She led her soap life to the full for 24 years during which scripts saw her married five times once bigamously become a drug addict, an alcoholic and have a baby with her stepbrother. [17] It first aired in February 2023. Sue was seen by a skin cancer specialist who diagnosed her with malignant melanoma, and the mole was removed. In the 1940s, a stunning portrait of her was painted by Ella Mollo, with whom she conducted an affair while also sleeping with the artists Russian husband. Paul also set his sights on other avenues and purchased and ran a nightclub for a long time before his TV stints after Crossroads. She joins the many original cast members from Crossroads who are no longer with us, including Noele Gordon, Beryl Johnstone, Roger Tonge, Zeph Gladstone, and Ronald Allen . In April 1949, she took the role of Meg Brockie in the original London production of Brigadoon for 685 performances at Her Majesty's Theatre. Chasens 1949 marriage to John Webster ended in divorce. Joan Noele Gordon (25 December 1919 14 April 1985) was a British actor of Scottish descent READ MORE:Bradley Walsh in tears during emotional talk with son Barney. She sought revenge by having an affair with Adam Chance (Tony Adams) who was previously in a relationship with her daughter Miranda (Claire Faulconbridge) after he became engaged to Jill Harvey (Jane Rossington). She became ill during the run and had to be replaced. Throughout her life, she had relationships with both men and women sometimes at the same time. [18], As detailed by ITV in their on-air obituary broadcast prior to an episode of, As noted in BBC One's TV Heros series, 1991, As noted by Jane Rossington and Paul Henry on the documentary, "Welcome to Nollywood: The staggering true story of Crossroads queen Noele Gordon", "The real story behind Noele Gordon and why she was sacked from Crossroads", "Helena Bonham Carter: I've got so many issues, but as you get older you go: whatever", "ITV commissions Nolly starring academy award-nominated Helena Bonham Carter as Noele Gordon", "What happened to Noele Gordon? His last known role was in the short film The Gigolo in 2017. People still recognise me and say hello, which is nice. In 1954, Gordon spent a year in New York City learning American television production at New York University. Something went wrong, please try again later. Initially commissioned as an emergency schedule filler, the show became so successful that Gordon gave up her executive position to concentrate on presenting. She went on to have various TV roles before the one she is now most famous for - Audrey Roberts in Corrie, which she started in 1979 and still plays now. Angus first joined the show in a small role in 1972 and returned as Shughie in 1974. [9], Returning to the stage in 2009, he appeared in a touring version of Run for Your Wife and in the following year portrayed Tony Hancock in the play Hancock's Finest Hour. FORMER Crossroads star John Bentley, who married Noele Gordon in the soap's biggest storyline, has died aged 92. You can various bits of trivia about these Crossroads stars, such as where the actor was born and what their year of birth is. Duration: 0:02:21. Chasen held her own against the male cast during the Sunday studio recordings. Company: ATV Master format: 16mm Description. A former chat show host she was the first woman ever to interview a serving Prime Minister she had been presenter of ATVs Lunchbox. [2] Between 1975 and 1988, he played his best-known role of Benny Hawkins, a handyman in Crossroads.[3]. The arrival of Valerie Pollard at the Crossroads motel in 1982, Heather Chasen being interviewed about her career, authority on south-east Asian birds and mammals, Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House. In real life, after a short-lived marriage to BBC Radio 1 DJ Tommy Vance in the 1960s, Hanson married former Move frontman Carl Wayne in 1974, who lost a battle against cancer in 2004. She made her professional debut as Marcella in Donna Clarines at the Castle theatre, Farnham (1945). Star also had role alongside Steve McQueen in The Great Escape and had parts in host of films, TV shows and theatre shows, Never miss breaking news by signing up to our free email updates. He was already a familiar face, having found fame as Dr Neville Bywaters in General Hospital. Gordon was the only member of the Crossroads cast who had a permanent contract;[11] all other cast members were booked on an ad hoc basis. However, Valerie showed a softer side when she provided support to Miranda after her daughters rape ordeal. But the actress, who had been battling cancer since 1982, died on April 14 that year, before she could make her return. The actor Roger Tonge, best known as Sandy Richardson on Crossroads, has died at the age of 35. In 2012, Susan moved to ITV soap Coronation Street , playing Penny Thornley. Knowing of her infidelity, J Henry cancelled her credit accounts and effectively grounded Valerie by finding a job for her behind the motels bar. David Fennell played Brian Jarvis for 11 years between 1964 and 1975. In an interview she gave to TV Times in 1981, Gordon announced that she might, once her stage work had come to an end, take up the offer of returning to presenting. Year: 1981. Arguably the most successful actress to have starred in Crossroads, both old and new, the sky seems to be the limit for Freema Agyeman! She is also known for starring in the 1970s TV .more David Fennell He starred in 298 episodes of Crossroads before moving on to The Bill and Inspector Morse. Announcing the news of her death on Twitter, ex . Henry's intended portrayal was the reason the character came from Birmingham. [10], The comic actor Ronnie Barker revealed in his later years that he had suggested Henry for casting as his cellmate Lennie Godber in the sitcom Porridge, but that Richard Beckinsale was chosen instead. Central were obliged to continue ATV's commitment to Crossroads; however, Head of Programmes Charles Denton and Head of Drama Margaret Matheson wanted to end the soap opera in favour of more expensive and lavish drama productions. During his tenure in the series, his ill health left him increasingly immobile. What happened to stars of hit motel soap of 70s & 80s? The popular actor starred for nine years in the Midland soap and also took on a memorable role . Luckily, two security cards were nearby and I was unhurt.. The actor Heather Chasen, who has died aged 92, landed her best-known screen role in the television soap Crossroads. and television presenter. And little remains of the Crossroads Motel, where Noele Gordons character Meg Richardson ruled the roost in ITVs cheap television soap which attracted huge audiences as high as 15 million viewers in the 1970s and early 1980s. Tonge's struggle with Hodgkin's Disease impacted his role in the programme. It peaked at no. In late 2004, he appeared in the stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, where he played Grandpa Potts. I took the flack as that was part of my job to protect my staff. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Kathy played Doris Luke from 1978-1984, and then from 2001-2002. The actor Janet Hargreaves, who has died aged 81, played Rosemary Hunter in Crossroads during the 1970s heyday of the TV serial. She now lives in Staffordshire and in 2022 her family revealed she was suffering from Alzheimers disease. He also appeared as a bagpipe-playing innkeeper during several appearances in Dr Who and also featured in Keeping Up Appearances and Monarch of the Glen. Prior to the accident storyline, Tonge had for many months only been seen in seated scenes, standing rigid or lying in bed. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In 1977, Henry recorded "Benny's Theme" with the Mayson Glen Orchestra for Pye Records. "[13] She returned to Crossroads in August 1983 for two episodes. But while most big cities already had hotels, there wasnt much accommodation for motorists. Im well, despite having my right eye removed last year. Benny went to peoples hearts and many spoke of his relationship with Diane [Susan Hanson], which worked because she was an established character whom the public loved. The plan was for Amy to be arrested for being a Soviet double agent, Amelia Turtleovski, but sadly it never appeared on screen. A succession of quality TV dramas and BBC plays followed, including Romeo And Juliet with Celia Johnson and A Midsummer Nights Dream with an all-star cast of Edward Fox, Eileen Atkins, Lynn Redgrave, Ronnie Barker as Bottom and me as Flute. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. (modern). I learned my craft doing rep in plays like Billy Liar, then working with actors including Michael Gambon and Timothy Dalton at Birmingham Rep, where I spent eight years. Little remains nowadays of Mr Heinemans motel dream, apart from a bell tower and a sign. Elisabeth Croft who played Miss Tatum in Crossroads. After attending convent school in Ilford, she was taught to dance by Maude Wells and later spent several years living in Southend-on-Sea. Independent Television Publications Ltd 1970, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roger_Tonge&oldid=1140554623, People educated at Lordswood Boys' School, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from September 2013, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 16:35. Ive managed to get a 40 overdraft.. She has appeared on Loose Women and the Alan Titchmarsh Show, to promote the Crossroads 45th anniversary boxset. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Crossroads, The Broker's Man, Time After Time, Cop Shop, Crossroads, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Crossroads matriarch Meg later Meg Mortimer was memorably played by Brummie actress Noele Gordon. [2] He was known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006. She then met up with the nurse, named Sister Anna Bianconi-Moore, on the Corrie set to thank her. Her parents split up when she was 10, and both remarried. Later, there was an inter-racial romance between garage mechanic Dennis Harper, played by Merlin Ward, and motel receptionist Meena Chaudri (Karan David). Arthur Leslie who played Jack Walker in Coronation Street passed away very suddenly in 1970, and Beryl Johnstone (Kitty Jarvis) in Crossroads in 1969, and Jo Richardson (Mrs Whitton) in. Film type: Colour / Sound Genre: Television News. A clothes horse was once described as having more go in it that Ronald Allens Crossroads creation. We got married in 1969 and here we are 45 years later. While at drama school in the 60s, I used to work backstage watching actors like Laurence Olivier play Othello. She died in 1969 at the age of 55, leaving behind her daughter Susan. She died in London in 2002, at the age of 65. He attended the citys Alderlea Boys School in Shard End with Jeff Lynne and later trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama before spending time with Birmingham Rep and then in Crossroads. His country-boy style gained him the part of Peter Stevens in The Archers for a time. [2], The slang phrase "throwing a benny" refers to someone having a temper tantrum and may originate from Henry's Crossroads character. [5] In a 2002 interview, Henry said that the public still loved Benny and that during a shopping trip, he returned to his car to find someone had left a piece of paper on it saying, "Benny, we miss you. Now 73, she spoke the first words in the first episode on November 2, 1964, speaking into a telephone: Crossroads Motel, good evening. Henry trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, which was followed by eight years at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Tonge thus became the first disabled actor in a soap; however, it was something he always played down and his illness was never talked about. All rights reserved. Gordon was credited as the first woman to be seen on colour television sets,[3][4] as she took part, as a teenager, in John Logie Baird's world's first colour transmission on 3 July 1938. The character is known for a story that never happened. It became known in 1982 that Gordon was suffering from cancer, for which she underwent two major operations. As Valerie Pollard, she played a cheating wife whose conquests in the bedroom mounted up while her millionaire husband, J Henry, took care of affairs in the motel boardroom. It then moved to the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End, where it ran for only 88 performances. David Moran. Gavin and Stacey actress Margaret John has died at the age of 84, it has been announced. After the show ended for good, Jane appeared in an episode of children's TV show Dramarama , and had her own radio show on Beacon Radio. The actor was previously married to Margery Field and he died on July 2, 1985 in London. She sang at a strip club in Vienna and toured America and Cananda with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Actress. Gordon attended RADA, appearing in repertory theatres and the West End stage. Many were forced to sleep in their cars or camp overnight. An impressive career followed with appearances on EastEnders, Holby City, The Bill, and Navy. let infinite_scroll_device_constants = JSON.parse('{"TopAdUnit":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-mobile-is1","Template":"ad_pos_bs-mobile-is1","SlotSizes":"[300, 250]","placeholder":"bs-ad-top-mobile_placeholder-"},"BottomAdUnit":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-mobile-is2","Template":"ad_pos_bs-mobile-is2","SlotSizes":"[300, 250]","placeholder":"bs-ad-bottom-mobile_placeholder-"},"StickyAdUnit":{"Path":"\/21612127490\/bs-mobile-sticky","Template":"ad_pos_bs-mobile-sticky","SlotSizes":"[320, 50]","placeholder":"bs-sticky-ad-mobile_placeholder-"},"NativoDivPath":"","FanPlacementId":"","ObWidgetId":"AR_5","AdsLazyLoadingDelay":"700","AbTestPercentage":"10","VidazooPixelId":"5ed3b5e8e35b7200048a2c83","TaboolPerScreenMode":""}'); Cameron Chapman is much older than his character Anthony Lockwood, Angela Piper has left The Archers as Jennifer Aldridge after 60 years, Meet Vera star Brenda Blethyn's eight siblings, Pamela Anderson 'realised no one has perfect childhood' in look-back. Original star Tony played Adam Chanced from 1978 until he was killed off in a fire during the reprisal. The Birmingham actor who played Carlos in Crossroads has died at the age of 73. Crossroads (TV Series 1964-1988) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. She may be best known for her long-running role (1979 to 1985) as Barbara Hunter ( ne Brady) in the British soap opera Crossroads and Cordelia Winfield in the ITC series The Baron . What a Lovely War, directed by his Great Escape co-star Richard Attenborough, with a cast that included Dirk Bogarde and Laurence Olivier. Cast of Crossroads L-R Meg Mortimer (Noele Gordon) David Hunter (Ronald Allen) Jill (Jane Rossington) Sandy (Roger Tonge) and Benny (Paul Henry). Group Shot, cast members with Producer William Smethurst, Susan Hanson, Jane Rossington and Tony Adams, Jeremy Nicholas And Jane Rossington in Crossroads- 1988 The Final Scene, Jane Rossington, Paul Henry, and Susan Hanson, Jessica Fox has played Nancy on Hollyoaks since 2008, Sue Nicholls plays Audrey Roberts on Coronation Street, Kathy Staff starred as Nora Batty in the hit show, Tony Adams was almost stabbed by a furious viewer. I enjoyed playing Benny, the studios were nearby and we built up an audience of 15 million viewers in its daily 6.30pm slot, just as people arrived home from work. That grief is with me today as if it was yesterday. Noele appeared in two episodes in 1983 as a surprise, and there were plans to bring her back as an occasional character in 1985. Actor: Yes Minister. [3] Henry's post-Crossroads career included minor stage roles and the running of a nightclub in Whitchurch, Shropshire, but, in 1994, he returned to television briefly in a tribute to Crossroads, called 30 Years On. [1] Henry's first acting credit was for his role as Guiccioli on the TV miniseries The Roads to Freedom. The actor Heather Chasen, who has died aged 92, landed her best-known screen role in the television soap Crossroads. Beryl Johnstone played Kitty Jarvis for five years until 1969. Then, in February, 1981, four months before Noele was sacked, actor Roger Tonge - who had played Meg's son, Sandy, since the beginning - also died. Updated 19:09, 23 OCT 2012. She went on to star in episodes of Casualty, Worlds Beyond and Fizz. Nolly has arrived on ITVX and the biographical drama stars the award-winning Helena Bonham Carter as Noele Gordon. He was an actor, known for Crossroads (1964), Crossroads: A Celebration (1971) and Nearest and Dearest (1968). He was reported as having laughed off the jibes of journalists, by saying: "I'm allergic to criticism".