POP star Toyah Willcox’s reason for signing up to Strictly Come Dancing may be found hidden in a blog post.

The It’s A Mystery singer, 66, will take to the ballroom next month with a yet to be revealed professional partner, along with 14 other celebrities.

A 2022 blog post on her official website, suggests money could be the driving force behind the decision.

The music star wrote about her friend Hazel O’Connor, who was in the early stages of recovery from a life-threatening bleed on the brain at the time, and explained how a crowdfunding page had been set up to help her.

She then segued into the pay discrepancy between men and women in the music industry.

“It may come as a surprise that crowdfunding is needed,” she wrote. “I can give one huge example of what this industry is like for women, even women as successful as Hazel and myself……… we earn one tenth of what men earn in the industry

“I work 350 days of the year and earn one tenth of what Fripp earns, even my charting albums bring me income as little as One per cent of what Fripp’s royalties are.”

Fripp is Toyah’s husband Robert Fripp, who is considered the godfather of progressive rock due to his work with seminal band King Crimson.

She went on: “Hazel apparently has virtually no royalties. It’s still tough for women and I love Taylor Swift for standing her ground this week against unfair criticism. We are all out there surviving.”

Meanwhile Toyah recently shared her concerns about the gruelling Strictly training schedule.

Four months ago, prior to being announced for Strictly, she was asked whether she would like to take part.

She told The Mirror: “Oh, God yeah. Well, I’d have to do it sooner rather than later, because I’m not going to be able to move like that in two years’ time.

“I do understand how hard they work. I’m friends with Angela Rippon and she was extraordinary.”

She added: “But they’re rehearsing 10 hours a day every day. And then on Saturday, they do two shows. As I went there, they invited me to watch them do the live show. Then at nine o’clock, they film the Sunday show, and I’m thinking, ‘Could I do this?’”

The Sun revealed in June that the 80s punk singer had signed up for this year’s Strictly.

She is one of just six women taking part in the new series – the fewest number of female celebrities in the BBC One show’s history.

It comes in the wake of pro dancer Graziano di Prima being sacked for kicking partner Zara McDermott during last year’s training sessions.

Colleague Giovanni Pernice is also being investigated following similar complaints from his partner Amanda Abbington – although he vehemently denies the allegations.

A TV insider said: “Looking at the figures, it’s hard to see how the ongoing controversy over bullying could not have affected the recruitment process for this year’s Strictly.

“At no point in the show’s history has there been such a small proportion of women.

“It probably wasn’t the landmark number they wanted, given the show is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.”

Toyah Willcox is taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing Credit: PA

Just months ago, the pop star feared she might not be able to deal with demanding rehearsals Credit: Getty