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Crossroads (British TV Series)
''Crossroads'' (later known as ''Crossroads Motel'' and ''Crossroads King's Oak'') is a British television soap opera that ran on ITV (TV network), ITV over two periods – the original 1964 to 1988 run, followed by a short revival from 2001 to 2003. Set in a fictional motel (hotel in the revival) in the Midlands, ''Crossroads'' became a byword for low production values, particularly in the 1970s and early 1980s. Despite this, the series regularly attracted huge audiences during this time, with viewership numbers reaching as high as 15 million viewers. It was created by Hazel Adair (screenwriter), Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, and produced by Associated TeleVision, ATV (until the end of 1981) and then by ATV's successor, Central Independent Television until 1988 when it was axed. The series was revived by Carlton Television in 2001, but due to low ratings it was cancelled again in 2003. Storylines 1964–1988 The original premise of ''Crossroads'' was based on the everyday ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soap Opera
A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers.Bowles, p. 118. The term was preceded by ''horse opera'', a derogatory term for low-budget Western (genre), Westerns. According to some dictionaries, for something to be adequately described as a soap opera, it need not be long-running; but some authors define the word in a way that excludes short-running serial dramas from their definition. BBC Radio's ''The Archers'', first Broadcasting, broadcast in 1950, is the world's longest-running soap opera. The longest-running television soap opera is ''Coronation Street'', which was first broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV in 1960. According to Albert Moran, one of the defining features that make a television program a soap ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Bentley (actor)
John Bentley (2 December 1916 – 13 August 2009) was a British film actor. He had a successful career as a leading man from the 1940s to the late '50s and was a popular heart-throb who appeared in many British B-movies during that time. Later in his career, in the 1970s he appeared as Hugh Mortimer, Meg Richardson's ill-fated third husband in the English soap opera '' Crossroads''."John Bentley" at BFI. He also starred in the jungle adventure series '''' (1957) as Chief Inspector Paul Derek and made various other guest appearances in many popular TV series from the late 50s onwards. John Bentley was also an accomplished singer and stage actor. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zeph Gladstone
Zephyrine Frances "Zeph" Gladstone (20 September 1937 - 28 October 2002) was an English television actress, from Norwood in south London. She was best known for her role as the " tart with a heart" hairdresser Vera Downend on the soap opera '' Crossroads'', a role she played from 1970 to 1977. Early life She attended Selhurst Grammar School for Girls and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.''The Stage'' Thursday 12 December 2002, page 11 Career Gladstone started her television career in '' ITV Play of the Week'' in 1964. She moved on to a permanent part on the series ''Dixon of Dock Green''. She also appeared in 'The Baron' as a revolutionary in 'Evening of Hunter', with future 'Crossroads' star Sue Lloyd, in her role on ''Crossroads'' that was most enduring. Gladstone started on the series in June 1970, playing an experienced hairdresser setting up a salon business in the Crossroads Motel. Despite a rough veneer and bad choices, Gladstone's character, Vera Downend, wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Angus Lennie
Angus Wilson Lennie (18 April 1930 – 14 September 2014) was a Scottish film, television and theatre actor with a 50-year career. His numerous credits include the character of Flying Officer Archibald Ives in '' The Great Escape'', and Shughie McFee in the television soap opera '' Crossroads''. Early life Lennie was born and raised in Glasgow, receiving formal education there at Eastbank Academy. During his childhood he was a member of the ''94th Glasgow (1st Shettleston) Company'' of Scotland's Boys' Brigade. Lennie started his career in show business at the age of 14 whilst engaged in an apprenticeship as a stockbroker's clerk, and appeared whilst still a teenager in song and dance acts at the Glasgow Metropole, his diminutive size at 5 ft 1" aiding his nimbleness in performance. After briefly trying stand-up comedy on Scotland's variety circuit post-World War II, and service with Her Majesty's Armed Forces as a National Serviceman, after a period performing in so ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sue Lloyd
Susan Margery Jeaffreson Lloyd (7 August 1939 – 20 October 2011) was an English model and actress, with numerous film and television credits. She may be best known for her long-running role (1979 to 1985) as Barbara Hunter ( Brady) in the British soap opera '' Crossroads'' and Cordelia Winfield in the ITC series '' The Baron''. Early life The daughter of a GP, Lloyd was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. She attended Edgbaston High School in Birmingham and studied dance as a child, attending Sadler's Wells Ballet School. In 1953, she won a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School at Sadler's Wells Theatre, but when she grew to her possibilities for a career as a dancer diminished, and she became a showgirl and model, and, briefly, a member of Lionel Blair's dance troupe. She was one of the last two debutantes to be presented to the queen at Buckingham Palace in 1958; the final such ceremony. Films and television In 1965, Lloyd made her film debut in two espionage-themed films ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronald Allen
Ronald John Allen (16 December 1930 – 18 June 1991) was an English actor. He is best known for playing David Hunter in the long-running ITV soap opera '' Crossroads'', a role he played from 1969 to 1985. Early life Allen was born in Reading, Berkshire. He studied at Leighton Park School in Reading and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, where he won the John Gielgud Scholarship. Career Allen worked in repertory theatre and had a season at the Old Vic in London. He also appeared in several films, including '' A Night to Remember'' (1958) about the sinking of the ''Titanic'', the espionage film '' A Circle of Deception'' (1960), the British horror films '' The Projected Man'' (1966) and '' The Fiend'' (1972), the war film '' Hell Boats'' (1970), and the black comedy '' Eat the Rich'' (1987). After roles in the BBC soaps ''Compact'' (1963–64) and '' United!'' (1966–67) came his best-remembered role, in the long-running soap '' Crossroads'' (196 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Susan Hanson
Susan Hanson (born 11 February 1943) is an English actress who played the part of Diane Lawton (later Parker and Hunter) in the long-running British soap opera '' Crossroads'' from 1965–87, when her character was controversially killed off. She also had a brief role in the film '' Catch Us If You Can'', (1965) which starred The Dave Clark Five. Early life She attended the independent Woodlands School in Preston, Lancashire and lived on Central Drive in Penwortham. Career After a short-lived marriage to BBC Radio 1 DJ Tommy Vance in the 1960s, Hanson married musician Carl Wayne in 1974; they had a son, Jack. After leaving ''Crossroads'' she appeared in the film '' Out of Order'' (1987), and then remained out of the limelight until her husband died of cancer in 2004. A few years later, she returned to British TV screens in the role of the mother of Todd Carty's character in an episode of ''Holby City'', whilst also appearing in ''That's What I Call Television'', alongside ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elisabeth Croft
Elisabeth Croft (22 September 1907 – 13 January 2003) was an English actress, known for playing Edith Tatum in the ITV soap opera '' Crossroads''. She is not to be confused with another English actress, Elizabeth Croft. Personal life Croft was born on 22 September 1907 in Windermere. Withdrawn as a child, she nonetheless chose to be an actress. In the 1930s she landed roles in repertory theatre and co-starred with Seymour Hicks in '' Vintage Wine'' in the Daly's Theatre, 1934. She was married and had a son and a daughter. Croft died on 13 January 2003; on that day a new version of '' Crossroads'' was released. Career In 1966, Croft landed her first television role, a part in the ITV soap opera '' Crossroads'', playing Miss Tatum. The soap originally featured actress Beryl Johnstone as postmistress Kitty Jarvis, sister of the series lead, motel owner Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon). Following Johnstone's death in 1969, the role of Miss Tatum was increased and she was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ann George
Ann George (5 March 1903 – 8 September 1989) was an English actress best known for her role as Amy Turtle in the television soap opera '' Crossroads''. Early life and career George was born in Smethwick, and entered show business as a singer appearing in musicals such as '' The Belle of New York'' and '' The Desert Song'' and featured in the Gilbert and Sullivan show ''D'Oyly Carte''. She loved to sing and made a special appearance at Birmingham Town Hall singing in Handel's ''Messiah''. Ann George also had her own cabaret act singing and telling jokes. After her first husband, George Snape, died, she took his first name as her stage name. Career at ''Crossroads'' George joined the cast of '' Crossroads'' in 1965 as Amy Turtle. She got the part after apparently complaining to ATV producers that there were not enough true Birmingham accents. She first appeared on-screen in 1966, working for Kitty Jarvis (Beryl Johnstone) at the newsagent's shop. She later became a cleani ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sue Nicholls
Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls (born 23 November 1943) is an English actress. She is best known for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts in the soap opera '' Coronation Street'' (1979–1982, 1984–present). Her other roles on British television include '' Crossroads'' (1964–1968), '' The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'' (1976–1979), and '' Rentaghost'' (1981–1984). She also appeared on Broadway in the 1974 revival of '' London Assurance''. Nicholls made her first appearance on ''Coronation Street'' in 1979 and appeared intermittently for six years, before joining the cast permanently in 1985. For her portrayal of Roberts, she won the 2000 British Soap Award for Best Comedy Performance and the 2003 British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance, as well as receiving an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019. Early life and education Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls was born in Darlaston, Wednesbury. Her father was Sir Harmar Nicholls, later Lord Harmar-Nicholls ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neville Hughes
Neville Hughes (1 June 1945 – 28 June 2015) was a British actor in the 1960s and 1970s. Later he was a successful businessman in the motor manufacturer sales and marketing sector. John David Howell Hughes was born in 1945 at St. Clears, Wales. He was educated at Eagle House Prep School and Radley College where he was a brilliant young stage actor. He started to train as a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital, but gave it up. After joining RADA in 1965, and working in repertory theatre, Hughes made his television debut in "The Man and the Hour". The following year he made his debut in '' Crossroads'', for which he is best known, as Rev Peter Hope, where he played opposite Sue Nicholls. He was also in the very first episode of ''Dad's Army'' in 1968. Following this success he continued to appear in the role of Rev Peter Hope in ''Crossroads'' for four years. He appeared in theatre, film, radio and television roles including '' The Avengers'', '' Department S'', '' The Protect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mollie Maureen
Mollie Maureen (16 August 1904 – 26 January 1987) was an Irish actress who worked mainly in Britain. Life and career Maureen was born Elizabeth Mary Campfield in 1904 in Ireland. Her acting career began in 1939, wherein she acted in a film entitled ''A Ship in the Bay''. Maureen mainly worked in television, with many minor and/or recurring roles in major shows such as '' Dr. Finlay's Casebook'', '' Z-Cars'', '' Open All Hours'', ''Last of the Summer Wine'' and '' The Sweeney''. She also appeared as an elderly lady in an episode of '' Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense''. More prominently, from 1981 to 1983, she had various roles on the ''Kenny Everett Show''. Other television appearances included playing Lady Glenmire in the 1972 version of Elizabeth Gaskell's '' Cranford'', alongside Pat Coombs. She played Queen Victoria on two occasions on screen, one of them in '' The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'', the other in the mini-series '' The Edwardians''. Her last film appear ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
