Vic Flick dies aged 87
The guitarist is best known for his part in the James Bond film theme, but he also worked on several television programmes including music show Juke Box Jury for the BBC with its catchy tune ‘Hit or Miss’ and played the centrepiece of the Crossroads theme, with a 12-string guitar. The theme composed by Tony Hatch and featuring Vic was used on the ATV soap from November 1964 to March 1985, along with several ‘mood versions’.
Vic also played the 12-string guitar on the PYE Records release of the Crossroads theme in 1965. It was re-issued in 1966 and was included on the Crossroads Album in 1975. Vic also had a long career in the world of chart music playing on tracks from artists such as Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and Cilla Black to name a few.
Tony Adams talks Nolly drama
Crossroads regular and pal of Noele Gordon, actor Tony Adams, has spoken about last years ITV drama Nolly as one magazine marks the daily soap opera’s 60th anniversary with a feature interview with Tony who played smug Adam Chance in the soap from 1978 to 1988.
Helena Bonham Carter starred as Noele Gordon in ITV1/ITVX and STV three-part drama Nolly which looked at the rise and fall of ATV’s biggest female personality. Written by Russell T Davies the award winning drama gained much praise from press in the UK, America and Australia where the episodes have been screened. However, when Tony first heard about the drama he wasn’t so sure of the casting…
ABC airs Nolly
Russell T Davies’ “love letter” to Noele Gordon – the three-part ITVX/ITV drama Nolly is airing across three Friday’s (starting October 18th) up to Crossroads’ 60th anniversary on ABC in Australia.
The drama, which is available down under on DVD has previously been premiered in the country on a streaming service similar to ITVX and the STV Player in the UK.
Nolly stars Helena Bonham Carter in the titular role as the programme reflects on Noele’s past television glories, firsts and fame before the bombshell sacking from ATV in 1981.
Trailblazing actress Cleo Sylvestre dies aged 79
A career that took in stage, film and television as well as a music career which included recording a record with The Rolling Stones.
In Crossroads she played Meg Richardson’s adopted daughter Melanie Harper, a ground-breaking part she was proud of.
Building named in East Ham in honour of Noele Gordon
The site called Noele Gordon House has opened to residents.
Crossroads actor and writer Robert Sidaway dies
The performer who also appeared in shows such as The Avengers, Doctor Who and Emergency Ward 10 died while working on a project abroad. His son has updated followers of his father’s work that Robert passed away on August 16th
As well as writing for Crossroads, he also created, directed and wrote two series of The Optimist for Channel 4 in the 1980s. It has recently been released on DVD.
Spotlight on Crossroads Care
The June edition of Yours Retro Magazine takes a look at how Noele and ATV helped establish the Crossroads Caring for Carers charity which began as a fictional scheme in the soap and then became a reality following viewer demand for such a venture.
The charity, which assists carers across the UK, continues to run and this year marks fifty years of service.
Carol Royle switches Kings Oak for Weatherfield
Carol Royle who played Diane Lawrence the lover of Patrick Russell (Neil McCaul) in 2001 episodes of the motel set saga has joined Salford-based Coronation Street.
Over in Weatherfield Carol portrays Anthea Deering the mother of Joel (Calum Lil).
Roy Boyd dies aged 85
Actor Roy Boyd – who played criminal Eddie Lee in Crossroads between 1980 and 1983 died in April it has been announced. The news was shared with the Crossroads Fan Club by Angela Webb who played Iris in the saga.
Other programmes Roy featured in include Emmerdale Farm, Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Minder and the movie The Wicker Man. In more recent years Boyd had roles in shows such as Casualty, Heartbeat and New Tricks.
BAFTA nomination for Helena Bonham Carter in Nolly
The BAFTA TV Awards have announced that Helena Bonham Carter has been nominated for ‘Leading Actress’ in the 2024 gongs for her role as Noele Gordon in ITVX drama Nolly. The series, which is currently airing stateside on PBS Masterpiece, has already picked up several awards including a BAFTA Wales award for the script by Russell T Davies.
The BAFTA TV Awards sees Helena up against Anjana Vasan, Anne Ried, Bella Ramsey, Sharon Horgan and Sarah Lancashire.
PBS Masterpiece begin screening Nolly
The Russell T Davies drama about Crossroads star Noele Gordon has begun airing in America. Spread across three weeks the episodes are being transmitted in a primetime Sunday evening slot.
The series headed by Helena Bonham-Carter as Noele has been met – just like in the UK – by rave reviews stateside with praise from The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe and CNN.
Nolly nominated for two Broadcasting Press Guild Awards
The first nomination for Nolly – the story of Crossroads’ leading lady Noele Gordon – faces strong competition in the Best Single Drama or Mini-Series (1-3 episodes) category from Black Mirror: Demon 79 (Netflix), Partygate (Channel 4), Stonehouse (ITV), and series two of Time (BBC One) by Jimmy McGovern and Helen Black.
The second Broadcasting Press Guild Award nomination is for writer Russell T Davies who is listed for his penning of Nolly and also Doctor Who. The latest nominations follow the drama picking up a couple of gongs last year including ones from BAFTA and RTS.
Rare Noele Gordon items go under the hammer
A family friend of Noele and her mother Joan is parting with some items gifted to Caroline during a friendship that spanned the late sixties to the early eighties.
The lot contains items such as original ATV cast card signed photographs, an autograph album and other signed publicity photographs and personal dedicated pictures.
Update: The items sold for £240.
Helena Bonham Carter ‘Nolly outfit’ goes up for auction
The costume by designer Annie Hardinge is a Chanel-imitation suit in multi-shaded blue tweed and goes up for sale next month.
The outfit was worn by Helena Bonham Carter when she starred in Nolly as Noele Gordon in the Russell T Davies penned three-part ITV drama about the life of Noele, who was affectionately called Nolly. The item is part of a lot that is to raise funds for The Bright Foundation. The sale proceeds will go to this arts-based education charity based in Hastings, which provides free access to creative activities, and visual and performance arts for children and young people facing disadvantage.
The actress who brought ‘Mavis Hooper’ to life dies aged 96
The performer was killed in a traffic incident on Monday, January 15th. West Midlands Police have announced former Crossroads regular Charmian Abrahams – known on-screen by her stage name of Charmian Eyre – died earlier this week aged 96.
Charmian was fatally injured after being hit by a van in Harborne earlier this week. Abrahams was struck by a delivery van on Lordswood Road just before midday on Monday (15 January). West Midland Police’s Serious Collison Investigation Unit is still conducting enquiries into the collision.
Crossroads ‘Wedding Party’ record album for re-release
The Crossroads album, containing tracks by the cast and part of episode 2301 – Meg and Hugh’s wedding blessing – will be released for the first time on CD. The songs, which include some tracks by EastEnders‘ theme tune composer Simon May, were originally only available on vinyl and audio cassette tape.
This release contains the only stereo version of Tony Hatch’s PYE single release of the Crossroads theme and the new CD comes with a couple of extra bonus tracks with the inclusion of the 1977 recordings of Benny’s Theme. Both the lyric version performed by Paul Henry and the instrumental will feature.
Update…
The album tops the Amazon TV Soundtrack sales chart and arrives at number 4 in the official UK charts for soundtracks READ MORE…
Vincent Ball celebrates 100th birthday
Actor Vincent Ball is the second Crossroads regular to reach their centenary this year following David Lawton back in August.
Australian performer Vincent has had a long stage, television and movie career dating back to the 1940s appearing in Carry On films, big-budget dramas and soap operas such as Compact, The Young Doctors and Crossroads.
In the motel saga, Ball played Kevin McArthur who first appeared in 1966 as part of the plot which saw the daily soap head to Spain.