Crossroads: Noele Gordon interview. Format V (1978)

[@alanmcdnyc]

Great to see her defending the program that was a ratings phenomenon in the 1970’s. So true that crossroads emulated the American soap opera format of 5 days a week and that’s what made it truly special. It crushed coronation st in the 70’s even though it was never broadcast in prime time nationally. She won TV Times personality of year 10 times in a row . The public adored crossroads- the critics hated it

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

I don’t think the audience here understands what a soap opera is supposed to be. As you said, the soap is an American invention which is meant to run five days a week, to create the sense of continuity as Noele said.

[@robertcomer2767]

And to think the way she fought for this and was so proud to be part of that show and then the way she was dumped like that when ATV became Central and it was never the same again.

[@Tiggzg]

Brilliant thanks for uploading this, too bad the sound was off hope you find more of Noele to add to youtube, can't get enough of her. The critics really did hammer the show but they where doing something right they had a huge audience and I agree with her their schedule was amazing. I wish I could see all the episodes again right from the beginning. Thanks Noele you where a grand dame. x

[@jedlinnen6528]

The show was a cultural phenomenon in the sixties and seventies. It was like a comfortable pair of slippers

[@SimonandJojo]

Crossroads was a wonderful true family show, that pulled in a regular 17 million viewers, any little mistakes were in every other programme of the same era, I can remember colour 1970's episodes of Coronation Street when actors fluffed a line, or a grey TV camera lens came into view. Soaps then were something a family could watch together. and unlike the soaps today, they weren't full of arguments, fighting and shouting and with some actors barely speaking clear enough to hear what they are saying.

[@237hardy]

ATV should still be ashamed for their treatment of Nolly.

[@andrewhuckle803]

Nolly truly defending the show and then the top bosses go and sack her !!!

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

What a snobbish audience: they can't seem to accept the fact that Crossroads was supposed to be light family entertainment, not some highbrow social commentary. I think the show was so misunderstood by people like this who gave it such a bad reputation: for what the show set out to achieve, it completely excelled and the ordinary viewing public were absolutely devoted to it, with a kind of fervent devotion not even Coronation Street commanded. I really find the conduct of the audience contemptible and charmless here: all except the lovely old lady who defends Nolly vehemently near the end.

[@gardenroom65]

Huge role model for strong women. A lot of respect for Noelle Gordon. ❤ RIP

[@brianmarshall4753]

Wendy Jones RIP 😥

[@richardbrown1189]

I think Wendy Jones must have been the inspiration for the announcer in Victoria Wood As Seen on TV!

[@Westy1971]

2 points. Surprised Central didn't edit the Atv ident/endcap out? End music was a reworked version of Elo's 'Jungle' from the Out Of The Blue album!

[@asa1973100]

That old lady at 9:22 ADORABLE

[@lotuspoint]

Which itv regions showed this in 1985?

[@1968KWT]

Unlike the snobbish so-called journalists and critics, the old lady doesn’t expect soap-opera characters to speak Elizabethan blank verse 😂 I wonder whether the one who says she’s a theatre-goer (edited out in this clip, as is the girl giving up her boyfriend who didn’t watch the show!) knows that even Elizabethan drama isn’t free from soap-opera characters and plots, notably the scenes composed in prose 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@glamdolly30]

Very strange format - star chauffeur driven into TV studio in limo - star insulted by assorted unwashed members of the public - star driven out of TV studio again - End Credits. It looks like a new show devised by Alan Partridge. 'Limo Lynchings anyone?!

[@Kevin-1969]

Crossroads was no good without her, didn’t work, be like Dynasty without Joan Collins, Dallas without JR

[@georgiewm8763]

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[@kevinshanahan6064]

They went into Crossroads and then found out it was a shit shower of 5 days filming of poorly scripted one take shite on low budgets. Result - it was crap. The idea was excellent but the TV company didn’t fund it. It had a lunchtime budget but had a late afternoon audience. It was shoddy shit, no matter how much effort the actors put in, as it was not given a proper budget. They had to bury it in the end as a result of it being the butt of jokes. It was Acorn Antiques, with the comedy squeezed out. It was in the end as entertaining as being in bed with the flu.