, resulting in a new global recording contract.

Part of WiRE's Opening Doors programme, which offers free training and support to help women set up their own business, the day was organised in conjunction with Worcestershire County Council.

A number of workshops, including blogging, time management and running a green business, were on offer throughout the day. A fun speed networking session was also held, allowing each participant to promote her business to five other businesswomen.

Christine Rutherford, the Opening Doors project officer for Worcestershire, said: "More than 100 local businesswomen enjoyed a fantastic day of workshops, networking and inspirational talks. We were so pleased that Toyah could join us. Hearing stories like hers is so motivating for those women who are just starting out in business."

Source: cotswoldjournal.co.uk: 17/12/2007

Spacey played Bobby Darin and also directed the film described as "A swooning study of "Mack the Knife" singer Darin specifically, and his relationship with his wife Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth). 

Beyond the Sea also starred Kate Bosworth, John Goodman, Brenda Blethyn, and one of Toyah's former co-stars (way back in 1983's The Ebony Tower) Greta Scaachi.