REG WATSON - November 2nd 1964 - 19th April 1974

Reg grew up on a sugar farm in Queensland, before growing up and moving into the world of broadcasting as a radio actor. He moved to the UK in 1955 and was soon working for ATV. He produced at least once, every programme ever made at the Aston studios.

Reg first suggested a daily soap to ATV in 1959, it wasn't until nearly five years later that Lord Lew Grade approved the idea. Reg had joined ATV in 1955, and before Crossroads was mainly based in the production of entertainment and variety programmes at the station. These included the highly popular Lunchbox chat show.

Crossroads in the early years under Reg was very light-weight, it was aiming at 'housewives' and had an early afternoon slot. Reg made the series mainly an entertainment programme with the occasional serious and socially realistic plots. 21 years later and Australian daily-soap, Neighbours would bare an uncanny similarity to the early Crossroads years..

In 1974, Reg decided to return home - to Australia. He joined the Grundy Organisation and soon was creating such serial hits as The Young Doctors, Prisoner: Cell Block H, Sons and Daughters and world-famous Neighbours.

First Episode as producer - episode 1, last episode as producer - 2105.

JACK BARTON - 23rd April 1974 - 2nd April 1985

Jack had worked on Crossroads as a director on-and-off in the 60s and before that worked with Noele Gordon in theatre as a director and later on with her at ATV's Birmingham based, variety show, Lunchbox.

Jack took over from Reg Watson in 1974, but the style of the show remained the same, Jack brought in many more socially realistic story lines, and took the show in a more serious direction, however the popular formula was kept.

November 1985 (the shows 21st Anniversary) is when Jack had wanted to leave the series, however he departed in December 1984, and his final episode aired in 1985 after numerous disagreements with the ITV bosses over the style of the series.

First episode as director was 712, airing on 31st July 1967. He then directed many episodes there after, until he took over as producer on episode 2106. His last episode was 4064.

Jack Barton died on 28th October 2002.

PHILLIP BOWMAN - April 3rd 1985 - December 18th 1986

It was back to an Australian-born producer for Crossroads in 1984 as Central Television hired Philip Bowman to take-over from the soon to depart Jack Barton. Philip had worked on Sons and Daughters before moving to the UK.

Unlike the previous hand-over of producer - where on-screen no change had occurred - Bowman's first episode of Crossroads was to have a whole new look. This first new look episode was number 4065 . Phillip's last produced edition was episode number 4333.

Phillip brought a whole new production formula to the show, also a glamorous new look and sexier stories. Over time people began to like the new-look show, it retained a lot of its original qualities (and cast) and was even due to see the return of previously axed Noele Gordon. Sadly Phillip was moved to "other projects" for having an affair with another Central TV member of staff, and Noele died.

Phillip has said that Ted Childs, head of drama didn't want him to improve Crossroads, just change it - he regrets ever working on the programme. Bowman continues to work in television back in his native Australia. Including on a children's comedy drama that is produced in association with the BBC.

WILLIAM SMETHURST - December 22nd 1986 - December 14th 1987

After eight years of over-seeing the BBC Radio soap, The Archers, William Smethurst was poached to take on Crossroads, and make it into a all-new, all-upmarket Kings Oak serial.

William was given a free-run with Crossroads, making any changes he saw fit, and he made many - none of which contributed to the show being axed - as Kings Oak didn't launch until three months after Head Of Production at Central, Andy Allen, shelved the show.

His first episode was edition 4334. The last episode aired as "Crossroads" in its old style was episode numeber 4441.William's last episode in producer role was number 4486.

After Kings Oak came to an end William stayed with Central Television for a number of years working alongside Ted Childs, who as Head Of Drama had wanted to improve Crossroads and make it work. Sadly for Ted and William the show ended before their plans for Crossroads were fully complete, however dramas such as Boon and Peak Practice both were helped on their way by the Smethurst and Childs experience

From Decmber 15th 1987 to April 4th 1988 William was credited as Executive Producer. The shows only Executive Producer in its original history.

MICHELE BUCK - December 15th 1987 - April 4th 1988

In the final months of Crossroads Michele Buck took control of the soap alongside William. She started her career at Thames Television as a secretary. Buck then progressed up the ranks into production roles. Speaking to The Stage magazine in 2005 she commented that her rise through the television departments would no longer happen anymore:

“You can’t do it my way now, we only look at Oxford graduates. I would be suspicious if someone like me came along. They were golden times at Thames Television.”

In 1989 and 1992 she produced the Central comedy-drama Boon, and then went on to many other BBC and ITV drama series. She was also in charge of the short-lived LWT soap, Night and Day. Michele has more recently with her work at Granada helped produce and adapt the drama series Casanova for BBC Three she also produced four series of Peak Practice for Central Television.

Michelle's first episode in role as producer was edition 4487 airing on 15th December 1987. Her last episode was edition 4524.

She was, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, in charge of drama output at Granada Television before leaving to work for Mammoth Screen an independent production company which she partly owns.

KAY PATRICK - March 5th 2001 - December 20th 2001

Kay had previously worked on the original Crossroads as an actress, back in late 1967, and appeared in other series such as Z Cars and Doctor Who before moving behind the scenes as a director.

Behind the camera Kay has directed Central's short-lived space soap Jupiter Moon which aired on BSB, Yorkshire Television's Emmerdale Farm and Channel 4's Brookside.

She worked on Coronation Street as a director before later returning to the series as its producer. After a successful stint at Granada in Manchester, Patrick switched her talents back to the Midlands and returned to Central Television to oversee the revival of Crossroads for ITV in 2000.

Kay has also worked for the BBC on dramas Holby City, Sunburn and Mersey Beat.

SHARON BLOOM - January 2nd 2002 - August 30th 2002

Bloom is noted as starting her career as a floor manager at the BBC and, just like Michelle Buck, worked her way up the television ranks.

Still at the BBC she produced sitcom May To December - which starred ex-Crossroads actress Frances White in one of the lead roles. Bloom then moved to ITV and worked for Central Television in Nottingham on the popular Sunday evening medical drama, Peak Practice.

After a successful stint in the drama department Central moved Sharon over to Crossroads, where she would oversee most of the production for 2002. After Crossroads was deemed a flop Bloom moved back to the drama division.

It was decided rather than Bloom return to Peak Practice the show would be axed and a new drama would take its place. Sweet Medicine proved to also turn out a failure.

YVON GRACE - January 13th 2003 - May 30th 2003

At Granada Television Yvon produced the comedy series' My Dad's a Boring Nerd and Knight School, in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Both shows such resounding successes no one can remember them.

A more successful stint at the BBC however would follow with work on EastEnders and also the early series' of medical drama, Holby City.

In 2001 Yvon moved from behind the cameras to the front when she starred on ITV's 'Emmerdale SoapStars' competition, where she appeared as a judge. She was nicknamed 'Evil Yvon' for her scathing catty comments. The show was searching for new acting talent to appear as a family in Emmerdale.

The family picked by Yvon and co in SoapStars lasted almost as long as her time in charge of the Midlands' most famous motel. In August 2002 it was announced Yvon was to take over Crossroads, and make it a must-see show. I think its safe to say it didn't quite work out that way.

Yvon has neither been noted as a producer, director or judge on anything since.

PETER ROSE - March 5th 2001 - May 30th 2003

The Carlton-Central series also had a 'Series Producer' assigned to it, and for the entire run Peter Rose was positioned in this role.

Rose is possibly better known these days for his directing on BBC One soap, EastEnders. He started his career at the BBC as an assistant floor manager before becoming a production manager, notably on the BBC drama, Howards Way.

He progressed to director, working on Channel 4's Brookside before returning to Howards Way. He also directed Trainer and Come Outside for the BBC. Rose switched to ITV for the return of Crossroads, however since the series' demise has returned to the BBC as a director where he has resumed work on EastEnders and also Holby City.

© Crossroads Appreciation Society 1988-present
Written and researched by Elizabeth Garrett, Douglas Edward Lambert, Tom Dearnley-Davison and Mike Garrett