Inside Strictly star Toyah Willcox’s private life and 38-year rockstar marriage-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Toyah Willcox has a rockstar husband in the shape of Robert Fripp (Picture: Brandon/Redferns)

Toyah Willcox is one of the contestants on the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 – and is just days away from making her debut on the live show.

The 66-year-old is no stranger to performing after becoming an icon in the 80s with songs like I Want To Be Free, Thunder In The Mountains and Brave New World.

Toyah’s personal life is also very rock ‘n’ roll as she is one-half of a music power couple, along with her musician husband Robert Fripp, 78, who she has been married to for decades.

He will likely be a regular face in the audience for the BBC show as his wife dances the Foxtrot or Tango in a bid to impress judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas.

Toyah previously told Metro.co.uk and other press she was taking the show ‘very seriously’ after allegations about the treatment of contestants emerged embroiling Strictly in scandal.

She said: ‘I know, for me, with what’s been going on this year, I’ve been thinking, Well, can I push myself beyond my own limitations? And for me, it’s now or never. That made me commit to the show.’

But before she takes to the ballroom floor, here is everything you need to know about Toyah’s private lifet.

Who is Toyah Willcox married to?

Toyah and Robert tied the knot nine months after moving in together (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Claridge’s)

Toyah is married to musician Robert Fripp, the founder and guitarist of progressive rock group King Crimson.

The band, which was founded in 1968, released 13 studio albums, with their last being 2013’s The Power to Believe.

They amassed a large cult following after songs such as I Talk To The Wind, Starless and Elephant Talk.

Outside of King Crimson, Robert has worked as a session musician and collaborator for the likes of David Bowie and The Talking Heads.

Toyah and Robert married on 16 May 1986 in Poole, Dorset after living together for nine months.

How did Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp meet?

Toyah and Robert met in the 80s because they shared the same manager (Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

Toyah and Robert first met in 1983 at a celebrity charity lunch before returning to the same event two years later.

For the 1985 lunch, the couple travelled in the same car as they shared the same managers.

During the journey, and Robert asked Toyah if she would narrate a story on an album he was producing for a school in Washington.

Toyah readily agreed and not long after their reunion went to Dorset to work on Robert’s recording and they fell in love.

‘Within that week, I realised that she was to be my wife,’ Robert recalled to The Independent. ‘I was completely bowled over by this wonderful little woman.’

Toyah said they started their relationship not long after she had a bad break-up from another partner. She said meeting Robert was a ‘great help.’

She described him as ‘instantly adorable – a gentle, traditional, old-worldy gentleman, which is unusual in the music business.’

Does Toyah Willcox have children?

Toyah said she never wanted children and doesn’t have a maternal instinct (Picture: Ray Burmiston/PA Wire)

Toyah and and Robert have no children and said they never desired a traditional family set-up.

She told The Guardian in 2013: ‘We don’t have any children and I’ve never wanted family life.

‘I’ve probably inherited a feeling of being trapped in family life. I think it’s pretty obvious why.

‘My brother has a son who is now in his 30s, but my sister never had kids either.

‘I never had any maternal instinct and it always baffled me why I was expected to have children.’

Does Toyah Willcox have a sister?

Toyah’s sister Nicola (L) works as a nurse for the NHS (Picture: @toyahofficial)

Toyah has an older brother Kim, born in 1953, and an older sister Nicola, born in 1950.

Nicola has worked as a nurse for the NHS for decades, with Toyah previously stating how proud she was of her frontline worker sister during the pandemic on X.

In a blog from 2013 on her official website, Toyah described Nicola as the ‘quietest’ member of her family who ‘always played by the rules’ when she was a child.

However, she wrote: ‘Nicola was shy and lacking in confidence then suddenly around 30 years old the Willcox gene kicked in and she became known for her ferocity, so much so when I was in hospital two weeks ago for a check-up one of the nurses came up to me and said is Nicola Besag your sister? “Yes”, “Oh she was terrifying when I sat my exams with her.” 

‘I told my sister this and she was very happy her reputation still resounds around the NHS. I once witnessed my sister hauling an abusive driver on the A40 out of his car and across his bonnet……so look out high seas you’ve got a challenge coming.’

What is Toyah Willcox’s net worth?

It’s thought Toyah is worth millions thanks to her long career (Picture: BBC)

Toyah’s exact net worth has never been revealed although a decades-long career in showbusiness has likely boosted her bank balance significantly.

In fact, Celebrity Net Worth estimates she is worth $15million (£11.4m), largely down to her music and touring endeavors.

Toyah’s also appeared on numerous TV shows including The Chase: Celebrity Special, Celebrity Eggheads, The Weakest Link and Richard Osman’s House of Games.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 begins on Saturday, September 14 at 7:20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More