Toyah Willcox
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Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, actress, and television presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, she has had eight
top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays and 10 feature films, and voiced and presented numerous television shows. Between 1977 and 1983, Willcox fronted the eponymous band Toyah, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. At the Brit Awards 1982, Willcox was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, and Best Female Solo Artist. She was nominated a further two times in this category in 1983, and in 1984. Her hit singles, which she co-wrote, include "
It's a Mystery ''It's a Mystery'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music). As with his prior album, it is credited to the Silver Bullet Band, though many of the tracks feature a wide array ...
", " Thunder in the Mountains" and " I Want to Be Free". Willcox is married to English guitarist
Robert Fripp Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is an English musician, composer, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session mu ...
.


Early life

Willcox was born on 18 May 1958 in
Kings Heath Kings Heath (historically, and still occasionally King's Heath) is a suburb of south Birmingham, England, four miles south of the city centre. Historically in Worcestershire, it is the next suburb south from Moseley on the A435 road, A435 Alces ...
, Birmingham. Her father Beric Willcox ran a successful
joiner Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining pieces of wood, engineered lumber, or synthetic substitutes (such as laminate), to produce more complex items. Some woodworking joints employ mechanical fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, ...
y business and owned three factories. Her mother Barbara Joy, née Rollinson, was a professional dancer, with whom he had fallen in love after seeing her on stage in
Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
with singing and comedy double act Flanagan and Allen, and married in 1949. Her mother gave up her career after giving birth to Willcox's elder sister and brother. Willcox has suggested her first name could be in reference to Toyah in the US or to a Native American word "toyah" meaning "water," although she notes her parents deny both origins. Willcox enjoyed a financially comfortable childhood, attending a private girls' school, but was bullied. Requiring
physiotherapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...
for a spinal condition, she behaved violently towards her mother, to whom she was close. An absentee pupil and frequently rebellious, she sat O-levels a year late, owing to corrective
surgery Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...
on her feet. She achieved one O-level pass, in music. Alienated by her background and surroundings, her rebellious behaviour led to her shunning male company and adopting an aggressive and flamboyant identity. Her early interest in music, dance and acting, combined with her alienation, and her uncertainty regarding her sexuality, led Willcox to seek an outlet, initially in acting and then in music. She attended the Old Rep Drama School in Birmingham, paying privately because she was denied a grant, the assessor noting: "She has a
lisp Lisp (historically LISP, an abbreviation of "list processing") is a family of programming languages with a long history and a distinctive, fully parenthesized Polish notation#Explanation, prefix notation. Originally specified in the late 1950s, ...
and isn't attractive." She began working as a dresser in local theatres, including
The Alexandra, Birmingham The Alexandra, commonly known as the Alex, is a theatre on Suffolk Queensway in Birmingham, England. History Construction of the theatre commenced in 1900 and was completed in 1901. The architects were Owen & Ward and the theatre was opened on ...
, and the Birmingham Hippodrome. Because of her distinctive appearance and gaudily dyed hair, repertory actors referred to her as "The Bird of Paradise." A friend's suggestion that she should see the
Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became culturally influential in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Ki ...
led to her being attracted to the punk movement, but she resolved to do better, travelling to London to take up a career in acting and music.


Career


1976–1979: Career beginnings

After appearing as an extra in a drama being made at the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
Pebble Mill Studios Pebble Mill Studios was the BBC's television studio complex located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, which served as the headquarters for BBC Birmingham from 1971 until 2004. The nine-acre site was opened by Princess Anne ...
in Birmingham, an opening came to take a role in ''Glitter'' (1976), a play in the BBC '' Second City Firsts'' series, alongside
Noel Edmonds Noel Ernest Edmonds (born 22 December 1948) is an English businessman, and former television presenter, radio DJ, writer and producer. Edmonds first became known as a disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg before moving to BBC Radio 1 in the UK, pres ...
and Phil Daniels. Recommended to the play's director by a member of the wardrobe department because of her distinctive appearance and oddball character, Willcox was given the role of Sue, a girl who sang with the band Bilbo and who dreamed of appearing on ''
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...
''. In the course of the 30-minute play, Willcox performed two songs she had co-written: "Floating Free" (an acoustic ballad, with Phil Daniels accompanying her on guitar) and "Dream Maker". The play was seen by Kate Nelligan and
Maximilian Schell Maximilian Schell (8 December 1930 – 1 February 2014) was a Swiss actor. Born in First Austrian Republic, Austria, his parents were involved in the arts and he grew up surrounded by performance and literature. While he was still a child, his fa ...
, who offered her work with the National Theatre in London, where she got the part of Emma in '' Tales from the Vienna Woods'', directed by Schell. The opening led to her relocating to London. In 1977, while playing Emma in ''Tales from the Vienna Woods'' at the National Theatre, Willcox, inspired by her role as a musician in ''Glitter'', fronted a band called Toyah which featured Joel Bogen on guitar, Mark Henry on bass, Steve Bray on drums, Peter Bush on keyboards, and herself on vocals. Having never considered herself a musician, she found herself lead singer of a successful band, although still uncertain about her own sexuality and repelled by her bandmates' antics with groupies. Introduced by actor
Ian Charleson Ian Charleson (11 August 1949 – 6 January 1990) was a Scottish stage and film actor. He is best known internationally for his starring role as Olympic athlete and missionary Eric Liddell in the Academy Award, Oscar-winning 1981 film ''Chariots ...
to director
Derek Jarman Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman (31 January 1942 – 19 February 1994) was an English artist, film maker, costume designer, stage designer, writer, poet, gardener, and gay rights activist. Biography Jarman was born at the Royal Victoria Nursing ...
, Willcox was offered 'any part you want' in '' Jubilee'' (called ''Down with the Queen'' at the time). Plagued by budgetary issues, the film featured Willcox as the murderous 'Mad', as well as a number of other prominent figures from the punk scene, including Siouxsie Sioux, Adam Ant and Richard O’Brien. She went on to play 'Monkey' in the 1979 film of The Who's '' Quadrophenia,'' having been introduced to director
Franc Roddam Francis George Franc Roddam (born 29 April 1946) is an English film director, businessman, screenwriter, television producer and publisher, best known as the creator of ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' and ''Masterchef'' and as the director of ''Quadrop ...
through an association with
John Lydon John Joseph Lydon ( ; born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a British-born singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. He was the lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols, which was ...
. Willcox demanded the part of Monkey from Roddam. She completed filming despite requiring medical attention for pneumonia. The possibility of a role in the
Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became culturally influential in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Ki ...
' film, ''
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle ''The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle'', also known as ''The Great Rock and Roll Swindle'', is a 1980 British mockumentary film directed by Julien Temple and produced by Don Boyd and Jeremy Thomas. It centres on the British punk rock band Sex P ...
'' under director
Russ Meyer Russell Albion Meyer (March 21, 1922 – September 18, 2004) was an American filmmaker. He was primarily known for writing and directing a successful series of sexploitation films featuring campy humor, sly satire and large-breasted women, wh ...
having fallen through, Willcox went on to play Miranda in Jarman's film ''
The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...
'' which won her a nomination as Best Newcomer at the 1980 ''
Evening Standard The ''London Standard'', formerly the ''Evening Standard'' (1904–2024) and originally ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), is a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free newspaper, free of charge in London, Engl ...
''
Awards An award, sometimes called a distinction, is given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration. An award may be d ...
. Continuing a stage career alongside film work, in 1979, on London's
Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...
stage, Willcox played Sharon in Nigel Williams' ''Sugar and Spice'', Tallulah in
Stephen Poliakoff Stephen Poliakoff (born 1 December 1952) is a British playwright, Film director, director and screenwriter. In 2006 Gerard Gilbert of ''The Independent'' described him as the UK's "pre-eminent TV dramatist" and that he had "inherited Dennis Po ...
's ''American Days'' at the ICA, playing alongside Mel Smith, Antony Sher and Phil Daniels and taking a film role opposite
Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...
in the made-for-television film ''
The Corn Is Green ''The Corn Is Green'' is a 1938 semi-autobiographical play by Welsh dramatist and actor Emlyn Williams. The play premiered in London at the Duchess Theatre in September 1938; with Sybil Thorndike as Miss Moffat and Williams himself portraying Mo ...
'', directed by
George Cukor George Dewey Cukor ( ; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer, producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO Pictures, RKO when David O. Selzn ...
. Willcox found her dual careers as a musician and actress frequently in conflict, leading to confusion as to which role constituted a 'compartment' to put her into. Feeling her musical career was not taken as seriously as her acting, she nevertheless viewed her acting role as 'highbrow' and her musical career as 'lowbrow'.


1980–1983: Toyah and gaining punk status

In London, Willcox lived in a place called "Mayhem", a converted
British Rail British Railways (BR), which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was a state-owned company that operated most rail transport in Great Britain from 1948 to 1997. Originally a trading brand of the Railway Executive of the British Transport Comm ...
warehouse serving as a studio. It was here the band Toyah recorded their first demos. For the lack of proper bed she slept for a while in a "second-hand" coffin, reportedly used by the French Red Cross to transport victims of fatal accidents. Citing her role in '' Quadrophenia'' as a boost to her musical career, with growing audiences Toyah signed to Safari Records, releasing a debut single " Victims of the Riddle", which topped the UK Indie Chart. This was followed by the '' Sheep Farming in Barnet'' EP, produced by Steve James and Keith Hale. Initially released in Germany, in 1979 it was re-released as an LP, comprising the original six tracks, "Victims of the Riddle" A and B sides and three tracks that were previously unavailable on vinyl. Willcox's second album, '' The Blue Meaning'', went to no. 40 in the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
in June 1980. By this time, she is reported as announcing she had severed all ties with punk aesthetics. In January 1981, the live album '' Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!'', recorded at the Lafayette Club in
Wolverhampton Wolverhampton ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands of England. Located around 12 miles (20 km) north of Birmingham, it forms the northwestern part of the West Midlands conurbation, with the towns of ...
the previous June, made it to the Top 30, backed up by a TV documentary ''Toyah''. By now the original band had broken up and a new lineup was in place, consisting of Phil Spalding, Nigel Glockler and Adrian Lee, only Joel Bogen and Willcox remaining. 1981 saw Willcox's strengthened presence in the UK chart with hits such as '' Four from Toyah'' EP (no. 4, February 1981, including "
It's a Mystery ''It's a Mystery'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music). As with his prior album, it is credited to the Silver Bullet Band, though many of the tracks feature a wide array ...
"), the third studio album ''
Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...
'' that went to no. 2 in May 1981, to be later certified platinum, " I Want to Be Free" (no. 8, June 1981), " Thunder in the Mountains" (no. 4, October 1981) and '' Four More from Toyah'' EP (no. 14, November 1981). She became one of the first acts to score regularly in the UK Singles Chart with EPs, which were also successful on an international level. At the end of the year Willcox won the ''
Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...
reader's poll in two categories: Best Female Singer and Most Fanciable Female (beating
Kim Wilde Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, 18 November 1960) is an English pop singer. She first gained success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which peaked at no. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo ...
to the second place). In 1981 she alone, according to Safari, sold in the UK more units than the whole of the
Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
put together. In 1982, '' The Changeling'' album was released, produced by
Steve Lillywhite Stephen Alan Lillywhite (born 15 March 1955) is an English record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records, and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including new wave acts The Alarm ...
, marking a turn for a more goth-tinged sound, it went up to no. 6 in the UK. ''The Changeling'' was followed in the same year by a double live album '' Warrior Rock: Toyah on Tour''. Also in 1982, Willcox appeared in ''
Urgh! A Music War ''Urgh! A Music War'' is a 1982 British concert film featuring performances by punk rock, new wave, and post-punk bands and artists. Filmed in August to September 1980 it was directed by Derek Burbidge and produced by Michael White and Lynda ...
'', a British film released in 1982 featuring performances by punk rock, new wave, and post-punk acts, filmed in 1980, in which she performed "Danced". Three more of her singles, "
Brave New World ''Brave New World'' is a dystopian novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931, and published in 1932. Largely set in a futuristic World State, whose citizens are environmentally engineered into an intelligence-based social hier ...
", " Ieya" and " Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)" charted in the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. At the Brit Awards 1982, Willcox was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, and Best Female Solo Artist. The making of '' Love Is the Law'' (1983) was the happiest period of her life, according to Willcox, combining work in the critically acclaimed stage play ''Trafford Tanzi'' and the film ''The Ebony Tower'' with Laurence Olivier with work on the album. By this time, though, her popularity started to decline: the album reached no. 28 (with singles " Rebel Run" and " The Vow" peaking at no. 24 and no. 50 respectively), and with a 1984 greatest hits compilation, released by
K-tel K-tel International Ltd is a Canadian company which formerly specialized in selling consumer products through infomercials and live demonstration. Its products include compilation music albums, including ''The Super Hits'' series, ''The Dynamic ...
and called confusingly '' Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! All the Hits'', failing to chart.


1984–1990: Solo career and acting work

Willcox disbanded her group in 1983, and signed a
recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording act (artist or group), where the act makes an audio recording (or series of recordings) for the label to sell and ...
with Portrait Records, and, in 1985, released the solo studio album '' Minx'', which contained several
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
s including
Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...
's " School's Out", as well as her own hit, " Don't Fall in Love (I Said)". Willcox secretly married British guitarist
Robert Fripp Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is an English musician, composer, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session mu ...
, founding member of
King Crimson King Crimson were an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald (musician), Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Guitarist Fripp remained the only constant member throughout the ...
, in Witchampton, Dorset on his 40th birthday (16 May 1986). Together they formed a new band, called Fripp Fripp on the initial tours, later changing its name to Sunday All Over the World, which released the critically acclaimed album '' Kneeling at the Shrine'' (1991). She referred to Fripp as her ' soulmate'. That same year, she also sang lead vocals on the track "Lion of Symmetry" by Tony Banks of Genesis. Her next solo studio album ''
Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of affa ...
'' (1987) was less successful although the single with her version of " Echo Beach" made it to the Top 50. Then in 1988 ''
Prostitute Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-pe ...
'' came out, an album through which Willcox vented her frustrations which started to accumulate as a result of having made the transformation "from all-powerful artist to invisible woman" in the course of just one year of marriage. This experimental
concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
, marking a considerable divergence from previous works, was released on E.G. Records. The attitude to ''Prostitute'', according to Willcox, in the UK and the US was radically different: "In the UK, when my management tried to sell it to the music reps, an awful lot got up and walked out of meetings; all male I hasten to add. In America, ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' magazine said it was the dawning of a new era for me as a producer and that it was an antidote to
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
. I started to receive mail from professors at eminent universities telling me they played the album at their lectures as an example of the new way of thinking coming from contemporary women." She had many television roles, including series such as '' Quatermass'' (1979), '' Minder'' (1980), and the movie ''Quadrophenia''. She starred opposite
Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...
in '' The Ebony Tower'' (1984), and opposite
the Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...
's
Roger Daltrey Sir Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the Rock music, rock band the Who, known for his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence. His stage persona ear ...
in '' Murder: Ultimate Grounds for Divorce'' (1984). She also appeared on '' Kavanagh QC''. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Willcox forged ahead with a career as a stage performer. Notable credits include '' Trafford Tanzi'' (at the Mermaid Theatre, leading role), ''Cabaret'' (Sally Bowles), ''Three Men on a Horse'' (winner of an
Laurence Olivier Awards The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Aw ...
for Best New Comedy), and the UK tour of Arthur Smith's ''Live Bed Show''. In 1990, she played Costanza in the national tour of Amadeus.


1991–1999: Presenting work and further albums

Although she had presented the magazine series ''Look! Hear!'' for BBC Birmingham between 1979 and 1981, it was in the 1990s that Willcox's career as a TV presenter took off. She began by presenting arts programmes ''First Night'' and ''Time Off'' in 1993. By the mid to late 1990s, she could be seen presenting items on shows such as ''Watchdog:healthcheck'', '' This Morning'' and ''The Heaven and Earth Show.'' She also worked on
VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global's networks division based in New Y ...
for three years, presenting ''Toyah and Toyah'' and ''Chase'' for the cable music station. Viewers could accompany Willcox to various locations worldwide during her tenure as a reporter on BBC travel shows such as ''Holiday'' and ''Holiday- Fasten Your Seatbelts.'' Willcox's husband Robert Fripp joined her on her studio album '' Ophelia's Shadow'' (1991), which received good reviews. She released three more albums, '' Take the Leap!'' (1993), '' Dreamchild'' (1994), and '' Looking Back'' (1995). In 1996, she had the unique honour of simultaneously hosting both ''
Songs of Praise ''Songs of Praise'' is a BBC Television religious programme that presents Christian hymns, worship songs and inspirational performances in churches of varying denominations from around the UK alongside interviews and stories reflecting how Ch ...
'' on the BBC and ''Good Sex Guide Late'' on ITV. IThe same year, Willcox released '' The Acoustic Album'' on Aardvark Records, featuring strings from
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, England. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable recording contracts and important engagemen ...
and produced by Oliver Davis. In 1999, she took the lead in the children's television series '' Barmy Aunt Boomerang''. She also provided the voices for the children's television programmes ''
Teletubbies ''Teletubbies'' is a British children's television series created by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport for the BBC. The programme focuses on four differently coloured characters known as the Teletubbies, named after the television screens on t ...
'' and '' Brum''.


2000–2010: Television appearances and touring

At the turn of the millennium, she continued to work on ''The Heaven and Earth Show'' as a newspaper reviewer and also presented a series of ''Whose Recipe Is It Anyway'' on the Carlton Food Network and 40 episodes of ''Beyond Medicine'' on the
Discovery Health Channel Discovery Life is an American cable television, cable television network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched on February 1, 2011 as Discovery Fit & Health, it was the result of the merger of the Discovery Health Channel and FitTV, followi ...
. As the noughties progressed, she had stints presenting ''Head2Head'' and ''Destination Lunch'' on the Overseas Property TV channel, was a newspaper reviewer on
Sky News Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel, live stream news network and news organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of ...
, and hosted various music programmes for Vintage TV. In 2001, Willcox was awarded an
honorary doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...
by the
University of Central England Birmingham City University (abbrev. BCU) is a university in Birmingham, England. Initially established as the Birmingham College of Art with roots dating back to 1843, it was designated as a polytechnic in 1971 and gained university status in ...
in recognition of her achievements in performing arts, media and broadcasting. The 2001 May issue of '' Q'' magazine named Willcox number 48 in their top 100 Greatest Women in Music poll, as voted for by readers of the magazine. She returned to music in 2002 with new material for a limited edition ''Little Tears of Love'' EP and a one-off preview concert at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. The same year she sold out eleven stadium gigs for the Here and Now tour. She continued to perform with her band, releasing a mini-album ''
Velvet Lined Shell ''Velvet Lined Shell'' is a mini-album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 2003 by her independent label Vertical Species. Background This release consists of six tracks, recorded in Toyah's hometown of Birmingham. Three of the musi ...
'' in 2003 on her own record label, Vertical Species Records, showcasing a darker, edgier direction. Willcox also appeared on the
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
series '' The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes''. In May 2003, Willcox was a contestant on the second series of the ITV survival reality show '' I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'', and she was fourth to be eliminated. In June 2003, Willcox appeared on stage in London's West End performing the title role of ''
Calamity Jane Martha Jane Canary (May 1, 1856 – August 1, 1903), better known as Calamity Jane, was an American American frontier, frontierswoman, Exhibition shooting, sharpshooter, sex worker, and storyteller. In addition to many exploits, she was known f ...
'', which was subsequently nominated for an ''
Evening Standard The ''London Standard'', formerly the ''Evening Standard'' (1904–2024) and originally ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), is a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free newspaper, free of charge in London, Engl ...
'' Award for Best Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In 2004, she performed as part of The Best of the 80s tour in the UK alongside
Nick Heyward Nicholas Heyward (born 20 May 1961) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He came to international attention in the early 1980s as the lead singer and songwriter for Haircut One Hundred. He and the band parted ways after their first al ...
, Curiosity Killed the Cat and
Altered Images Altered Images is a Scottish New wave music, new wave/post-punk band who found success in the early 1980s. Fronted by singer Clare Grogan, the group branched into mainstream pop music, having six UK top-40 hit singles and three top-30 albums ...
. A live DVD followed in 2005, the year that also saw two parts of ''The Safari Records Singles Collection'' being issued. In February 2005, Willcox appeared on the fourth and final series of the
Living TV Sky Witness is a British pay television tv channel, channel owned and operated by Sky Limited, Sky, a division of Comcast. The channel primarily broadcasts procedural dramas from the United States aimed at the 18–45 age demographic. Sky Ital ...
programme, ''
I'm Famous and Frightened! ''I'm Famous and Frightened!'' is a Living TV reality TV show in which eight celebrities stayed for three nights in a "haunted" castle. They had to then do terrifying challenges to raise money for charity; each one was evicted until only the wi ...
''. Willcox was a guest vocalist in the anniversary concert of ''
The Rocky Horror Show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror genres from the 193 ...
'' at the
Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a West End theatre#London's non-commercial theatres, non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, London, England, opene ...
in May 2006. In December 2006, she joined the radio drama series '' Silver Street'' on the
BBC Asian Network BBC Asian Network is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station's target audience is people "with an interest in British Asian lifestyles", especially those between the ages of 18 and 34. The station has produc ...
as Siobhan Brady. Between 2007 and 2008, Willcox had a recurring role as Gail Baxter in '' Secret Diary of a Call Girl'', the mother of the
title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...
played by
Billie Piper Billie Paul Piper (born Leian Paul Piper; 22 September 1982) is an English actress and former singer who is best known for her portrayal as Rose Tyler in ''Doctor Who'' (2005–2006, 2008, 2010). She initially gained recognition as a singer a ...
. In May 2007, she collaborated with
Bill Rieflin William Frederick Rieflin (September 30, 1960 – March 24, 2020) was an American musician. Rieflin came to prominence in the 1990s mainly for his work as a drummer with groups (particularly in the industrial rock and industrial metal scen ...
as the Humans for live dates in
Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
, having been invited by the Estonian president. According to ''
The Northern Echo ''The Northern Echo'' is a regional daily morning newspaper based in the town of Darlington in North East England, serving mainly southern County Durham and northern Yorkshire. The paper covers national as well as regional news. In 2007, its the ...
'', that resulted "from reading one of her husband's emails". The invitation was for him to go but he was not keen, so Willcox accepted. The same year, Willcox was a guest presenter on '' Loose Women''. Also in 2007, Willcox signed a new worldwide publishing deal with Zomba Music Group. She continued to write and record solo material with long-term collaborator Simon Darlow. On 29 October 2007, a new single '' Latex Messiah (Viva la Rebel in You)'', came out, followed by the '' In the Court of the Crimson Queen'' album, written and produced in collaboration with Darlow and released by Willow Recordings Ltd on 15 September 2008. As part of Liverpool's
European Capital of Culture A European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union (EU) for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong pan-European dimension. Being a European Capital of Culture can ...
year, she performed for the first time ever at the newly opened Liverpool Echo Arena and Conference Centre. In June 2008, Willcox appeared on '' Living with the Dead'' on Living TV to share her experiences of living in her haunted home. In July 2008, Willcox appeared on UK
ITV1 ITV1 (formerly known as ITV) is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the British media company ITV plc. It provides the ITV (TV network), Channel 3 ...
's '' This Morning'' to discuss her role as a vampire in the rock musical '' Vampires Rock''. She has also appeared in shows looking back on popular culture, including the ''I'm a Celebrity'' series, and various 'Top 100 favourite' shows. Willcox played Queen Ivannah in ''
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs "Snow White" is a German fairy tale, first written down in the early 19th century. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'', numbered as Tale 53. The original title was ''Sneewittch ...
'' at the
Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Basic science and some introduction to ...
in
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
for the 2009 Christmas season. In October 2009, she made a guest appearance in the BBC drama series '' Casualty''. She also played the widow
Fantine Fantine (French pronunciation: ) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. She is a young ''Grisette (person), grisette'' in Paris who is impregnated by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look ...
in
Focus on the Family Focus on the Family (FOTF or FotF) is an American Christian fundamentalism, Evangelical Protestant organization founded in 1977 in Southern California by James Dobson, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The group is one of a number of Evangel ...
radio theatre's version of ''
Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...
''. In 2009, a new version of '' Vampires Rock'' was created, called ''Vampires Rock Christmas'', and Willcox was back in her role as the Killer Queen, alongside the writer and one of the stars of the show, Steve Steinman. Willcox continued to perform with The Humans, featuring Bill Reiflin, Chris Wong and occasionally husband Robert Fripp. Described as "European experimental meets West Coast American
grunge Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and Music of Olympia, Washington, O ...
", the Humans recorded their debut studio album '' We Are the Humans'' in
Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
in 2008, released in Estonia in May 2009 to coincide with the band's return to play in front of the country's president. The album received a UK digital release in September 2009, along with a single " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". At the end of the year Willcox came seventh in a BBC series naming the "Queens of British Pop", as voted for by the British public. In 2010 Willcox with the Humans performed at the London's Roundhouse Haiti earthquake fundraiser concert.


2011–present: Anniversary tours, ''Posh Pop'', and later work

On 17 June 2011, Willcox commenced on a special from Sheep Farming to Anthem tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough hit "
It's a Mystery ''It's a Mystery'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music). As with his prior album, it is credited to the Silver Bullet Band, though many of the tracks feature a wide array ...
" and the platinum-selling album ''
Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...
'', starting at the London's Leicester Square Theatre. The set included selections drawn exclusively from Toyah's first three albums, '' Sheep Farming in Barnet'' (1979), '' The Blue Meaning'' (1980) and ''
Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...
'' (1981). Andi Fraggs, a British electronic musician, supported her on chosen dates. On 14 April 2012, Willcox launched the Changeling Resurrection 2012 tour at the Concorde 2 in Brighton to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her album '' The Changeling'' (1982). On 16 July 2012, Willcox performed a concert in her birthplace of Kings Heath, Birmingham, to celebrate being the first artist with a star on the King's Heath Walk of Fame. Andi Fraggs made a surprise appearance, duetting Willcox's 1981 hit single "Thunder in the Mountains". In 2013, Willcox took part in the second series of the ITV diving competition '' Splash!''. She competed in the second heat, and lost the splash-off to Anna Williamson, ultimately becoming the sixth contestant to be eliminated. Willcox released a deluxe edition of her 2008 album '' In the Court of the Crimson Queen'' and embarked on the tour revisiting the '' Love Is the Law'' (1983)-era material. Willcox continued to tour both with her full band and also with an acoustic line-up for her "Up Close and Personal" shows. Willcox went on to appear in a number of films, including '' Aaaaaaaah!'', ''In Extremis'', '' Lies We Tell'', ''Swiperight'', ''Heckle'' and '' Invasion Planet Earth''. In November 2017, she played
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
in a theatre adaptation of Derek Jarman's film '' Jubilee'' at Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre. This production transferred to the Lyric Hammersmith for a London run in March 2018. In 2018, Willcox toured her #Toyah60 show, which marked her sixtieth birthday and fortieth year in music. This was accompanied by the release of her ''Four from Toyah – Birthday Edition EP'' of new material, which charted highly in the digital chart. She appeared in Celebrity Money for Nothing (2017), she won her heat of '' Celebrity Mastermind'' (2018), and appeared on '' Pointless Celebrities'' in 2019. In 2019, Willcox charted at no. 74 in the UK Albums Chart with a re-issue of her 2008 album ''In the Court of the Crimson Queen''. It also peaked at no. 22 on the Official Charts Company's sales chart and no. 7 in the independent chart. This was Willcox' first appearance in the UK Albums Chart since ''Minx'' in 1985. In 2020, the box set ''Toyah Solo'' was released, containing six solo albums with bonus material, one ''Rare, Remixed and Revisited'' CD, and a DVD with promo videos and interviews. Also in 2020, following their acquisition of the Toyah Safari catalogue,
Cherry Red Records Cherry Red Records is a British independent record label founded in Malvern, Worcestershire by Iain McNay in 1978. The label has released recordings by Dead Kennedys, Everything but the Girl, The Monochrome Set, and Felt, among others, as w ...
began reissuing Willcox's early albums in deluxe 2CD/DVD and vinyl formats. Both ''Sheep Farming in Barnet'' and ''Blue Meaning'' have been reissued, both appearing in the UK Albums Chart. During the first UK lockdown of 2020, Willcox began broadcasting from her home across social media and
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
. On Saturdays she answers fan questions and shares archive performances in ''Toyah at Home'' and co-hosts ''Agony Aunts'' alongside her husband Robert Fripp. However, it is her ''Sunday Lunch'' series with Fripp that has garnered the most fame, frequently going viral and racking up millions of hits on YouTube. She and Fripp started publishing weekly videos in 2021, covering songs such as Slipknot's "
Psychosocial The psychosocial approach looks at individuals in the context of the combined influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on their physical and mental wellness and their ability to function. This approach is ...
",
Billy Idol William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Idol achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X ...
's "
Rebel Yell The rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Confederate soldiers used the yell when charging to intimidate the enemy and boost their own morale, although the yell had many other uses. There ar ...
",
Rammstein Rammstein (, "ramming stone") is a German band formed in Berlin in 1994. The band's lineup—consisting of lead vocalist Till Lindemann, lead guitarist Richard Kruspe, rhythm guitarist Paul Landers, bassist Oliver Riedel, drummer Christoph ...
's " Keine Lust",
Foo Fighters The Foo Fighters are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Initially founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana (band), Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band comprises vocalist/guitarist Grohl, bassist Nate Mendel, gu ...
' " All My Life",
Grace Jones Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, model and actress. She began her Model (person), modelling career in New York State, then in Paris, working for fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent (brand), Yves St ...
' " Slave to the Rhythm" and
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (often abbreviated as RATM or shortened to Rage) was an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. It consisted of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim ...
's "
Killing in the Name "Killing in the Name" is a song by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine, and appears on their 1992 Rage Against the Machine (album), self-titled debut album. It features heavy drop-D guitar riffs. The lyrics protest Police brutality i ...
". On 12 August 2022, they released "Slave to the Rhythm" as a digital download and streaming single. The duo toured the UK in 2023, performing the ''Sunday Lunch'' songs in concert. Willcox released '' Posh Pop'', her first solo studio album since 2008, on CD and vinyl via
DMG DMG may refer to: Organizations Entertainment * DMG Clearances, music licensor in Delaware, USA * DMG Entertainment, a Chinese-based film production and distribution company * DMG Nashville, a brand of Hollywood Records specializing in country musi ...
on 27 August 2021, with the album featuring 10 tracks composed by Willcox and " Slave to the Rhythm" co-writer Simon Darlow. The album reached no. 22 in the chart. In August 2022, she appeared as herself in two episodes of the
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
series ''
The Archers ''The Archers'' is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word Radio broadcasting, channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now pr ...
''. Willcox joined
Billy Idol William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Idol achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X ...
on his UK live dates on The Roadside Tour 2022, alongside special guests
Killing Joke Killing Joke were an English rock music, rock band formed in Notting Hill, London, in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass). Their first album, ''Killing Joke ...
. In December 2023 Willcox was a celebrity presenter on the BBC One property auction series ''
Homes Under the Hammer ''Homes Under the Hammer'' is a British factual renovation and auction television series that is screened on BBC One as part of the daytime schedule. The series has been running since 17 November 2003, and is currently presented by Martin Rober ...
''. From September 2024 she was a contestant on the twenty-second series of the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
competition ''
Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (commonly referred to as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly Ballroom dance, ballroom and Latin dance, Latin dance. Each couple is ...
'' and was partnered with professional dancer Neil Jones. She described the show as "the best experience of her life". Willcox and Jones were placed at the bottom of the leader board in the first week, with 12 points. They scored 18 points in week two, yet were placed at the bottom of the leaderboard when the scores from both weeks were combined. The audience vote landed the couple in the bottom two, but they beat Tom Dean and partner Nadiya Bychkova in the dance-off. They scored 15 points in week three and were again at the bottom of the leaderboard. Placed by the audience in the bottom two, they lost the dance-off to Paul Merson and Karen Hauer.


Personal life

Willcox has been married since 1986 to musician
Robert Fripp Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is an English musician, composer, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session mu ...
, founder and guitarist of the progressive rock group
King Crimson King Crimson were an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald (musician), Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Guitarist Fripp remained the only constant member throughout the ...
. The couple have no children; their wills leave their estates to the establishment of a musical educational trust for children. They live in
Pershore Pershore () is a market town and civil parish in the Wychavon district in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon, Warwickshire, River Avon. At the 2011 UK census, census, the population was 7,125. The town is best known for Per ...
,
Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...
. In 1987 Willcox was invited to make a speech at the Women of the Year ceremony in the presence of
Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William, ...
, expressing her views on the subject of how being disabled (in her case,
dyslexia Dyslexia (), previously known as word blindness, is a learning disability that affects either reading or writing. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, wri ...
) can be a goad to creativity and inspire a craving for a fuller life experience. In 2002 she became a prominent opponent of planned accommodation centres for
asylum seeker An asylum seeker is a person who leaves their country of residence, enters another country, and makes in that other country a formal application for the right of asylum according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 14. A per ...
s near the Worcestershire village of Throckmorton, protesting together with more than one thousand villagers. In November 2007 Willcox took on the role of sponsoring the Black Country Urban Park for the People's £50 million
Big Lottery Fund The National Lottery Community Fund, legally named the Big Lottery Fund, is a non-departmental public body responsible for distributing funds raised by the National Lottery for " good causes". It is the largest community funder in the UK and ...
. In April 2008, she took part in the Great Walk to Beijing alongside other celebrities, to raise money for
Olivia Newton-John Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British and Australian singer and actress. With over 100 million records sold, Newton-John was one of the List of best-selling music artists#100 million to 119 million record ...
's cancer charity. In 2009 she had corrective surgery when she had a
hip replacement Hip replacement is a surgery, surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant (medicine), implant, that is, a hip prosthesis. Hip replacement surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi/semi(half) repl ...
and one of her legs shortened.


Discography

; with Toyah * '' Sheep Farming in Barnet'' (1979) * '' The Blue Meaning'' (1980) * ''
Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...
'' (1981) * '' The Changeling'' (1982) * '' Love Is the Law'' (1983) ; Solo album * '' Minx'' (1985) * ''
Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of affa ...
'' (1987) * ''
Prostitute Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-pe ...
'' (1988) * '' Ophelia's Shadow'' (1991) * '' Take the Leap!'' (1993) * '' Dreamchild'' (1994) * '' Looking Back'' (1995) * '' The Acoustic Album'' (1996) * ''
Velvet Lined Shell ''Velvet Lined Shell'' is a mini-album by the British singer Toyah Willcox, released in 2003 by her independent label Vertical Species. Background This release consists of six tracks, recorded in Toyah's hometown of Birmingham. Three of the musi ...
'' (2003) * '' In the Court of the Crimson Queen'' (2008) * '' Posh Pop'' (2021)


Tours

* The Resurrection Tour (1979) * Sheep Farming in Barnet Tour (1979) * Bird in Flight Tour (1980) * Ieya Tour (1980) * College Tour (1981) * Anthem Tour (1981) * Good Morning Universe: European Tour (1981) * Changeling Tour (1982) * The Warrior Rock Tour (1982) * Rebel Run Tour (1983) * Fripp Fripp Tour (1988) * Sunday All Over the World Tour (1989) * Take the Leap! Tour (1993) * Leap 2 Dream Tour (1994) * Acoustic Dreamchild Tour (1994) * Has God Ceased 2 Dream You? Tour (1994) * Here and Now Tour (2002) * Best of the 80s Tour (2004) * The Hitmakers Tour (2006) * From Sheep Farming to Anthem: Classics Revisited Tour (2010) * The Changeling Resurrection Tour (2012) * The Changeling Resurrection II (2012) * Love Is the Law & More Tour (2013) * Crimson Queen/Greatest Hits... Live! (2014) * Acoustic, Up Close & Personal (2014) * North American Tour with the Humans (2014) * Songs From The Intergalactic Ranch House... and Beyond! (2014) * Loud, Proud & Electric Tour (2015) * 80s Invasion Tour (2017) * #Toyah60 Tour (2018) * Thunder in the Highlands Scottish Tour (2019) * Posh Pop Tour (2021–2022) * Electric Ladies with
Lene Lovich Lili-Marlene Premilovich (born March 30, 1949), known professionally as Lene Lovich ( ), is an American-British singer. She first gained attention in 1979 with the release of her hit single "Lucky Number", which peaked at number 3 on the UK Sin ...
(2022) * Sunday Lunch with Robert Fripp (2023)


Filmography


Books

* 2000: ''Living Out Loud'', Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, * 2005: '' Diary of a Facelift'', Michael O'Mara Books Ltd,


Sources


General

* * *


References


External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Willcox, Toyah 1958 births Living people 20th-century English singers 21st-century English singers E.G. Records artists English new wave musicians English stage actresses English television actresses British women new wave singers English women rock singers English new wave singers Singers from Birmingham, West Midlands Musicians from Worcestershire People from Pershore English women pop singers English film actresses Toyah (band) members Actors with dyslexia Musicians with dyslexia Television presenters with dyslexia