December 11th 2024.
Toyah Willcox found herself facing a challenge she never expected when she decided to participate in Strictly Come Dancing. Despite her impressive 40+ years of experience in the entertainment industry, the iconic pop star was pushed out of her comfort zone on the popular BBC dance show.
At 66 years old, Toyah was the oldest contestant in the show's 20th series and was paired with professional dancer Neil Jones, who is 24 years her junior. Together, they wowed the nation with their jive, tango, and samba routines before being eliminated in the second week of the competition.
However, Toyah has no regrets about her decision to join the show, as it had a profound impact on her both as a person and as an artist. She revealed in an exclusive interview with Metro that the experience "changed" her and forced her to confront her biggest insecurity – her legs.
Despite her years of performing live shows and being comfortable on stage, Toyah admitted that she was shy about her legs and was not used to wearing revealing outfits and strappy shoes. But she saw this as an opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and experience something new, which is why she took on the challenge in the first place.
As she trained for seven hours a day and followed a strict diet, Toyah also found herself in the best shape of her life. But more importantly, the show offered her a new perspective on herself and her age. She joked that being surrounded by much younger contestants made her realize that she should perhaps start dressing more age-appropriately, but she also gained a deeper understanding of her own wisdom and ability to inspire others.
Despite the show's tagline of "Keeeep dancing!", Toyah doesn't see herself becoming a ballroom professional anytime soon. She described the art form as being on par with gymnastics, with the dancers contorting their bodies into uncomfortable positions in pursuit of perfection. But she is grateful for the experience and is now focusing on other forms of dance, such as disco and freeform.
Aside from her dance journey, Toyah is also using her platform to educate older generations about using technology. She has teamed up with Smart Energy GB on their new campaign to help older people understand smart meters, as she also feels "shy" about technology at times.
But despite her age, Toyah shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to sell out live gigs with her husband and fellow musician, Robert Fripp, and is proud to be one of the top-selling vinyl artists. She joked that she is relieved to still be working in her sixties and credits her love for variety and communication as her driving force.
Toyah is now encouraging people across the country to upgrade to a smart meter and make their lives easier. And as she looks forward to performing in a series of dazzling Christmas gigs with her husband, she is grateful for the opportunity to connect with her audience and bring them joy and nostalgia through her music.
The final of Strictly Come Dancing will air this Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. But for Toyah, her journey on the show has already left a lasting impact, proving that age is just a number and that there is no limit to experiencing joy on the dancefloor.
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