Sherrie Hewson’s Corrie axing was a laugh for the new producer
Sherrie Hewson’s agent, Melanie Blake, has spoken to Duncan Lindsay at the Metro paper about the actresses axing from Coronation Street at the height of the performer’s popularity with the audience.
While it was sad for the Corrie viewers it enabled Sherrie to first join Carlton Television in Nottingham on sitcom Barbara which lead to her 2001-2003 stint as receptionist Virginia Raven in the ‘reborn Crossroads‘.
More Sons and Daughters for DVD
From Crossroads producer Reg Watson in 1982 came Sons and Daughters for the Seven Network in Australia. Produced by Grundy Television the series has been screened in the UK on ITV, Channel 5 and UK Gold.
Now fans of the hit saga can relive further episodes in the second ‘collection’ release. The first collection DVD was issued in November last year.
Former Central Television Studios repurposed as Covid Vaccination Centre
The one-time East Midlands Television Centre, once home to Central Television and Carlton Studios, has become one of the major Coronavirus vaccination centres.
The Nottingham site, on Lenton Lane, was host to many of ITV’s top shows including The Price Is Right, Family Fortunes, The Upper Hand, CITV, Blockbusters, Barbara, Boon and the revival of Crossroads.
West End theatre star Jean Bayless dies
Jean, who appeared in the 1970s as Cynthia Cunningham in Crossroads, passed away on Friday 5th February her family announced. As well as the motel saga she had a long theatre career including being the first person to play Maria in The Sound of Music in the UK and a Broadway leading role in The Boyfriend.
The singer and actress was a keen supporter of the fan club and also the Crossroads Care charity, giving her time to both ventures many times over the years. She last provided a ‘Christmas message’ to the fan club in 2017, reprising her role of Cynthia Cunningham one last time.
Crossroads’ Simon Albu dies
Simon, a senior broadcast cameraman at ATV and Central Television, became part of Crossroads’ story when in 1983 his real-life daughter Emily was to play soap opera’s first test-tube created baby following an IVF storyline.
Tony Hatch gifted with royal gong
Tony Hatch, OBE, has been recognised for his services to music and charity in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Remembering Margaret Nolan
Actress Margaret Nolan passed away on October 5th 2020 it was recently announced. Maggie played an important character in Crossroads – and indeed British Soap Opera as Denise Paget in the serial back in 1983.
‘Lost’ Crossroads photography rediscovered
A selection of ATV-era Crossroads photographs has been unearthed after over a decade of being ‘lost’. The collection, discovered in the REX Features vaults are from the early to mid-1970s.
Remembering Heather Chasen
Actress Heather Chasen, best-known to soap viewers for her roles in The Newcomers, Crossroads and EastEnders, passed away yesterday, May 22nd 2020.
Crossroads Caring for Carers Gains top Care Quality Commission rating
Crossroads Caring for Carers in Worcestershire are ‘thrilled’ that they have been awarded a rating of ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The caring charity was established by ATV, ITV and in co-operation with the serial in 1973 following a storyline in Crossroads. The patron for Caring for Carers Worcs is Adam Chance (1978-88/2001-02) actor Tony Adams.
Actor George Mikell dies aged 91
George featured in Crossroads in an early storyline as Harry Warner. George was born on a farm in Bildeniai, Lithuania, in April 1929 and named Jurgis Mikelaitis. In 1949 he emigrated to Australia and moved to the UK in 1957.
Reg Watson dies aged 93
Producer, writer and director Reg Watson has died after a short illness. Reg was the force behind getting Crossroads on the air back in 1964, having first mooted the idea back in the late 1950s for ATV to produced a five-days-a-week serial.
As well as bringing the motel to life he, down under, also gave us The Young Doctors, Prisoner: Cell Block H, Sons and Daughters and of course the major television saga Neighbours.
Original ‘Crossroads Motel’ building demolished
The site at Walford Hall, Baschurch, Shropshire, has finally been bulldozed. It was used as the outdoor motel setting from 1964 through to 1981 when its end on-screen came with the infamous inferno and departure of Noele Gordon as Meg Mortimer.
The complex, a college, in reality, comprised of a Georgian manor house and 1940s, 50s and 60s extensions. The house, Grade II listed is all that remains.