Nocturnal wardrobe slashing

[Tish Hope]

Jack Barton didn't go along with Noele Gordon's axing "happily". It wasn't his decision but he wasn't in a position to stop it.

I wish when Jack was asked by Charles Denton whether Crossroads could be made without Noele, he said "No, never", instead of "Yes".  I think in some quarters his reply was seen as a possible betrayal to Nolly.  Nolly herself says she put the phone down in tears when Jack relayed what he said to Denton to her.  Of course Denton would have got rid of Nolly anyway, so even if Jack had said "No" he wanted rid, he would have done it anyway.

Jack knew there was no other choice. Things had gone too far down the line. Anyway he was right, the programme actually improved after Meg was written out. 1980-1985 was a great era for Crossroads, until Bowman took over and ruined it all.

[Mike of CAS]

I think Barton liked the idea of it being more "corrie" aka serious, taken seriously and not as glam/camp.

Everything the majority of the audience liked about the show previously. It had gone a bit too far for that to really work. People expect the same from a brand. Which, I suppose Bowman saw and tried to restore the glam/camp female lead and all that stuff.

[Maria No. 1.]

Jack knew there was no other choice. Things had gone too far down the line. Anyway he was right, the programme actually improved after Meg was written out. 1980-1985 was a great era for Crossroads, until Bowman took over and ruined it all.

I beg to differ there with you Tish, I don't agree at all that things improved after Meg was axed.  That was the start of the beginning of the end in my opinion.

I think Philip Bowman actually improved it by bringing in Nicola Freeman, which we have all discussed before, he tried his best, but then due to circumstances, Smethurst came in and totally trashed the programme.

[Mike of CAS]

The ratings unfortunately, bar the odd episode, also don't agree with Tish.

I'm re-watching 1982 currently, and its 'alright' but its certainly lacking something...


I do think its the Meg factor, not sure if its just out of being 'used' to her popping up in even just one scene, its very strange.

[Maria No. 1.]

I do think its the Meg factor, not sure if its just out of being 'used' to her popping up in even just one scene, its very strange.

I was like that, expecting Meg to `pop up' anywhere.  It was strange not seeing her, or even mentioned.  It took me a while to get used to.  Just not the same.

[oorshughie]

I know Barbara and David are popular but I found them boring compared to Meg,thank goodness we still had Jill having a breakdown every 5 minutes!
Also we still had the double act of Benny and Diane,I still don't know why Doris Luke was dropped,I dunno if it was because she got time off for Summer Wine but she vanished about 84,I guess?

[DJB]

Jack Barton didn't go along with Noele Gordon's axing "happily". It wasn't his decision but he wasn't in a position to stop it.

I wish when Jack was asked by Charles Denton whether Crossroads could be made without Noele, he said "No, never", instead of "Yes".  I think in some quarters his reply was seen as a possible betrayal to Nolly.  Nolly herself says she put the phone down in tears when Jack relayed what he said to Denton to her.  Of course Denton would have got rid of Nolly anyway, so even if Jack had said "No" he wanted rid, he would have done it anyway.

k knew there was no other choice. Things had gone too far down the line. Anyway he was right, the programme actually improved after Meg was written out. 1980-1985 was a great era for Crossroads, until Bowman took over and ruined it all.

I know we all have different feelings about different eras,but you are having a laugh about 80-85,Tish.
1980-81 have their moments I'll grant you,but I think that the show was already in decline by this point.But the real low point of the original series has to be 1982-84.Without Meg,it was like a rudderless ship (to quote the late Arthur Marshall).But it was more than that.The series seemed to lose any sense of direction.I think that Jack Barton  and his writing team had maybe all been there too long and had grown complacent.There seemed to be no energy,no humour-just endless dreary sagas featuring Benny,the garage,Mavis' boarding house and the Brownlows.The series also seemed out of sync with other television of the time when everything else was becoming pacier and more polished.
It was crying out for a revamp by the time Philip Bowman arrived.Initially,it was exciting with new characters and a new look-but I think that the Dallas/Dynasty influence of Big Business and more OTT storylines was ultimately not what the show needed.I know I'm in the minority here,but I think that the Bill Smethurst period was the way to go.Obviously losing Diane was a cardinal sin.But,that aside,I think he was on the right track.The programme returned to it's original roots of a family business with a feel for life in the Midlands.The motel and it's staff were again centre stage and not a farm or garage in sight. Humour was high on the agenda and the writing and acting were both significantly improved(Jane Rossington acknowledges this in her book THE CROSSROADS YEARS).I know that many familiar faces went,but I would argue that most of these weren't classic characters.Instead we got some very interesting new characters-The Lancasters,the Maddinghams,the younger Grices(sorry Steve F.),Charlie,Mrs.Tardiebigge,even the occasional cameo from Amy Turtle.I think it would have been fascinating to let the Smethurst revolution continue.Anyway,I've said my piece.I know many of you will disagree.

[Maria No. 1.]

I know we all have different feelings about different eras,but you are having a laugh about 80-85,Tish.
1980-81 have their moments I'll grant you,but I think that the show was already in decline by this point.But the real low point of the original series has to be 1982-84.Without Meg,it was like a rudderless ship (to quote the late Arthur Marshall).But it was more than that.The series seemed to lose any sense of direction.

DJB, I agree with your comments, especially about Crossroads in decline before 1980. It was a couple of years past its `heyday'.  Alot of the major characters had left by this time i.e. Hugh, Amy, Vera etc.

But that doesn't stop me wanting future DVD releases from 80/81 though.  I want to see the DVD's through to Meg's last episodes.

[DJB]

Yes,I'd definitely continue to buy the DVDs- even if they got as far as 1982,probably for both nostalgic and completist reasons.

[oorshughie]

I loved  it when Doris got an old flame,Tom in her life again,funnily enough Crossroads mark2 had another old flame for Doris,too!
That was 82,I think,the first love affair for Doris.