Toyah Willcox Uncomfortable interview with Vivian Stanshall 1980

[@raymondlang]

British gem of a man, brimming with character and wonderment.

[@geminifilms5341]

What a wonderful, charming man. I wouldn’t say this was an uncomfortable interview, Toyah obviously loves him to bits

[@ajs41]

Toyah does a bloody good job considering she was only 22 years old, just a kid really. Most 22 year olds wouldn't be able to handle an interview like that with someone much older.

[@markanthonycoliinson873]

Yes, I agree. I think she's a bit in awe of him, but she's not uncomfortable. She's just young, and she quite evidently thinks he's hilarious because she can't stop giggling her arse off. I think she asks some really interesting and fundamental questions, too, such as: "what do you find most important in life?"

[@user-s1o3nr532]

@@ajs41 You know she was only on TV because her father was Desmond Wilcox, TV journalist, producer and executive?

[@heathermartin8932]

One unusual element of this show is that the revolving guest presenter (Toyah in this case) got to choose the guests they wanted to interview. So she chose Viv.....good girl

[@jagmarc]

this is an absolute gem of british television, heaven knows how I missed seeing this so long

[@notanfningain]

I love Toyah & Vivian so this was very special to me.

[@martinday4457]

The world needs people like Viv...what a gent.

[@johnbruce2868]

True. True. A proper Ginger Geezer.

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Mad as a lorry full of march hares, though.

[@MrBooojangles]

I always have loved Vivian and his work. I wish I had met him. I wish he was still alive today, he would have been great on the shows we have today. Better then most of the modern mediocre music and comedians today, which are boring and not worth bookmarking. He was a musical comedy genius. Apart from ABBA and The Beatles, the Bonzo's, is the only other group I've liked most of the songs they've produced. Great to see this.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Quite the most delightfully unusual interview I've ever seen. What on earth is a *compassionate horror movie?* Viv S was a truly delightful man.

[@rexnemo]

Oh that would be A Nightmare on Elm Street , a feel good movie with a delightfully Surreal Ending .

[@SpaceHospital]

I’m assuming it’s one in which the point of view of the monster is considered. I would have loved to have seen it.

[@shirleysavoury5638]

The closest I've seen to a compassionate horror movie would be, "Warm Bodies".

[@NickPettitt]

Thanks for posting, I remember watching this at the time, it's marvellous to see it again, now read on...

[@synthonaplinth5980]

I saw this on a bootleg DVD of 'Canyons of Your Mind' some years ago but the interview was painfully short due to editing. Had NO IDEA that it was Toyah Wilcox interviewing Viv until now.

[@Mr_Gray_Sky]

I'm going to start saying I'm 6'2" fully inflated.

[@dougreed2257]

Great actor,in fact ,a genius actor,had been a paul mcartney double since 67'nevet doubt this mans talent!!!

[@ronr.711]

Did he not become JPM in late 66' and to this day?

[@ronr.711]

Vivian also being a character that he played?

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

Not particularly "uncomfortable". Viv chatty and forthcoming. Toyah not a pro interviewer but chatty and interested. Quite warm really.

[@raycope2086]

Thanks Viv.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you.

[@8jaime8]

What a beautiful man.

[@gilldanier4129]

Last of the true eccentrics. Dear Vivian, if it wasnt for Bonzo what would I have done.

[@nigelcarren]

I just found this film on DVD in a French charity shop, now I am working backwards. Best wishes to you from an Englishman making armour in a French forest. ⚒️🇬🇧🌞

[@charlesbateson2471]

What a missed opportunity. Couldn’t they get someone more qualified to interview him? Someone on his wavelength.

[@grantross2609]

although Viv states the last Bonzo album was 1970 the last album was actually 1972 with Let's Make Up and be Friendly ( the band couldn't stand one another at the time by all accounts ).... NOTE that a new album was put out in 2007 called Pour l'Amour Des Chiens (French: For the Love of Dogs) which is not bad at all !

[@ajs41]

This is 28th November 1980.

[@oleggorky906]

Haha! He looks like a character from either a Viking saga or a Tolkien novel. He’s great.

[@stevena9305]

She did a great job!

[@davidserlin8097]

In what sense of the word “great” did she do a great job? She’s a complete great idiot.

[@tranceguide9752]

Viv was trying to participate and communicate: Toyah was a completely naff, pedestrian interviewer - the discomfort and awkwardness was on her part.

[@ajs41]

She was only about 21 at the time so a bit inexperienced on TV.

[@alanoneill3065]

according to some people, this is Billy Shears ...who also doubled for Paul McCartney What an actor eh?

[@Jvstforman]

Look at ‘paup McCartney’s’ son and reply what you think…

[@alanoneill3065]

@@Jvstforman I don't see much..the guy looks in a bad way Are you saying that Billy Shears is BOTH McCartney and Stanshall

[@AK-nj8gd]

@@bustercherry8734 But when did the other person take over (I mean Viv 2.0), if the original one was still doing it in 1980? (Because, as we know, that other one died, or killed this persona off, in 1995).

[@bustercherry8734]

@@AK-nj8gd I'm not too sure. I was under the impression that billy gave up the vivian character as soon as he took over the paul character and never did the vivian character again. But i definitely could be wrong. I'm sure it's all explained in the memoirs of billy shears. Never read it though.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

​@@Jvstforman😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

Toyah said, of this interview “Vivian Stanshall was hilarious, but I didn’t know what to do with him.” It was after the interview itself that I thought was a bit more awkward. And, in my view, was completely under-utilised. They had all the guests playing on video games and Vivian really wasn’t into it and wandered off doing his own thing.

[@nicholasmartin297]

I was once verbally accosted by Viv. I was fishing in the Thames near his houseboat. He said “Perhaps when you’ve finished you’d like to take your shit [other peoples’ litter] home with you.” He didn’t know I was an avid fan! I still wish I had said “That’s the last time I buy one of YOUR records”. This was the early eighties.

[@hugovandermeer1566]

And?

[@nicholasmartin297]

@@hugovandermeer1566 And then he wandered off to his houseboat on the Thames with his entourage.

[@hugovandermeer1566]

And?

[@nicholasmartin297]

@@hugovandermeer1566 What do you want to know?

[@hugovandermeer1566]

Did you clear up your shit, put the fish back where they b longed and continue purchasing Vivian's inimitable vinyl offerings.

[@soarornor]

“I’d like to write,….a compassionate horror movie.” Vivian was one of a kind.

[@SpaceHospital]

Unconventional, but friendly and fun.

[@charlesrae3793]

A lost breed, the English eccentric. in an age of uniformity, what room for genuine one-offs?

[@hugovandermeer1566]

Viv wasn't eccentric. He was an English gentleman and poet.

[@NickSBailey]

no they're definitely still about

[@grantross2609]

2:10 awesome reply ! one of the best i've heard in a long time tho......

[@nicolaablett7790]

wowwwww very relevant now!

[@jeffschick1669]

Perfect pre-Sunday Lunch bracer.

[@christophertalbot9488]

I think it's lovely.

[@thomasclarke2880]

Hard times when you had to take the full box of cooking matches with you.

[@grantross2609]

check out the great man's new album Dogs Howl in Tune just released...... just as well Toyah's not interviewing Sir Henry getting his name wrong a couple of times tho !

[@umbertonanni2420]

That time when you could smoke during the show and nobody said anything...

[@ajs41]

That was okay for another 10 years or so after this if I remember correctly. I can remember being on a plane when I was about 10 years old in 1990 and someone lighting up in the seat behind me.

[@MaxPlaid]

Viv was a treasure, Toyah did well to control him. What I find most interesting though is that she then went on to wed Robert Fripp. Funny old world, eh?

[@Scotlanz]

It’s like Stephen Fry and Frankie Howerd had a child together.

[@ajs41]

Toyah or Vivian?

[@johndaarteest]

"Oh now luvvies, no don't - oh go on then please yourselves!"

[@jennytaylor3324]

🎯

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Fry would have been a bit young....

[@PAULLONDEN]

Considering Toyah these days coupling with Robert Fripp became a somewhat eccentric herself. An 8 minute interview .....no wonder Vivian thought he was being blown out...... He hadn't even finished his rollie.

[@ocpmovie]

I have a few sources for this clip. Do you have your original source for this one somewhere, maybe in DVD format? Bit glitchy but the color's good.

[@karenhowarth5552]

It's on video tape, that's as good as I could get it.

[@ocpmovie]

If it's your own capture, could I have a download of it? This would have been a 50fps broadcast originally.

[@karenhowarth5552]

@@ocpmovie Sorry, it's there to see as it is.

[@NickSBailey]

nothing awkward just two national treasures mucking about unscripted (other than a few casually noted questions), no tele like that any more it's all marketing and tightly controlled

[@superamanda]

I thought this was a sweet exchange.

[@ericmalone3213]

Viv Stanshall, drinking companion of Keith Moon. Viv could keep up with Keith Moon, drink for drink and wit by wit. What more do you need to know? Toyah is a bit out of her depth, tho a very well meaning & supportive interviewer.

[@grantross2609]

it has to be said Viv often came across as the Oliver Reed of the rock world.........no offence intended to either gentlemen !

[@ericmalone3213]

@@grantross2609 Viv and Olly were very very different. Olly tended to get into fights and get himself arrested when drinking. Viv never behaved at all like that. Olly did not have the kind of mind that could have come up with "Sir Henry At Rawlinson's End," as Viv did. When Viv got onto the vodka and orange, he'd stay in bed all day, he wouldn't go out gallivanting and getting into trouble. Nor would he appear on talk shows completely drunk and acting the fool, as Olly did. Vivian Stanshall came across as Vivian Stanshall, as only Viv could.

[@wavidsmith8292]

keith moon was murdered , thus the anger in his voice

[@ericmalone3213]

@@wavidsmith8292 You're not quite making sense, Auld Swodge.

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Shame this was such a brief and trivial interview, so much more to discover about the man. Poor Viv an amazing and somewhat bonkers life cut short.

[@stickpictures]

The movie's so-so, has moments. But the BBC broadcast version, Stanshall reading, is surrealist genius. Old Scrotum the wrinkled retainer...

[@obfusk8_]

So so , r u bonkers.... its a comedy classic film beyond compare

[@retrolutiongames9479]

There's nothing uncomfortable about this, you've got two quirky people trying to conduct a normal discussion and the eccentricities of each keep catching the other off guard, yet the expressions and body language of both suggest they find the whole thing funny too, it makes for great viewing and it's a shame we have so few larger than life personalities like these on screen today.

[@Edward1312]

He reminds me of Roy Harper

[@MissMiddleEarthling]

Toyah is an excellent interviewer.

[@obfusk8_]

Must b watching another interview then

[@johnny-p]

Wilcox is not an interviewer.

[@pdunderhill]

Not uncomfortable at all, Viv sipping Chateau Colostomy and Toyah wishing she lived on a Canal Boat in Bristol.

[@cargumdeu]

Like Marcus Aurelius being interviewed by Noddy. She meant well though.

[@theantinatalismzone392]

THE ORIGINAL GINGER GEEZER

[@AXE668]

He kissed her hand!! He would be cancelled for that now. It's nice that Toyah really, really loves the band despite being unable to pronounce the name.

[@finncullen]

Would he? Would he really? I think you're just outrage-baiting along the Daily Mail "OMG NOW YOU CAN'T EVEN SAY CHRISTMAS!" lines (despite the fact thet people do, always will, and nobody says otherwise)

[@factorylad5071]

The accents are clashing more than anything. Don't no where vivs comes from but defo not Croydon. Don't no why you didn't title the vid the stanshaw interview.

[@johndaarteest]

Born in Oxfordshire, moved to Walthamstow and then Leigh-on-Sea. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Stanshall

[@heathermartin8932]

Viv was from Walthamstow....so not far!

[@zetetick395]

Pop starlet interviews genuine eccentric artist : OF COURSE it ended up like this!

[@BaddaBigBoom]

Christ, I used to fancy Toyah Willcox like crazy and always thought of her as ...dare I say it, intellectual in her own way. Those nervous giggles ...ack! "So what if I dye my hair, I still have a brain up there" ............No ............You ..........DON'T!

[@namronanilab9757]

Gee nice to see him before he became faul doesn't take much to see the similarities

[@Wizzz28]

Fauls son James does look like Viv

[@dianesaari3034]

Who the hell is Vivian Stanshall. Another reincarnation of Paul?

[@krisscanlon4051]

If you should be normal than I shall be a freak...

[@obfusk8_]

She was a rubbish intrrviewer , he was obviously feeling like he was talking to a child or giggly fan ..What is Normal, sorry, next question.He was above her perseption

[@zackspaulding]

Hardly uncomfortable at ALL????🙄🤣

[@Berkcam]

"A mating?"

[@mike-myke22]

Toe curling. If she got stoned just before the interview, it would have gone like a dream.

[@thedolphin5428]

Toyah ... Before ADHD was a known thing!

[@andipeters743]

Too, too short.

[@alanoneill3065]

she is hopeless...how did she get away with this

[@johnbruce2868]

Everyone was and everyone did... in those days.

[@Mahler1817]

Vivían alive in 1980? Then Who is the actual Paúl Mccartney??

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

​@@bustercherry8734From your understanding from other sad bastards on the internet you mean?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Prepare yourself for a shock. The actual Paul McCartney is the actual Paul McCartney. Ps Vivian Stanshall died in 1995 so the chances of him being alive in 1980 were very strong indeed 😂😂

[@bustercherry8734]

@@scottandrewbrass1931 hahahahahahahah you silly sheep.

[@Dracopop787]

​@@scottandrewbrass1931 And who is Billy Shepherd?

[@chazwyman]

Great but sadly untapped talent. Shockingly brilliant word-smith and poet

[@johnsinclair1386]

The vacuous interviewing the wonderful.

[@Bittersweet.Symphony.]

It's Faul

[@TylerBergeronMusic]

3:58 Surgeries, I'm always in Surgeries

[@serene5345]

@@TylerBergeronMusic Fiddling with the cigarettes is a good distraction from anyone looking too closely.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

​​@@TylerBergeronMusicDentist surgery you bell end.Watch the interview.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

What? From the plastic surgery that makes him look fuck all like Paul McCartney? How sad😂😂😂

[@robbflynn4325]

That’s not him

[@ajs41]

What do you mean?

[@robbflynn4325]

@@ajs41 The Vivian Stanshall seen here is not the original but is merely an actor paid to play him. The real VS was created and is the alter ego of Billy Shears, who in turn passes himself off as the late Paul McCartney (unconvincingly IMO). He has played this role since the demise of the real Paul McCartney in 1966.

[@robbflynn4325]

@All Law I agree with the last sentence of your comment, everything else is plain ridiculous.

[@robbflynn4325]

@All Law I guess anything is possible. The satanists behind all of this love to pervert and invert.

[@peterturley1331]

@@robbflynn4325 indeed.

[@cclewes7373]

Viv looks confused

[@artsahobby123]

Say hello to Billy Shears because he say's he is 6 ft. 2 1/2 inches tall and the bells ring for 5 foot 10., (ringing for Paul McCartney who was that size.)

[@lizking385]

Three characters in one. Truthfully.

[@artsahobby123]

@@lizking385 I really don't know how many. Billly and the Pepperpots were there in 63' on MercyMania and Billy and his DooDog Military Band were later. From The guys in Terry and the Pack to whoever, like Dusty Springfield said "Nothing Has Been Proven."

[@artsahobby123]

@Liz KING thanks for the response. Since one of the Carter Brothers died today and the other one is calling him a serial killer on social media, currently i am in shock. Still trying to order Cynthia Lennon's book A twits of Lennon cause it was written in 1968 but it seems like the only one telling the truth and I mean in bits is Francie Schwartz and no way I completely understand who is related to who.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

​@@lizking385 Truthfully 😂😂😂😂

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

What ARE you talking about?! You absolute loony!😂😂😂

[@danieljones741]

...a fabulous gang, the bonzos.

[@markstevens9660]

God it’s like pulling teeth …..

[@martinsmith500]

He wanted Toyah

[@transferdatathreewally24]

Interviewer couldn't meaningfully engage in spite of encouragement by Viv. Putting people like Viv with people like this is like showing your dog a card trick. Iain w Glasgow

[@jackharkins1689]

Find the lady...

[@newsles2]

She was young and inexperienced, but edgy for the time. He was notably edgy the whole of his career. It works on some levels imho.

[@newsles2]

Oh and thank you Karen :)

[@v00n2000]

@@newsles2 just wish he could have met Chris Morris.

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

@@v00n2000 perhaps he and Chris Morris did meet......but yes, if it were recorded or if they had done something together it would have been absolute gold (The Peter Cook and Chris Morris stuff was excellent and Peter's part is in line with what Viv does in many ways...2 geniuses from a similar era and whom influenced many after them ) ...I'm certain Viv was a massive inspiration for Chris. It kind of feels Chris Morris carried on where Viv left off.....especially as Viv sadly passed away in 1995....Chris Morris had just hit the beginning of his peak period in 1994 and has kept it going ever since (despite mainly only film making this last decade and script editing , and helping direct...but he puts a huge amount into what he does do)

[@davidcrespin6987]

Toyah is quite embarrassing, she has not prepared properly and is asking teenage like questions. Vivian deserved better.

[@maxwellfan55]

To put Wilcox (a silly teenager with unflattering hair) with Viv was never a good idea.

[@hugovandermeer1566]

Dozy bint Wilcox totally out of her depth...as usual;

[@NickSBailey]

she's just very typical of the time, who would be any better with an interview like this lol doesn't matter what they said he'd come back with something weirdly off, and that's a good thing

[@ajs41]

She's only 22 at the time.

[@synthonaplinth5980]

'Dozy bint', hahaha

[@securityrobot]

Makes a difference from her being out of tune.

[@brandycat8513]

Great act, and probably drunk

[@thetruthfornow6045]

Some morons say Viv became Paul McCartney when he died. Most have given up on the failed Billy theory. But here he is in 1980 and the real Paul was touring with Wings and Linda.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

You'd have to be moronic or at the most part mentally ill to believe any of it. But they all still crawl out in the comment sections with their laughable inarticulate ( and contradictory) rubbish. They deserve to be laughed off the internet.

[@Mymystery1967]

Toyah is awful

[@karenhowarth5552]

At last... word is.

[@SkipSpotter]

If you were to tell me this is Russel Brands biological father, I WOULD believe you!!

[@834arglebardconnden7]

Piss off back to your r brand videos you fucking prick.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Don't. Statements like that could trigger the Paul Is Dead mongs.

[@1599maybole]

Russell Brand is unworthy of such an illustrious paternal forebear

[@beandipcartography]

Frealz doe.

[@peterturley1331]

The incredibly untalented Toyah Wilcox!!!

[@securityrobot]

She’s Chris Packham in drag.

[@mikrophonie5633]

I see Toyah was just as annoying back then as she is now.

[@richc9631]

And were you?

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

Someone creative and interesting meets an interviewer who wants to be creative and interesting.

[@dodibenabba1378]

I take it you know who that interviewer is? Check out the album The Blue Meaning she's every bit as eccentric as Viv. To be fair Viv he was just doing the same old late sixties Monty Python, TWTWTW, let's think of something bizarre humour, you know the type that makes Noel Fielding a boring old get! I'm having trouble with my trilby what with all the bananas and everything.....see it's simple.

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

@@dodibenabba1378 I know exactly who she is. I was around in the 70s and 80s when she tried to have a career. She ended up failing miserably and going to cable TV to do a late night sex programme. I wouldn't compare Stanshall to the Pythons really, they were all middle class, university educated and from the footlights inspired by the Goons. In the 1960s they were the types employed by the BBC. Stanshall was much more of an individual in his humour and style. I like Stanshall and the Pythons but love the Goons. I'm just not a fan of Toyah Wilcox but she's probably a very nice person.

[@dodibenabba1378]

@@aaarrrggghhhh She is, and as for her failing career she is still touring and releasing albums today not that I'm a fan of much after 1980. If you've seen her lockdown videos with Robert Fripp she's still very much an eccentric too! 😂 As for the Bonzos it's like any predominantly comedy musical act, the same jokes get old and tiresome after a while, I thought Innes was much more of a talent.

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

@@dodibenabba1378 I think part of the appeal of Stanshall is that he died, also he died tragically. Therefore, he left a body of interesting and highly amusing work and we don't have a slow decline where he became a total mess publicly. People are always intrigued by dead artists. I admire Wilcox in the fact that she's still going for it. I remember watching an interview when I must have been about 14 in 1980 or so, when she talked about being bullied at school and how she fought back. I knew then she had guts but just can't say I'm a fan musically. Horses for courses I guess but I'm glad she's doing what she loves.

[@v00n2000]

@@dee_seejay No. Noel Fielding is the very, very worst.

[@paulkazjack]

Both awful.

[@aldershot5100]

Never again will we see people like ths.Even if there was chance mobile phone staring has ended that

[@joebish6629]

Willcox was awful. Clueless about how to interview.