It used to be one of the most watched shows on television and on Thursday, those viewers who remember tuning into Crossroads back in the day, will be taken on a trip down down memory lane thanks to new ITV drama Nolly.
With Helena Bonham Carter in the lead role of Crossroads matriarch Noele 'Nolly' Gordon, three part series Nolly will look at how Noele went from being the biggest star on British TV to being given her marching orders at the height of her fame.
Being told by her ITV bosses that 'all good things must come to an end,' Noele was left in a state of utter shock at being axed from the show she called home for nearly two decades in 1981. She would later return for a few episodes two years later, before her death in 1985 at the age of 65.
Nolly looks at what went on on camera and behind the scenes, with Helena portraying Noele's on screen talent and her behind the scenes torment as her illustrious television career was ripped away from her.
What happened to Crossroads?
While it's a programme name that some younger viewers might not have even heard of, Crossroads was the jewel in ITV's crown for many years. With it's instantly recognisable theme tune, from Tony Hatch, the man also responsible for Neighbours' iconic theme and characters like Noele's Meg Richardson, Benny and Miss Diane, it was unmissable TV for many Brits for over two decades, following its launch in 1964.
Like with many other soaps that have followed it onto the schedules, Crossroads wasn't fawned over by TV critics, but the ratings didn't lie and, soundly beating daytime rivals like General Hospital, in its hey-day, had more viewers than any other soap, except for Coronation Street.
It was reported that when Noele Gordon was axed in 1981, with a tactic from new channel bosses Central to get fans to desert the show, so they could focus their attention and money on more lavish dramas.
In 1985, Crossroads became Crossroads Motel, before, after another name change to become Crossroads King's Oak, the final nail was put in the coffin when it was reduced to just two episodes a week. The last episode of its first stint on TV, saw the only remaining original character, Jill Chance riding off with her new lover John Maddingham.
In a move that came as shock to many people, ITV brought Crossroads back in 2001, with four original characters in tow: Jill Harvey, her daughter Sarah-Jane, her ex-husband Adam Chance and cleaner Doris Luke. Jill's return proved to be shortlived as she was soon killed by Adam, in a death that did not go down well with die hard fans.
Jane Asher was later introduced as new central character Angel Samson, but, unlike in its prime, Crossroads did not pull in viewers and, after it was put on a hiatus, finally ended in May 2003, after being cancelled by ITV.
The later series featured now famous soap stars like Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter and Hollyoaks' Jessica Fox and ended in very bizarre fashion when it was revealed that the revived series and new glamorous hotel it was set in, had been a dream of supermarket worker and Crossroads fan Angela, as the characters appeared as shoppers.
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