Nolly to air on ITV1 and STV in December
The three-part drama Nolly will air on the main ITV network this Christmas the broadcaster has confirmed. ‘Nolly’ – Noele’s affectionate nickname – looks across the highs of her career as well as the massive shock of 1981 when she made the front pages of the UK newspapers following the announcement ATV had decided she was no longer required after 26 years.
Last month writer Russell T Davies won a BAFTA Wales gong for the drama picking up the ‘Best Writer’ award for the production.
Vocal Theme to Crossroads performed by Carl Wayne rediscovered
Two versions of the Crossroads theme performed by Carl Wayne have been discovered on domestic audio tape recorded from the TV at the original time of broadcast.
The episodes which feature the vocal theme, 1500, 1504 and 1516 were all wiped a few months after the ITV broadcast and no footage survives. The audio clips of Carl Wayne performing the tracks were uploaded to social media in September.
David Lawton celebrates 100th birthday
Crossroads regular David Lawton turns 100 on August 11th. David is best-known for playing motel chef Bernard Booth from 1969 to 1979 and his on-screen partnerships with fellow actors such as Angus Lennie and Joy Andrews.
As well as Crossroads, David has also featured in programmes such as Emergency Ward 10, Compact, Z Cars and Play of the Week.
Clive Mantle pops into the Crossroads payphone
Actor Clive Mantle – the much-loved performer from stage and screen including in shows such as Game of Thrones and Casualty – is the latest celebrity to take a look at the Crossroads Caring for Carers Powick Red Phone Box.
The former payphone is now an ‘information hub’ for the charity which started life as a fictional support organisation in Crossroads before being transformed by ATV into a real service.
Cleo Sylvestre collects MBE
Cleo, who played Meg Richardson’s adopted daughter in Crossroads in the early 1970s, collected her MBE from HRH Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace on June 13th. Cleo was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire gong in the 2023 King’s New Year’s Honours List for his services to Drama and to Charity.
Cleo played Melanie Harper in the Kings Oak-based series, arriving from France, where she had been studying. The arrival of the character had been brought about by producer Reg Watson following racial tension at the time across the UK.
Nolly votes open at the National Television Awards
The longlist for the 2023 NTA’s has been released and Nolly has two nominations. The drama about the life of Noele Gordon, which centres on her departure from Crossroads in 1981, has been listed in the category for ‘Best New Drama’ while Helena Bonham Carter has been nominated for ‘Best Drama Performance’ for her role as Noele Gordon.
Crossroads: The Noele Gordon Collection DVD release ‘Sold Out’
The recent DVD release of all surviving ATV era Crossroads episodes – with a bumper number of extras – has proved a success for Network Releasing with the Crossroads: The Noele Gordon Collection now completely sold out.
Suzanne Virdee becomes a patron of Crossroads Caring for Carers
Former Central News regular and journalist and broadcaster Suzanne Virdee is ‘Caring for Carers’ latest patron.
Suzanne recently visited Crossroads’ “Information Point” situated in a former red telephone box on a crossroads in Powick.
Crossroads: The Noele Gordon Collection DVD release ‘final few’ left in stock
The recent DVD release of all surviving ATV era Crossroads episodes – with a bumper number of extras – has proved a success for Network Releasing with only a few of Crossroads: The Noele Gordon Collection left in stock.
Crossroads Care welcomes Jacki Piper as ambassador
Caring for Carers was a fictional charity in the soap opera Crossroads that became a real support network in the 1970s. Jacki who made her name by starring in the Carry on films including Carry on Up the Jungle worked on the ATV soap as a supporting artist in the sixties and also recently featured in the ITVX drama Nolly, which looks at the life of television pioneer Noele Gordon who became the saga’s leading star.
Jacki will be promoting the work of the Crossroads Care Richmond and Kingston branch.
Radio 2 remembers Paul O’Grady with Crossroads special replay
In 2014 BBC Radio 2 marked Crossroads’ 50th anniversary with a two-hour special hosted by Paul O’Grady. This special, along with two TV Themes specials, form a BBC Sounds selection in tribute to Paul who died on March 28th aged 67.
The Crossroads special features clips from the soap, the music featured in the saga and Paul, in his element, in conversation with Jane Rossington, Tony Adams and Susan Hanson. Paul Henry also joins via telephone.
eBay flooded with fake ATV and Crossroads photocards
With the success of ITVX’s drama Nolly, about the life of Noele Gordon, there has been a lot of renewed interest in her career and especially Crossroads. Lots of merchandise from over the years has arrived on the auction site – but also a lot of fake items have also been added to dupe those not so aware into thinking they’re the ‘real deal’.
Nolly soundtrack released
The music as featured in the ITV / ITVX drama ‘Nolly‘ has this month been released across music streaming services.
The soundtrack album features the original music composed by Blair Mowat. In total there are 25 tracks and the album is available on all major music streaming services.
Noele Gordon Crossroads DVD Collection for release
Crossroads is back on DVD with all known Noele Gordon era episodes from 1965 to 1981 to be released next year. The 94-disc set contains episodes up to the end of ATV’s on-air run, along with a host of extras including interviews, TV Times Awards footage and a photograph book looking over the Nolly years with the pioneering daily soap.
Crossroads: The Noele Gordon Collection is on sale now as a pre-order fro Network Releasing and will be issued at the end of January 2023 to coincide with the ITV drama about Noele’s life, Nolly.
A Peek into the Nolly drama from ITV
ITVX has revealed a sneak preview of what’s ahead in their three-part drama about the rise and fall from Crossroads of Noele Gordon. The episodes are due to arrive on ITVX early next year with a screening on ITV later in 2023.
Crossroads episodes added to the ITV Hub
Classic episodes of Crossroads can now be streamed for free on the ITV Hub in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The ATV editions range from famous wedding episodes to a selection of festive favourites. The service will be rebranded as ITVX in December.
The family of Jane Rossington announce she has Alzheimer’s
David Dunger has spoken about his wife Jane Rossington and her Alzheimers diagnosis. Jane played Jill in Crossroads for over twenty years in versions made by ATV, Central Television and Carlton Central Productions.
David spoke about Jane’s life with dementia in a radio interview with his presenter brother Rob, on Felixstowe Radio earlier today.
Casting details revealed for ‘Nolly’ ITV drama
Quay Street Productions have announced who will star alongside Helena Bonham Carter in the three-part drama charting the rise and fall of the nation’s first ‘Queen of Soap’, Noele Gordon who played, for 18 years, Meg Mortimer in Crossroads. The production has begun filming in the North West of England with Bolton standing in for Birmingham.
Scenes recorded outside have already shown a recreated Rackhams Department Store – one of Noele’s favourite shops – as well as some 1950s Lunch Box era Noele in a street scene. The drama is expected to air on ITV next year.