Actress and singer Toyah Willcox gave the producers permission to name the youngest member of the Battersby family after herself, since the character was said to be born during the height of her career.

The following year, the character was the focus of one of Coronation Street's most controversial storylines, which saw her beaten and raped by Phil Simmonds (Jack Deam).

[7] A month before she made her debut on-screen, Toyah was described as being Janice's (Vicky Entwistle) 14-year-old illegitimate daughter, who would become "the scourge of every Weatherfield Comprehensive teacher".

[3] During an interview with the Daily Record's Polly Graham, Taylor stated "Toyah's gobby and cocky and makes her parents' life a misery.

[1] Digital Spy's Kris Green described Toyah as "the more mellow of the Battersbys" and thought that it was due to Les (Bruce Jones) not being her biological father.

[13] The storyline attracted the attention of the Independent Television Commission, who believed that the episode featuring Toyah's abduction should have carried a warning before it was broadcast.

[16] The Daily Record's John Millar agreed with Taylor and wrote that the storyline was "building to a stark warning for the millions of teenagers tuning into the Street."

"[15] Five months after moving onto Coronation Street, Toyah developed a crush on her neighbour, Spider Nugent (Martin Hancock) and even turned vegetarian to try and impress him.

[21] After enjoying a night out with her friend Sam Kingston (Scott Wright), Toyah is raped, beaten and left for dead in an alleyway by an unknown assailant as she walked home alone.

The scenes were shot at the St Mary's Hospital Sexual Assault Centre in Manchester, where the writers spent four months researching victims' experiences and working with the clinical director and the staff to get the scenario right.

[21] The storyline was criticised by some former Coronation Street cast members who believed the producers were using the subject of rape to gain higher ratings than rival soap opera EastEnders.

[23] The phone call sparked "a terrifying event" in which Toyah's rapist was finally revealed to be her friend Phil Simmonds (Jack Deam).

[26] The storyline was revisited in 2024, as it emerges that Toyah became pregnant from the assault and gave birth to a stillborn baby, which she later buried in Red Rec park.

[27] It was initially reported that Toyah becomes concerned that the baby's remains will be found when an area of the Red Rec is marked for redevelopment, and she is later caught digging in the park.

[27] Stefania Sarrubba of Digital Spy stated "The news forces the character to confront the consequences of those traumatic events from two decades ago.

[28] After causing a scene by smashing a car window with a spade, Toyah breaks down in tears and later remarks to Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) that the spot in the park is "a special place".

[29] Wilkes revealed that her contract would expire in October that year, but the actress had chosen to stay with the serial beyond that to give the writers time to come up with a storyline for her character's departure.

[30] Despite a rumour that Toyah would become a victim of serial killer Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), the producers decided that she needed "a fiery fling" before she left.

[32] Taylor expressed her happiness at her return, saying "I am thrilled to be re-joining my old friends on the cobbles and hugely excited to be given the opportunity to explore the character of Toyah 13 years on.

Coronation Street has always had a place in my heart and I'm delighted to be working again with my good friend Jane Danson and bringing the Battersby sisters back together.

[34] Toyah and her family move into 5 Coronation Street and soon upset the neighbours with their bad behaviour, most notably Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy).

After arguing with her mother, Janice (Vicky Entwistle), and stepfather, Les (Bruce Jones), Toyah runs away to London to find her biological father, Ronnie Clegg (Dean Williamson).

With the help of a former teacher, Ken Barlow (William Roache), Toyah's grades at school soon improve and she even wins a writing competition.

Toyah argues with Leanne's half-sister, Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), for not passing on a message about starting a shift at the pub, but they agree to call a truce.

Toyah begins a relationship with Imran and they later foster children together including Kelly Neelan (Millie Gibson) and become embroiled in her murder charge for her role in Seb Franklin’s (Harry Visioni) death.

Imran's guilty conscience took hold as he eventually persuaded Toyah against getting the police involved and he tells her the truth about him framing Abi as a drug addict.

[46] For her portrayal of Toyah, Taylor was nominated for Best Soap Actor (Female) at the 2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards; she came in eleventh place with 1.5% of the total votes.

[48][49] The People's Gavin Blyth and Jon Clarke stated that Toyah and Leanne were "rough, tough and make other streetwise teenagers look like they are fresh out of nursery.

"[14] John Millar from the Daily Record wrote "The Street should be congratulated if the plight of Toyah Battersby – a brilliant performance by young Georgia Taylor, by the way – means just one schoolgirl says no to her lusting boyfriend.

"[57] In September 2017, Katie Fitzpatrick of the Manchester Evening News noted how viewers found Toyah's middle name, Laverne, "hilarious" when it was revealed on-screen.