News about Noele Gordon

When the low-budget soap opera Crossroads originally aired on British TV, the only warning viewers might have needed was that it contained wooden acting, dodgy scripts and wobbly sets. But 60 years on from the first episode, TV bosses have issued a caution that the long-running show, which originally aired in a teatime slot, may cause offence. Some classic episodes of the serial, set in a fictional Midlands motel, have been released on the streaming service ITVX, but they come with a content warning which states the programme 'contains broadcast standards, language and attitudes of its time'.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Any celebrity will ride in a Roller or cross the Atlantic on a cruise liner. It takes a true celebrity to leap aboard the No 51 bus. Noele Gordon (Helena Bonham Carter) sparked two fingers at the bullying producers who had fired her from Crossroads at the climax of Nolly's second episode (ITV1) by going to town on a double decker. They were wrong if the television executives believed they could deny her an audience. In her heyday, Noele was almost universally regarded as the Queen. Her combination of regal grandeur and everyday charm attracted millions of followers, many of whom were relieved to learn that she did run a motel on Birmingham's outskirts, and that Generation Game host Larry Grayson was her fiance.

As population figures for Coronation Street and Emmerdale decrease, the ITV chiefs are discussing a shake-up of its soaps, which may be seen live on internet streaming. Anxious bosses are desperately trying to gain a new following, as older audiences are gradually tuning out of terrestrial television in favour of streaming giants such as Netflix. ITV introduced its online ITVX last year, sparking the company's bosses to call it a 'huge success.'

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Since it was first introduced on December 8, last year, the Confessions Of Frannie Langton (ITV1) has been available on the on-demand service ITVX. However, while other series, such as the excellent Nolly with Helena Bonham Carter as Crossroads queen No. 10, is likely to be delayed no longer. And what a wretched mess it is. Frannie, a West Indian slave who has been thrown from her happy Caribbean home, where everyone is relaxed, is led by her cruel master John (Steven Mackintosh) to England — a nation of Neanderthal thugs and racial old maids.

There are drag queens and pantomime dames. .. .. And then there was Dame Edna Everage. Edna, a blend of Elizabeth Taylor and Crossroads' Noele Gordon, was born with the 'precious gift of being able to laugh at others' misfortunes.' Barry Humphries (right), who was behind the diamante spectacle frames, was also responsible. Sir Les Patterson, the Australian diplomatic corps' stalwart, was his other well-known vulgarian character, with his 'enormous incumbency'. Both Dame Edna and Sir Leslie Leander displayed Humphries' personalities; each represented a certain element of his daredevilry, vulgarity, self-disgust, and exhibitionionism.

FEMAIL informs actors who have done exactly that as Northallerton-born Jessica Barden says actors like Emma Corrin should not be playing characters from less privileged backgrounds. Jessica took exception to actor Emma, who recently said they wanted to film in a "gritty" independent film after playing Diana in the Crown and having a "outrageous accent" and red hair. In the new film Tell It Like A Woman, Cara Delevingne, whose family are well connected and inset; inset, playing Noele Gordon; Noele Gordon, who was born to high esteem; right, James Norton and inset in Happy Valley)

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: As the reported £249,000 figure for Prince Andrew's allowance is the amount he first received in 1992, is it now widely underestimated? It began when the Queen began granting the working royals from her Duchy of Lancaster's funds. The following annual figures were never disclosed, but although the Queen was frugal, she did review the grants to Andrew and other working royals every year. Coupled with the King's reassurance that he won't see his brother penniless, why should he have any desire to force Andrew out of Royal Lodge?

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: Whoever thought Crossroads' Noele Gordon might ever become a style inspiration? Well, she has now, thanks to the one flaw in ITV's latest drama Nolly starring Helena Bonham Carter in the lead role. Helena is simply too beautiful to portray the regal matriarch of the Crossroads motel. However, her limpid-eyed, cut-glass beauty has made her Noele version bewitching to behold.

SARAH VINE (pictured left): Before I sat down to watch this, I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of Noele Gordon, aka Meg Mortimer in Crossroads. In my defense, her character was axed (brutally, as this wonderful three-part drama shows) in 1981, when I was still living in Italy. We didn't even have a television, and even if we did, all we'd like to watch was a load of poorly dubbed American shows such as Little House On The Prairie and Happy Days. The only time I've seen any British television was on occasional visits home, and even then, my grandmother wouldn't even allow me to watch the BBC. Helena Bonham Carter as Nolly, as shown on the right.

This week, she's been busy promoting her latest ITVX movie Nolly. On Friday morning, Helena Bonham Carter arrived at the BBC Radio 2 studios for Zoe Ball's Breakfast Show. For the outing, the actress, 56, who plays Crossroads actor Noele Gordon in the miniseries, opts for a long green jacket.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Gossip! It's the lifeblood of television and theatre. There won't be a show without back-biting and whispers, fears of mistrust, and tales of indiscretion. The collective term for the service, according to veteran actor Roger Allam, is "a gossip of actors." Well, I've heard that, but keep it to yourself. Nolly (ITVX), a three-part drama about actor Noele Gordon's ouster from Crossroads in 1981, revels, delights, and wallows in the excitement, intrigues, and false rumors that enthrall the cast of every successful serial.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Andrew's inability to persuade Virginia Giuffre to reveal his name jeopardizes his fragile relationship with the King, who has encouraged him to resurrect some industry relations in exchange for preserving his head down pre-Coronation. Charles may have argued that allowing 'friends' to spread rumors about him attempting to overthrowrow the reported £12 million deal and threatening to sue if Giuffre repeats allegations about him in her book doesn't fit the bill.

Noele Gordon (right with Jane Roddington and Tony Adams, and inset with M. Richardson) delighted millions with her portrayal of matriarchal businesswoman and motel owner Meg Richardson in Crossroads, England. Tony Adams, a co-star, ponders over her premature death at the age of 65 in 1985. Adams, who was 21 years his senior, was once so close to Noele that the two were seated opposite each other in Birmingham. Pictured left: Helena Bonham-Carter

CRAIG BROWN: My family lived on the Surrey/Hampshire border in the 1970s, which was also the border between two ITV companies, Southern and Thames. This was a huge advantage to those of us who were addicted to Crossroads, the daily soap opera. First, you could watch it on Southern, and then, if it was over, you could watch it on Thames again, but Thames was six months behind, so the Crossroads Christmas party continued in July. I became a Crossroads Motel expert thanks to these double doses. I'm still the only castaway to have selected the theme tune as one of my Desert Island Discs, as far as I can remember. I mention all this because Nolly, a drama about the dismissal of Crossroads lynchpin Noele Gordon (played by Helena Bonham Carter), is this week.

During a preview of her latest series Nolly at BFI Southbank, London, Helena Bonham Carter made a chic figure. In a black button up cardigan with ruffled sleeves, the actress, 56, who is playing in the ITVX three-part drama, caused a storm. Helena, the actress who plays Noele Gordon in the miniseries, teamed up the blouse with a coordinated ruffled hem midi skirt, tights, and chunky patent trainers.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Harry's retelling of his encounter with the late queen in a field after a shooting shows his incredulgenzation at his granny's dry sense of humour. 'She replied: "Well, then, I suppose I have to say yes,"' he writes, adding: 'Was she being sarcastic?Ironic?Deliberately cryptic?What is the Queen of England saying to me right now?' If she were still with us, she may have asked Harry why he's distraught his father and his brother with his so-called truth in Spare.

As Meg Mortimer, English actor Noele Gordon (right) was 'Queen of Crossroads' and was greeted by followers. Now her amazing tale is re-created in a three-part series Nolly starring Helena Bonham Carter (left). Crossroads was a teatime sensation for a quarter of a century, watched by 18 million people who regarded them as dear friends, most of whom were family members, almost as relatives.

Helena Bonham Carter has said that the acting business is still ageless, and women suffer as a result.' On Friday's The Graham Norton Show to promote her latest film Nolly, the actress, 56, admitted that Hollywood has 'got it better in terms of male calling the shots.' She continued to joke that the forthcoming ITVX drama, which depicts Noele Gordon's life, is like 'Me Too,' but without the sex.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Was Camilla happy to remain as Charles's mistress rather than marry him? Petronella Wyatt, she says, is a fan of Petronella Wyatt. In The Spectator, Mark Bolland [then Charles' deputy private secretary] 'I often breakfasted with him.' "I got the impression that it was Charles who wanted to marry Camilla, but she was content with a less formal relationship.' I never heard it that Camilla had any intention to be Queen Consort.' The oceans are full.

Helena Bonham Carter appears in the first glance trailer for her forthcoming ITVX drama Nolly, which is expected to air in early 2023. Noele Gordon, the actress who was axed without ceremony, warning, or explanation at the time of the show's popularity in 1981, was 56. In the preview, the moments immediately after her sacking are depicted - where she hilariously tells the press she was fired, despite being advised to say she 'resigned'

Helena Bonham Carter talks about her 'dream' role as Crossroads actor Noele Gordon in the ITVX drama, Nolly. Mark Gatiss, who plays the soap star's best pal Larry Grayson, has already shot the film, 56, which appears on the soap show. 'When I read the script, it was like a gift,' she wrote to The Mirror. A dream. It's like meeting someone and falling in love.

On Thursday, Helena Bonham Carter displayed her unique sense of style while running errands in north London. When she carried her purchases in a brown paper bag, the actress, 56, went for a black midi skirt edged in pink. The screen actress added a white ruffled blouse to the ensemble as well as a coordinated black cropped blazer bordered in white.

Helena Bonham Carter rode her bike in north London this week in a bright orange cardigan. When riding her bike, the actress, 56, swapped typical bicycle clothing for the same bright fluffy knitwear. As she went by on the eco-friendly mode of transportation, one onlooker said, "There was obviously no missing her."