Including, the craziness of the Finnish entries in the Eurovision Song Contest, Jordan being foul-mouthed on So Graham Norton, The Grand Knockout Tournament (for the second time that weekend), and Paul Burrell & Natalie Appleton being big blouses on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

[ Thanks to Kurt Jones for the great pictures ]

The 2006 Festival programme will be available to browse at the website from Wednesday 1st March. Patrons Priority Ticket Booking begins Monday 6th March, Public Booking begins on Monday 13th March.

Richard & Judy : Ch4 - Monday 27th February : 5.00pm
Richard & Judy : More4 - Tuesday 28th February : 12.45pm
Richard & Judy : More4 Plus 1 - Tuesday 28th February : 1.45pm
John Robb, author of 'Punk Rock: An Oral History' will be leading a discussion on the book and punk music. Daily live entertainment show hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It's live - so anything can happen - but expect more celebrity guests, competitions, exclusive previews and features and plenty of surprises.

What Women Really Want : UKTV Bright Ideas - Saturday 4th March : 11.30am
Girlfriends. Get up close and personal with the female psyche in this pacy new series featuring feisty celebrity opinions and gripping true-life stories. In this episode, Jenny Eclair, Toyah Willcox, Jodie Marsh and Sarah Cawood discuss why their girlfriends are so important to them. Discover which celeb hates her own company, and who admits that even her best mates bitch about her behind her back. Miaow! Narrated by Ulrika Jonsson.

Have I Been Here Before? : ITV1 - Tuesday 7th March : 4.05am
Phillip Schofield presents a series in which celebrity guests regress to their past lives. Toyah Willcox recalls a life of enforced solitude in a church in 15th-century Holland, dying alone and lamenting her wasted life. Could Toyahs past life be a reflection of her own fears about her present one?

Brum : CBeebies - Wednesday 8th March : 8.40am
Brum and The Football Hero. The adventures of a little car who lives in a motor museum, narrated by Toyah Willcox. Brum scores the winning goal when he comes on as a substitute during a football match.

Quadrophenia : Saturday 11th March - TCM : 9.00pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Directed by Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, Ray Winstone and Toyah Willcox.

Toyah, on Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards: "I actually would find myself praying for him, because it was just too horrible to watch."

Toyah, on TVAM's keep-fit woman, Mad Lizzie: "That whole thing that you can get fit by doing five minutes in the morning, just doing this (waves arms out and in). I mean, if you watch Lizzie, look at her posture, she's bent over, her legs are apart. What kind of exercise is that? You're just gonna do your back in. It's like, does she know we have a skeleton inside us that doesn't quite bend that way?!"

Toyah, on shoulder pads: "You had shoulder pads in t-shirts, swimwear, cardigans, anoraks! I mean, absolutely everything that a shoulder pad should be at least five miles away from had shoulder pads!"

Toyah, on big hair: "I invented big hair. I know Joan Collins likes to think she did, but I would fight to the death over this statement. I can hold my head up, with pride, and say 'big hair was Toyah!'"

Toyah, on novelle cuisine: "Antony Worrall-Thompson had a restaurant called ménage à trois, and I was taken there as a treat, and I came out... I was so hungry!"

Toyah, on lycra: "The first conversations I ever had about having a cosmetically adjusted vagina came from women wearing these lycras, because they showed everything. And you'd be in the changing room and women were going 'it shows too much!, I don't like it, what can I do about it! Can I see a plastic surgeon?'"

Toyah, on men in make-up: "I love men in make-up. I think it's fantastic. Okay, the Duran Duran boys might've been good looking without it, but it enhanced them. It's the way a wonder-bra enhances a woman."

Toyah, on the Mini-pops: "It wasn't till we really saw it that you realised it wasn't right. It was like watching a car crash. It was like... urgh! that's horrible!!"

Toyah, on mobile phones: "I had a friend who had a mobile phone, and it was a suitcase. It was absolutely enormous."

Toyah, on novelty records: "I just remember watching that on Top Of The Pops and thinking if that's the route I have to go... pass me the gun! My feelings about 'Agadoo' and 'Birdie Song' were... thank fuck I was on tour the whole time and never had to listen to any of them!"

Toyah, on the Grand Knockout Tournament debacle in 1987: "Four months before the event Edward called me to a secret meeting and asked me to be involved with setting it up. The Royal It's A Knockout featured four royals; Prince Andrew, Fergie, Prince Edward and Princess Anne. Princess Diana wanted to do it, and Edward wanted Diana to do it, but Prince Charles banned Diana from doing it. On the day it went incredibly well, and it was a very hot day. But Prince Edward, for me, just made one mistake. He didn't allow the press to mingle with any of the stars. they were all kept in a tent. At the end of the day he went into the press tent and he sat down and went 'well, what do you think?' They were hot, they were hungry, they hadn't seen anything in the flesh, so they didn't give him any reaction. They just dissed him and he lost his temper. And that is the moment that is remembered of the whole event."

Toyah, on singing soap stars: "If she's (Anita Dobson of Eastenders) embarrassed about that performance atall it's gonna be the dress she's wearing. She's a tiny woman but those shoulders are right out there!"

Toyah, on shell suits: "I bought a shell suit in 1987 - aaaaargh! I got it on mail-order. It arrived and I never opened it. I realised that this was the biggest mistake in the whole of my life!"

Rumour has it that the set-list comprised entirely of covers, seven in total, including 'Echo Beach' and a new song (also a cover, obviously) to Toyah's repertoire, never performed before. Interesting!

If any snapshots surface from this I will, of course, add them here.

Toyah returns to Butlins, Bognor later this year, in November. She also plays at Butlins, Minehead and Skegness in March and returns to Skegness in October.

[ Coming Soon: A full transcript of Toyah's comments and more screen captures ]

Toyah's Official website have also updated with the news that Toyah will be a guest on Richard & Judy on Monday afternoon.

Richard & Judy : Ch4 - Monday 27th February : 5.00pm
Richard & Judy : More4 - Tuesday 28th February : 12.45pm
Richard & Judy : More4 Plus 1 - Tuesday 28th February : 1.45pm
John Robb, author of 'Punk Rock: An Oral History' will be leading a discussion on the book and punk music. Daily live entertainment show hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It's live - so anything can happen - but expect more celebrity guests, competitions, exclusive previews and features and plenty of surprises.

[ News Source: www.toyahwillcox.com - Thanks also to Paul Lomas ]

Keep an eye on www.toyahwillcox.com for full tour dates - to be announced soon.

Obviously other outlets may be selling tickets but this is a good indication that this will be a sell-out, especially as there is still over three months to go.

[ Thanks to Stuart ]

• Toyah recorded her interview/performances in London yesterday evening  (Wednesday 22nd February).
• Toyah performed four songs. Two acoustic, two electric.
• All of the songs were Toyah originals.
• There's the possibility of fan footage/photographs of Toyah to be included.
• There may also be some retro TV/DVD clips used.

Brum scores the winning goal when he comes on as a substitute during a football match.

Brum : CBeebies -
Wednesday 8th March : 8.40am

[ Thanks to Michael O'Brien ]

[ Thanks to Michael O'Brien - Nadeam, air guitaring with TW, is Michael's mate ]

This will be included in the fifth series and aired later in 2006, though it is being filmed this week.

Past Faith & Music subjects have included Tori Amos, Sinead O'Connor, Sting, Lionel Ritchie and Beverley Knight.

For pictures/transcript of the Tori Amos Faith & Music, broadcast in February 2004,  please click on the picture.

More information will be available on this later in the year.

[ Thanks to John and Craig @ toyahwillcox.com ]

The Festival has become one of East Anglia’s best-loved arts events, but organisers never rest on their laurels. Festival manager Nick Wells is always looking for exciting new events to combine with Festival favourites brought back by popular demand.

“Every year is slightly different because of the nature of the artists that come,” says Nick. “I suppose the big change is the opening night of the festival this year. After the annual beating of the retreat on Angel Hill, we are going to the Abbey Gardens and there’s going to be a fantastic gig involving two or three hundred local people and also a great band called Mbawula with some really infectious South African inspired Jazz.”

“There’s the Simunye project which I was talking about at the launch and I Fagiolini who sing early English music mixing in with a South African choir so there’s this fantastic mix of cultures. The outdoor gigs in the Abbey Gardens are always absolutely brilliant, fantastic atmosphere and we have people like Toyah Willcox coming this year. I could go on all night, but I’ll stop!”

[ News Source: www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk - 17th February 2006 ]

Bury St Edmunds Festival 2006 - 80s Night featuring Toyah 

Saturday 27 May - 7.30pm Abbey Gardens (ends 10.30pm) 

3 bands are featured for what promises to be another great party night. Bleach, the ultimate tribute to Blondie, will be followed by Wham/Duran and then to finish the evening Toyah and her band will take the stage.

Adults: £15 (increases to £17.00 from 13 May, inc. reservations)

Children (Under 12s): £8 (£9.50 from 13 May)

Festival Box Office: 01284 769505 

[ Please click on the screen capture to purchase tickets ]

The article, which includes a short paragraph on Toyah (see below - Mon 13th February news update), appears to be identical except for a slight change to the actual title of the piece: "Loving together, living apart".

[ News Source: South African Sunday Independent - Sunday 19th February 2006 ]

It was a case of diva, diva, diva at the opening of the brand new Flamingo in Blackpoool.

Part of the £5.5 million complex created by entrepeneur Basil Newby at the former Odeon building on Dickson Road, the new Flamingo saw a trio of disco divas help with the opening night party. Rachel McFarlane, Kelly Llorenna and Jocelyn Brown were all on hand to help things go with a swing.

"It was hard work getting everything ready on time but we worked like beavers the last couple of days and we opened the doors just 15 minutes later than planned," said Basil. "The reaction has been great –and made all the hard work seem worthwhile."

The venue reached its 2,000 capacity last Friday and Saturday nights and Basil says although he is sad to see the old Flamingo close on Talbot Road, there's no time to look back.

"I'm really proud of the new place and if it lasts anything like as long as the original Flamingo, I'll be more than happy - and just about ready to retire!" he said.

The state-of-the-art nightclub boasts the best sound and light system in the resort and, says Basil, will bring some of the country's biggest names to town for personal appearances.

"We've got Sugababes, Heather Small, Bananarama and Toyah lined up," he said.

[ News Source: www.blackpooltoday.co.uk - 3rd February 2006 ]

Anchoress, the 1993 film starring Natalie Morse, Christopher Eccleston, Gene Bervoets, Pete Postlethwaite, and Toyah as Pauline Carpenter, is being screened as part of The 41st International Congress on Medieval Studies, running from 4th - 7th May 2006 at Western Michigan University, USA.

The film will be shown on Friday 5th May, as part of the "A Medieval Film Fest", with an introduction by Susannah Chewning.

41st International Congress on Medieval Studies
1903 West Michigan Avenue
KALAMAZOO, MI, 49008-5201 
May 4 – 7, 2006

[ Please click on the screen cap for further info ]

Toyah presented this edition of the religious magazine programme (her fourth time) as well as performing.

Songs Of Praise: The Mystery Of Faith
ABC, 11:30am  Sunday, February 12th, 2006

The wonder and mystery of the Christian faith, Toyah Willcox goes in search of an angel on a Liverpool street, puts the Archbishop of York on the spiritual spot, and sings a new version of her world-famous hit 'It's A Mystery'.

Toyah commented at the end of the programme: "For what it's worth, my advice would be to go through life with your eyes and heart open because those among us are not always what we expect them to be. For me, God is in everything that we see, everyone that we meet and everything that we do. Now, is that such a mystery?".

Following on from positive comments last year for both the 'Safari Records Singles Collections' CDs, the magazine carries a small review of the recently released 'Mayhem' CD, in the 'Rock Collection' review box.

The CD is given two stars from five and is advised to be "for completists only".

[ Thanks to Voodoo Doll ]

The site has very favourable comments on 'Ophelia's Shadow', 'Kneeling At The Shrine' and 'Prostitute':

Prostitute finds actress/vocalist Toyah Willcox at her best. Although her compositions are often derivative and her influences are pretty obvious, it doesn't seem to matter. The album is filled with fairly simple structures, enhanced with textured but simple percussion, enticing vocals, and consistent, steady rhythms. At times, as on "The Show," "Homecraft," and "Restless," Willcox's voice and music sound incredibly like Kate Bush's; even the arrangements and harmonies are reminiscent of Kate's. At other times, a Laurie Anderson quality surfaces, particularly in the occasional spare passage and spoken-word vocal presentation. "Falling to Earth" gives a nod to Bowie (even in its title), and the upbeat, bouncy "Ghosts in the Universe" sounds suspiciously similar to the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian." In addition, sounds that bring to mind Adrian Belew are peppered throughout the album. To top off this hybridized mix, husband Robert Fripp appears uncredited on the opening and closing tracks: His voice is heard in wacky dialogue with Toyah's on "Hello," and that unmistakable Fripp guitar adorns "Ghosts in the Universe." The only real drawback to Prostitute is that Willcox's lyrical and musical aesthetics occasionally come across as forced. David Ross Smith

[ Source: www.allmusic.com ]

Each month a high (OK, fairly decent) quality scan of a magazine/book/programme that Toyah has graced the cover of. Over the months building a great archive of Toyah's magazine covers. There has been many and some are absolutely gorgeous!

Please feel free to send your suggestions: david@toyah.net

Through The Keyhole : BBC2 - Monday 27th February : 3.00pm
David Frost challenges celebrities to identify famous people by peeping into their homes with the help of Catherine Gee and a camera crew. Starring: Colin Jackson, Toyah Willcox and Peter Sissons. 

What Women Really Want : UKTV Bright Ideas - Saturday 4th March : 11.30am
Girlfriends. Get up close and personal with the female psyche in this pacy new series featuring feisty celebrity opinions and gripping true-life stories. In this episode, Jenny Eclair, Toyah Willcox, Jodie Marsh and Sarah Cawood discuss why their girlfriends are so important to them. Discover which celeb hates her own company, and who admits that even her best mates bitch about her behind her back. Miaow! Narrated by Ulrika Jonsson.

The DVD is available from Monday 27th March at the budget price of £5.99

While the rest of the male population of Belfast are firing nothing but blanks, Eamonn  is blessed with “tadpoles on speed that could impregnate a stone”.

Realising that there’s cash to be made out of his fellow man’s infertility, this 24-year-old virgin transforms himself overnight into Belfast’s very own one-man sperm bank. Business is booming until Eamonn is sucked into the “troubles” and finds his crown jewels dangling in the fires of political distrust and religious intolerance.

Amongst the superb cast are some of the cream of Irish talent, the ever popular James Nesbitt as the local Orange hardman and the fabulous Pauline McLynn (Father Ted). There is also a wonderful cameo by Toyah Willcox as Eamonn’s doctor.

Distributor: Prism Leisure Corporation
Starring: Kris Marshall, James Nesbitt
Director: Dudi Appleton
Running Time: 93 Mins. Approx.
DVD Retail Release: Monday 27 March 2006
DVD Retail Catalogue Number: PPA1696RD

Through The Keyhole : BBC2 - Monday 27th February : 3.00pm
David Frost challenges celebrities to identify famous people by peeping into their homes with the help of Catherine Gee and a camera crew. Starring: Colin Jackson, Toyah Willcox and Peter Sissons. [ Not sure if this is new or a repeat from a couple of years ago ]

[ Thanks to Paul Lomas ]

Toyah Willcox's amazing career has spanned 29 years and includes thirteen Top 40 singles and 17 solo albums, she has also appeared in over ten movies and 40 stage plays and remains one of Britain's largest box office names.

In 2000 Toyah's autobiography "Living Out Loud" was released and despite her hectic schedule she still manages to appear on stage in various theatrical roles and performs with her band, whilst writing for newspapers and finishing her first novel.

Toyah has always maintained a deep interest in social issues and is particularly passionate about education. She is also, as her varied career will show, an expert on re-invention and continues to wave the banner for women over forty in the world of entertainment.

The Leicestershire Women of Achievement Awards will take place at Leicester City Football Club on March 3rd and will be compered by local fitness guru Rosemary Conley.

Tickets are available at £50 per person or £470 per table of ten. For more details or to make a booking contact Kam Atker on 0116 204 6614 or email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk

The 2006 Women of Achievement Awards are sponsored by The Leicester Mercury's The Business, Leicestershire County Council, Jobcentre Plus, LL&R Community Foundation, Leicester YMCA and O2 with support from Headstorm Marketing & Event Management and Maz Photography.

Please click on the pic for the wallpaper. Once larger image has loaded, right click on pic, set as wallpaper/background. Suitable for 1024 x 768 resolutions.

[ Thanks to Glyn Whelan ]

At 1.00am Toyah appeared on stage at the top of the balcony. Dressed in black with a two piece armour body wrap, complete with diamond effect face make-up. 

The night began with Echo Beach. When Toyah started to descend the stairs, for a moment she may have regretted the platform boots she was wearing, as it looked like she was about to slip back into Panto as Peter Pan and fly straight down the stairs!  But this wasn't Calamity Jane and she made it down to wish us a Happy Valentine's Day and to give us Thunder in the Mountains. As it was Valentine Day she said she had to do one love song so we were treated to Because the Night.  The Blackpool chorus also helped with It's a Mystery. 

Following the success at 'An Audience with..' having some people helping play air guitar during Sweet Child, Toyah invited three men to assist. The older rocker she chose, started out in good spirits, but it was apparent that being on stage with Toyah was just too much for him to cope with. Before the song had finished he was not only ejected from the stage, but out of the club.  Just goes to show, you are never too old to be a rebel!!!! 

The show drew to a close with River Deep, followed by a stirring rendition of I Want to be Free.

What Toyah has done is develop her performance to ensure she is well received by both Toyah fans and the audience there for the 80's night. This was important as there were fewer of the usual Toyah faces there. This made it more memorable for those of us there, as it was up close and personal! Once again Toyah put in an entertaining and colourful performance, sending everyone home happy. Including herself!

[ Review by Glyn Whelan ]

[ Thanks to Paul Lomas ]

Echo Beach 
Thunder In The Mountains 
Because The Night
It's A Mystery 
Sweet Child 'O Mine 
River Deep, Mountain High
I Want To Be Free

[ Thanks to Merx & Paul Lomas ]