We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. After attending convent school in Ilford, she was taught to dance by Maude Wells and later spent several years living in Southend-on-Sea. Who's Who on Television. His fans included British troops serving in the Falklands War in 1982, who nicknamed the Falkland Islanders Bennies after the character. Nolly has arrived on ITVX and the biographical drama stars the award-winning Helena Bonham Carter as Noele Gordon. Just a couple of years after her debut TV role as Lola Wise, Agyeman became the companion in Doctor Who, Martha Jones. Early life [ edit] According to Denton, "I simply carried out the request of the Crossroads producer [Barton] to dismiss her. He was writing a storyline for a new character called Benny Hawkins in Crossroads and he felt Id be perfect. Actor: Crossroads. The actor who played Sandy from the very first episode of Crossroads, died on 26th February 1981. A veteran of everything from Spaghetti westerns and films in Hong Kong to Shakespeare and plays at the Birmingham Rep, Morton launched . But in later years his ill-health left him increasingly immobile. Sue, now 76, played Marilyn Gates on Crossroads from 1964-1968, and she sang a song called Where Will You Be on the show which later reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. [7], In 2003, he returned to acting on TV in an episode of the British medical soap opera Doctors. Comedian Ronnie Barker later in his life revealed that he had suggested Henry should be cast as the character Lennie Godber opposite him in the sitcom Porridge, but the actor Richard Beckinsale was chosen instead by the television producer. Ted was the. Henry's intended portrayal was the reason the character came from Birmingham. However, this high living meant she was often short of money. His last known role was in the short film The Gigolo in 2017. I met Sheila at The British Legion Club when I was working at Birmingham Rep and she was a hairdresser. 'Crossroads' TV Series. . Jane starred in Crossroads for 24 years while her character married five times, battled drug and alcohol addiction, and had a baby with her stepbrother. She is patron of the Crossroads Appreciation Society, a fan club for the show. She played Antonia in A Severed Head, JB Priestleys adaptation of the Iris Murdoch novel (Criterion, 1963-64), a production that transferred to Broadway (Royale, 1964). While in Crossroads he became a well-known face among the soaps army of loyal fans with his comic turn as the irascible Shughie McFee. 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. Susan Hanson played Miss Diane (aka Diane Parker, aka Diane Hunter) before her character was controversially killed off. Where are the original Crossroads cast now? | TV & Radio - Express 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. The famous tart with a heart was played by Zephyrine Frances Zeph Gladstone and her character was a big hit with fans. We got married in 1969 and here we are 45 years later. let infinite_scroll_general_constants = JSON.parse('{"TrafficSourceName":"mobile_single_page","A9PubId":"97ffba2c-b3ce-4eed-a256-16877174179b","PlayBuzzId":"","MinuteMediaId":"d78e1f27-6ae7-1ce6-2d8a-4f1d4f276a59","PrimisString":"","Connatix":{"Id":"","PlayerId":""},"CedatoId":"","VidazooId":"60a501bfba9bbf00048eec11","Rise":{"WrapperId":"60994fec4a06ce00014a0e24","Org":"5e415a71acebdc000190e321"},"Avantis":{"Id":"","TagId":""},"FbMode":{"Psl":"d7ecee","SubDomain":""},"AffiliateMode":{"Psl":"b6ca9a","SubDomain":"a709o2as"},"DynamicMode":{"Psl":"5486fa","SubDomain":"w9z5ajk4"},"LightMode":{"Psl":"12da3f","SubDomain":"9t7cxd13"},"GeneralMode":{"Psl":"fe0e8b","SubDomain":""},"BroadMode":{"Psl":"ef96ff","SubDomain":""},"NaturalMode":{"Psl":"6097df","SubDomain":""},"InclusiveMode":{"Psl":"71f658","SubDomain":""}}'); Crossroads cast list, including photos of the actors when available. [7], In the summer of 1964, Lunchbox came to an end after more than 2,000 episodes. 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. A clothes horse was once described as having more go in it that Ronald Allens Crossroads creation. Im well, despite having my right eye removed last year. She is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Parish Church in Ross-on-Wye. 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. Ive managed to get a 40 overdraft.. He was an actor, known for Crossroads (1964), Crossroads: A Celebration (1971) and Nearest and Dearest (1968). She sang at a strip club in Vienna and toured America and Cananda with the Royal Shakespeare Company. 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. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. And it started the trend for overnight stops for motorists in individual accommodation. Cook Shughie blagged his way into a job at the motel, boasting he once worked on a luxury cruise ship which turned out to be a workers ferry on the Clyde. Crossroads took up six months every year, which left me time for theatre, pantomime and guest spots on shows like Bullseye and then Eamonn Andrews surprised me on one of his last This Is Your Life shows in 1985. let infinite_scroll_layout_settings = JSON.parse('{"layoutSettings":{"autoConsent":0,"introParagraphType":"Social_image","imagePosition":"","notClickableHeader":1,"additionalPost":1,"vidazooPixelStartPage":0},"topAd":{"position":"Before","element":" figure","startsFrom":2},"video":{"provider":"Vidazoo","startsFrom":3}}'); What a Lovely War, directed by his Great Escape co-star Richard Attenborough, with a cast that included Dirk Bogarde and Laurence Olivier. Jane Rossington Jane, now 77, played Jill. He was reported as having laughed off the jibes of journalists, by saying: "I'm allergic to criticism". Susan played Diane 'Miss Diane' Parker until her character was controversially killed off by a brain haemorrhage. Chasen spent a year (1958-59) in the role of Mollie Ralston in the Agatha Christie whodunnit The Mousetrap (Ambassadors theatre, London) and many West End roles followed. Joan Noele Gordon (25 December 1919 - 14 April 1985) was a British actor of Scottish descent and television presenter. Susan Margery Jeaffreson Lloyd (7 August 1939 - 20 October 2011) was an English model and actress, with numerous film and television credits. His numerous credits include the character of Flying Officer Archibald Ives in The Great Escape, and Shughie McFee in the television soap opera Crossroads. Tonge was born Anthony Roger Tonge in Birmingham where he attended Lordswood Technical Grammar School. Now 70, he lives in Shropshire. His country-boy style gained him the part of Peter Stevens in The Archers for a time. [1] She played the role of Meg Mortimer (originally Richardson, later Ryder) in the long-running British soap opera Crossroads from 1964 to 1981, with a brief return in 1983.[2]. Chasen also had an elegance and grand air about her that endeared her to friends, and she was often seen with a glass of champagne in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Chasens 1949 marriage to John Webster ended in divorce. Tonge won the role by accident. Jane, now 77, played Jill Richardson, the daughter of Meg and Charles Richardson, the older sister of Alexander 'Sandy'. As a result, I wasnt with it for many years and everything just seemed to go downhill. Underneath his soft woolly hat lurked a soft woolly brain but Aston-born Paul Henry played him to perfection. She had a natural eccentricity that was on display at OConnors wedding she turned up in camouflage pants and dark glasses with impenetrable blue lenses. 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. Birmingham-born Paul, 69, and his wife Sheila live in. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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. Paul played Benny Hawkins from 1975-1988, and then went on to star in prison drama Bad Girls, Doctors, and The Sweeney. What happened to the stars of hit Birmingham soap Crossroads? Sun 3 Apr 2011 13.16 EDT An actor with a military bearing, Charles Stapley, who has died aged 85, was best known to television viewers as Ted Hope in the soap opera Crossroads. Paul Henry (actor) - Wikipedia Anthony W Morton, who made his name during three years' service in the motel kitchen during the mid-60s died after a short illness. Benny wasnt the brightest character to emerge from planet soap. This permanent character development was made to accommodate actor Roger Tonge who had been developing increasing ill-health. As Valerie Pollard, she played a cheating wife whose conquests in the. [12] The British press had stated that Denton was the one responsible for the sacking of Gordon, though it was later revealed that Jack Barton, producer and head writer of Crossroads, was responsible for Gordon's sacking. (modern). Arguably the most successful actress to have starred in Crossroads, both old and new, the sky seems to be the limit for Freema Agyeman! Gordon, who had already appeared in 3,521 episodes, was too ill to make the planned return. In 1981, after a long fight with Hodgkins disease, Tonge died at the age of 35. The actor Heather Chasen, who has died aged 92, landed her best-known screen role in the television soap Crossroads. Birmingham-born Paul, 69, and his wife Sheila live in Shropshire and have a son, Anthony. In a tragic scene, his character is shot by German guards as he makes a run for the prison camps fence. Sue was seen by a skin cancer specialist who diagnosed her with malignant melanoma, and the mole was removed. The original soap ran from 1964 to 1988 and was followed by a short revival in 2001. Susan married Radio 1 presenter Tommy Vance in the 60s, and then married former Move frontman Carl Wayne until his death in 2004. Royal Shakespeare Company-trained Elisabeth Croft had been a withdrawn child, so acting was perhaps an odd choice of career. Noele Gordon was the star of the show who played Meg Mortimer until she was fired in 1981. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He frequently returned to Scotland to appear in pantomime, often as a double act with his friend Stanley Baxter, their partnership as pantomime dames becoming part of the legend of Scottish theatre. A former chat show host she was the first woman ever to interview a serving Prime Minister she had been presenter of ATVs Lunchbox. He had been unwell for quite some time, but always tried his best to remain in contact with his fans.. Tony Adams, who played Adam Chance in the series of Crossroads, commented in 1985 just after her death that "There has never been a star of Crossroads, although Nolly was Crossroads. Film type: Colour / Sound Genre: Television News. Cleo was given the role by producer Reg Watson after press coverage of racial tensions in the Birmingham area at that time. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. This list features Elizabeth Berkley James Dean and more. The real story behind Noele Gordon and why she was sacked from Crossroads Mention of Heather Chasen having been nominated for a Tony award for A Severed Head was deleted. Melanie Harper, played by Cleo Sylvestre, arrived at the motel in 1970 as Megs foster daughter itself a taboo issue. If you are wondering, "Who are the actors from Crossroads?" It then moved to the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End, where it ran for only 88 performances. Margaret Matheson had stated that it was not Denton or herself who sacked Gordon. Gavin and Stacey actress Margaret John has died at the age of 84, it has been announced. Her father died the following day on a steamer that was sunk, and her stepfather, Ginger (GCR) Franks, died in the fighting that followed the invasion. 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 from Sparkhill . She was given the middle name of Noele because she was born on Christmas Day. Crossroads Cast | List of All Crossroads Actors and Actresses - Ranker Jane Rossington was part of the cast from day one and she played Jill Richardson in the soap. Crossroads, EastEnders actress Heather Chasen dies, aged 92 In 1975, I played a criminal in The Sweeney and while based at Birmingham Rep I shared a dressing room with actor Jon Rollason. Playing Megs daughter, Jane Rossingtons claim to fame is that she was the only the only Crossroads original cast member to be in the first and last episode of the series. Original star Tony played Adam Chanced from 1978 until he was killed off in a fire during the reprisal. Joan Noele Gordon (25 December 1919 14 April 1985) was a British actor of Scottish descent Six years earlier, Sean OConnor, the producer of the Channel 5 soap Family Affairs who directed her in various stage plays created the part of Madge Bennett, an elderly woman in hospital in an Armistice Day story, specially for Chasen. With adept changes of voice, Chasens roles included Ramona Povey, the wife of Richard Caldicots commander; Miss Simpkins, assistant to the Sea Lord; and Wren Chasen, alongside Leslie Phillips and Jon Pertwee as, respectively, the sub-lieutenant and chief petty officer perpetually trying to get the vessel out of the trouble they had personally created. (Image: Central Television) David Hunter A. Express.co.uk has all you need to know about where the original cast are now. Tony Adams played womanising accountant, Adam Chance in Crossroads for 10 years. The Cast Of Crossroads: Where Are They Now? - BrainSharper Roger Tonge - IMDb Benny was last seen putting up a fairy on a Christmas tree in 1987 and the series ended a year later. 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. "[13] She returned to Crossroads in August 1983 for two episodes. Stan Stennett obituary | Comedy | The Guardian Once, we were in a cafe on Marylebone High Street, Barrie told me, Heather was completely and utterly broke and said, Im going to phone the bank manager. She did, then said, Its wonderful. People still recognise me and say hello, which is nice. Gordon never married. Not much else is known about the soap actor and what became of him. [2], The slang phrase "throwing a benny" refers to someone having a temper tantrum and may originate from Henry's Crossroads character. In 2012, Susan moved to ITV soap Coronation Street , playing Penny Thornley. In 1981, four years after The Navy Lark ended, Chasen appeared in Crossroads for the first time, in the role of a newspaper reporter for just one episode. Little remains nowadays of Mr Heinemans motel dream, apart from a bell tower and a sign. After attending Princess Helena college in Hertfordshire, she trained at Rada in London in 1944, though leaving after one term when she failed to get a scholarship. She died in August 1976 in Seychelles. A single parent working at the motel seems staid now, but was hugely controversial in the mid-1960s; Sandy Richardson was injured in a car accident in 1972 and needed to use a wheelchair, the first paraplegic regular character portrayed in British soap opera. She died in 1969 at the age of 55, leaving behind her daughter Susan. He had caught chicken pox and died of heart failure, his system unable to cope with the infection. I keep in touch with Tony Adams [Adam Chance from Crossroads] and I hear from Susan. Since then he has run his own business and recently played Tony Hancock on stage. Something went wrong, please try again later. [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. Maurice Colbourne (24 September 1939 - 4 August 1989) was an English stage and television actor who starred as Tom Howard in the BBC television series Howards' Way. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. What happened to stars of hit motel soap of 70s & 80s? [2] Between 1975 and 1988, he played his best-known role of Benny Hawkins, a handyman in Crossroads.[3]. 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. Actress. After this event, her mother and her aunt were keen for her to begin a stage career. Menu Movies Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight TV Shows To accommodate his disability and not lose an original character, a story was developed in which Sandy became paralysed and a wheelchair user through an accident. [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. Something went wrong, please try again later. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Benny from Crossroads opens Monmouth Carnival", "Nolly cast: Meet the actors and their real-life counterparts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Henry_(actor)&oldid=1146225718, Male actors from Birmingham, West Midlands, Articles lacking reliable references from March 2023, Articles with dead external links from March 2023, Short description is different from Wikidata, BLP articles lacking sources from May 2010, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from April 2016, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from April 2016, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 March 2023, at 14:53. But the actress, who had been battling cancer since 1982, died on April 14 that year, before she could make her return. Kathy also had small roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, No Frills, Open All Hours, Dawson's Weekly, and The Benny Hill Show. Arguably the most successful actress to have starred in Crossroads, both old and new, the sky seems to be the limit for Freema Agyeman! Turtle was the remarkable creation of Smethwick-born Ann George. [1] Henry's first acting credit was for his role as Guiccioli on the TV miniseries The Roads to Freedom. Jessica played Belle Wise in Crossroads in 2001, when she was just 18 years old. (April 2016) Paul Henry (born 1947) is an English actor, best known for his role as Benny Hawkins in the soap opera Crossroads, on which he appeared on 354 episodes over 11 years. She eventually left the show in 1977 and the role was her last on TV. The actor Roger Tonge, best known as Sandy Richardson on Crossroads, has died at the age of 35. Heather Chasen obituary | Soap opera | The Guardian In 1942 Heather, with her mother and siblings, Christine and Jeremy, fled Singapore for England on the last boat to leave before the Japanese wartime occupation. [13], Henry and his wife Sheila had a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Justine, who died as a result of a traffic collision at the age of 19.[2]. But Heineman opened the worlds first motel in world, almost accidentally, in San Luis Obispo, California in December 1925. Actress, Joan Collins took to her. READ MORE:Helena Bonham Carter believes Noele Gordon was axed by 'ageist bosses'. In August 2012, it was announced that Hanson had joined the cast of long-running soap opera Coronation Street as a character called Penny Thornley. var device = 'mobile'; 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. His father was a master carpenter. Elisabeth Croft who played Miss Tatum in Crossroads. Malcolm Young played Philip Winter between 1964 and 1965, making his appearance one of the shortest on the show. Actor best known for her roles in Crossroads and The Navy Lark. [12], In the 2023 ITVX miniseries Nolly, which dramatised the life of his former Crossroads colleague Noele Gordon, Henry was portrayed by Lloyd Griffith. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Lovable Crossroads legend Angus Lennie, who played cheeky chef, Shughie McFee. Born in 1930, Angus spent his early years in Glasgow, attending Eastbank Academy in the city. [9], First in 1969, and over the following decade, she won the TV Times award for most popular television actress on eight occasions. The former Coronation Street actor Amanda Barrie, who had a 10-year relationship with Chasen after appearing on stage with her in 1980, recalled her loose grasp on reality. Cast of Crossroads L-R Meg Mortimer (Noele Gordon) David Hunter (Ronald Allen) Jill (Jane Rossington) Sandy (Roger Tonge) and Benny (Paul Henry). Gordon stayed with the programme until she was sacked in 1981, when ATV was in the process of being re-constituted into a new company, Central Independent Television. [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. 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. Crossroads actor John Bentley dies at 92 - Birmingham Live Jo Richardson - IMDb ADVERTISEMENT We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Crossroads and Ipcress File actress Sue Lloyd dies aged 72 She stayed in Crossroads until she was sacked in 1981, as TV executives sought a new look for the show. Crossroads also turned Noele Gordon into a gay icon.[3][10]. The British actress is now 79 years old and she is married with two children. Dont snigger but lovable Crossroads legend Angus Lennie, who played cheeky chef Shughie McFee, had previously starred opposite Hollywood legend Steve McQueen in iconic war movie The Great Escape. Roger Tonge played Sandy Richardson in the soap between 1964 and 1981. 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. Her last stage role was in No, No, Nanette at Plymouth's Theatre Royal. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Where are the original Crossroads cast now? | TV & Radio - Express Funnily enough, she starred alongside her fellow Crossroads actor Sue Nicholls, who played Audrey Roberts. The popular actor starred for nine years in the Midland soap and also took on a memorable role . Where are they now? Benny from Crossroads - Express Roger Tonge was born on 30 January 1946 in Birmingham, England, UK. Maurice Colbourne - Wikipedia David Moran was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK. [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. Her parents split up when she was 10, and both remarried. Throughout her life, she had relationships with both men and women sometimes at the same time. 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. Heather Chasen, most famed for her role as Valerie Pollard in Crossroads, has died at the age of 92.. During her career Chasen appeared in multiple British soaps, spending four years playing Pollard in the now-defunct Crossroads in the 1980s.. More recently she appeared in EastEnders as Janine's grandmother Lydia in 2011 for a brief stint.. THE actor Paul Henry, who played Benny from Crossroads, has revealed how his grandfather was murdered by a Peaky Blinder. She said she partly based the alcoholic lesbian she played in the Enid Bagnold play Call Me Jacky (Oxford playhouse, 1967-68) on the novelist Patricia Highsmith, with whom she had a brief relationship in the 1960s. The series also saw black characters appearing regularly a follow-on from the 1960s BBC soap Compact, also created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling. She went on to star in episodes of Casualty, Worlds Beyond and Fizz. Al Hunter Ashton (26 June 1957 27 April 2007), born Alan Hunter , was an English actor and script writer. The father-of-one died in March 1984, aged 88, after a fall at a home for retired actors. I was playing the English Soldier in Saint Joan in 1970 for director James Cellan Jones, when he cast me in my first TV job as Guiccioli in the acclaimed drama series The Roads To Freedom. 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":""}');