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. 40 Years Ago Last Week Crossroads Actor Roger Tonge Died Since then he has run his own business and recently played Tony Hancock on stage. then this list will help you answer those questions. Who's Who on Television. Bullet-riddled Golf probed at hospital as A&E 'locked down' after man shot a mile away, West Midlands Police said officers believed a 'targeted attack' had taken place on a residential street around a mile away from Heartlands Hospital, 'I suffered horror symptoms for 8 years before docs diagnosed me - here's what I want people to know', Hannah was diagnosed with relapsing MS meaning she endures episodes of new or worsening symptoms - she wants to raise awareness of the often misunderstood condition, Coronation uproar as Birmingham residents react to allegiance pledge with everyone saying same thing, Around Birmingham, residents hit out at King Charles' allegiance pledge request, Michelle Heaton shares sad photo after celebrating two years of sobriety, The Liberty X singer shared a throwback photo to the last day she drank alcohol, Washwood Heath neighbour 'thought gunshots were fireworks' as Golf driver blasted, Residents have spoken after shots rang out on Shaw Hill Road in Washwood Heath in a shocking episode of bank holiday violence, Stourbridge shoppers 'intimidated by aggressive begging' in town centre, Shop doorways and street corners have also been littered with sleeping bags and other discarded items, Urgent warning for shoppers who bought these cheeses sold in Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose, The products are part of an urgent food recall over listeria fears, Mum who was bullied at school for her weight sheds seven stone after incredible transformation, Nikki Bailey, who lives with her partner and two children, was unable to stand for long periods of time and experienced difficulty in completing simple tasks, 'Cowboy builder' Steven Fidler on UK's most wanted list, Fidler is being sought by several police forces across the UK in connection with fraud offences, Man City set to deal Aston Villa transfer blow as midfielder catches 'attention', Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as the club are linked with a summer move for Manchester City prospect James McAtee, Aston Villa in 'strong' position to land 40m target as Benfica exit transfer battle, Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as the club reportedly receive boost to their hopes of signing Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu, Middlesbrough boss delivers 'wait and see' update after Aston Villa concern, Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick gives an injury update on Aaron Ramsey, Sister sprayed brother with chili and vinegar concoction in long-running family feud, She attacked him after a chance meeting in the street and then tried to spray him again, hoping he would be peering through his letterbox, Birmingham street shooting live as bullet-riddled Golf probed at hospital, Shots were fired on Shaw Hill Road in Washwood Heath yesterday evening (April 30), Jailed in April - The latest criminals sent to prison from Birmingham and beyond, Our April 2023 roundup features a number of killers and serious sex offenders who have been locked up, Celebrity deaths 2023 all the stars who have died in April, Barry Humphries, Len Goodman and S Club 7's Paul Cattermole are among those who died this month, Aston Villa loan latest as Wesley and Sanson impress, Archer and Louie Barry fight for promotion, A run through Aston Villas loan players as it comes down to the business end of the season with players fighting for promotion and against relegation, England's stunning smallest city named one of best places to live that's dream day out, Tiny countryside city off M5 with charming pubs and restaurants has only 12,000 residents, Tower crane installed by 'spider men' next to Birmingham Town Hall, The 1.2 billion Paradise project in Birmingham city centre has reached another milestone with a 50-metre tower crane arriving to build Three Chamberlain Square, Six household appliances that can cost 450-a-year to run - full list, Fridges, freezers, and washing machines are all becoming significantly more expensive to run, Aston Villa 'confident' of completing record Tammy Abraham transfer, Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as the club are linked with a club record transfer for Roma striker Tammy Abraham. Over the years the series dealt with storylines which were controversial for the times. ATV Today: 26.02.1981: Death of Roger Tonge | MACE Archive 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. (Image: Central Television) David Hunter A. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [8] She then moved on to present a daily live entertainment show, Lunchbox, an early daytime programme. An appearance on Crossroads in 1971 as Harry Silver, a GI on the run in the village, led to a recurring role on the series in the 1980s as the garage mechanic Sid Hooper. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. [1] Henry's first acting credit was for his role as Guiccioli on the TV miniseries The Roads to Freedom. The programme's new look was designed to bring back Gordon on an 'as and when' basis, starting with a three-month stint from April 1985. I learned my craft doing rep in plays like Billy Liar, then working with actors including Michael Gambon and Timothy Dalton at Birmingham Rep, where I spent eight years. He is currently recovering from prostate cancer treatment, and he praised the NHS staff as "angels" for their care in a 2019 news report. Im well, despite having my right eye removed last year. Prior to the accident storyline, Tonge had for many months only been seen in seated scenes, standing rigid or lying in bed. It would be great to be working again, but at the end of the day, Ive got a lovely family and they are the love of my life.. Crossroads also turned Noele Gordon into a gay icon.[3][10]. Born in 1930, Angus spent his early years in Glasgow, attending Eastbank Academy in the city. Noele Gordon was the star of the show who played Meg Mortimer until she was fired in 1981. [18], As detailed by ITV in their on-air obituary broadcast prior to an episode of, As noted in BBC One's TV Heros series, 1991, As noted by Jane Rossington and Paul Henry on the documentary, "Welcome to Nollywood: The staggering true story of Crossroads queen Noele Gordon", "The real story behind Noele Gordon and why she was sacked from Crossroads", "Helena Bonham Carter: I've got so many issues, but as you get older you go: whatever", "ITV commissions Nolly starring academy award-nominated Helena Bonham Carter as Noele Gordon", "What happened to Noele Gordon? Roger Tonge. We built up an audience of 15 million viewers. [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. Beryl Johnstone played Kitty Jarvis for five years until 1969. He scored 215 and raised 215 for charity. What happened to stars of hit motel soap of 70s & 80s? By fate or economy the stories vary it became the first to squeeze the words motor hotel into motel. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Anthony W Morton, who made his name during three years' service in the motel kitchen during the mid-60s died after a short illness. 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. Actor: Yes Minister. In 1981, after a long fight with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Tonge died age 35. 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Something went wrong, please try again later. Margaret Matheson had stated that it was not Denton or herself who sacked Gordon. 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. He did however, reveal that his nasty Crossroads character came back to haunt him as a viewer tried to kill him. Tonge's struggle with Hodgkin's Disease impacted his role in the programme. Roger Tonge played Sandy Richardson in the soap between 1964 and 1981. Since 1988, she has been the main patron of the Crossroads Appreciation Society, and continues to take an active role in the group. Now 73, she spoke the first words in the first episode on November 2, 1964, speaking into a telephone: Crossroads Motel, good evening. [7], In 2003, he returned to acting on TV in an episode of the British medical soap opera Doctors. Nolly has arrived on ITVX and the biographical drama stars the award-winning Helena Bonham Carter as Noele Gordon. Paul Henry's grandad was murdered by a Peaky Blinder - Express Crossroads was routinely assailed by TV critics for what they saw as its low quality, and Tonge was one of the members of the cast who was regularly criticised. The actor who played Sandy from the very first episode of Crossroads, died on 26th February 1981. THE actor Paul Henry, who played Benny from Crossroads, has revealed how his grandfather was murdered by a Peaky Blinder. John Ernest Briggs MBE (5 September 1935 - 28 February 2021) [1] was an English actor. 'Crossroads' TV Series. [1] He is also known for roles in other television series such as Gangsters, The Onedin Line, The Day of the Triffids and Doctor Who. Jane Rossington Jane, now 77, played Jill. Joan Noele Gordon (25 December 1919 - 14 April 1985) was a British actor of Scottish descent and television presenter. 1945-1984. Angus Lennie - Wikipedia Initially commissioned as an emergency schedule filler, the show became so successful that Gordon gave up her executive position to concentrate on presenting. Melanie Harper, played by Cleo Sylvestre, arrived at the motel in 1970 as Megs foster daughter itself a taboo issue. Tributes as Crossroads' Carlos dies, aged 73. - Free Online Library She was the only original cast member of Crossroads to star in both the first and last ever episodes, and she spoke the first words spoken on the soap, "Crossroads Motel, good evening". Not much else is known about the soap actor and what became of him. Crossroads and Ipcress File actress Sue Lloyd dies aged 72 Roger Tonge - IMDb Gordon's return as Meg was devised by the new producer, Phillip Bowman, who himself ended the involvement with the series of regulars Ronald Allen and Sue Lloyd. As Valerie Pollard, she played a cheating wife whose conquests in the. Where cast of Crossroads are now - The Sun Tuesday, 2nd May 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Turtle was the remarkable creation of Smethwick-born Ann George. Henry trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, which was followed by eight years at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Kathy played Doris Luke from 1978-1984, and then from 2001-2002. It made way for a new daily soap opera, Crossroads, in which Gordon played the role of motel owner Meg Richardson (later Meg Mortimer), a part which had been developed with Gordon in mind, as she was still under contract to Lew Grade's ATV. Her last stage role was in No, No, Nanette at Plymouth's Theatre Royal. I took the flack as that was part of my job to protect my staff. [7], As well as being a producer, Gordon became a presenter for the new Birmingham-based service. The character caught on. She has appeared on Loose Women and the Alan Titchmarsh Show, to promote the Crossroads 45th anniversary boxset. He died on 25 April 2021 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. 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. [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. The actor Heather Chasen, who has died aged 92, landed her best-known screen role in the television soap Crossroads. Crossroads, The Broker's Man, Time After Time, Cop Shop, Crossroads, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). 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. She died in 1969 at the age of 55, leaving behind her daughter Susan. 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. 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. Tonge won the role by accident. DON'T MISSHelena Bonham Carter transforms into Crossroads' Nolly[PICTURES]Helena Bonham Carter unrecognisable in red wig as Crossroads star[INSIGHT]Cross words on Helena playing ITV soap queen Noele in drama[INSIGHT]. Alfred and Arthur Heineman proposed a chain of motor hotels, with the first on the side of the highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. She worked behind the scenes as Head of Lifestyle programmes. 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. 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. 00:00, 18 AUG 2009. Roger Tonge (30 January 1946 26 February 1981) was a British actor. Paul played Benny Hawkins from 1975-1988, and then went on to star in prison drama Bad Girls, Doctors, and The Sweeney. A veteran of everything from Spaghetti westerns and films in Hong Kong to Shakespeare and plays at the Birmingham Rep, Morton launched . 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. In 1975, I played a criminal in The Sweeney and while based at Birmingham Rep I shared a dressing room with actor Jon Rollason. However, Valerie showed a softer side when she provided support to Miranda after her daughters rape ordeal. A clothes horse was once described as having more go in it that Ronald Allens Crossroads creation. Margery Field played Hilda Duvene between 1964 and 1968 on the soap but she joined slightly later than the original cast. Gordon's father (from Scotland) was an engineer in the Merchant Navy and she was born in East Ham, East London (now part of the London Borough of Newham). Although he was a regular in the soap opera, Tonge found time to appear on other television programmes, including Z-Cars, Nearest and Dearest and Detective. Independent Television Publications Ltd 1970, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roger_Tonge&oldid=1140554623, People educated at Lordswood Boys' School, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from September 2013, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 16:35. Actor best known for her roles in Crossroads and The Navy Lark. FORMER Crossroads star John Bentley, who married Noele Gordon in the soap's biggest storyline, has died aged 92. Crossroads, later known asCrossroads MotelandCrossroads King's Oak, was an ITV soap opera that ran from 1964-1988, and was revived from 2001-2003. David Fennell He starred in 298 episodes of Crossroads before moving on to The Bill and Inspector Morse. Heather Chasen obituary | Soap opera | The Guardian Gavin and Stacey actress Margaret John has died at the age of 84, it has been announced. Angus first joined the show in a small role in 1972 and returned as Shughie in 1974. His father was a master carpenter. Jane Rossington Jane Rossington was part of the cast from day one and she played Jill Richardson in the soap. Seventies chart-toppers Mud, Where are they now? 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":""}'); Roger Tonge - Wikipedia She joins the many original cast members from Crossroads who are no longer with us, including Noele Gordon, Beryl Johnstone, Roger Tonge, Zeph Gladstone, and Ronald Allen . Ted was the. She now lives in Staffordshire and in 2022 her family revealed she was suffering from Alzheimers disease. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 39 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1978. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Later, there was an inter-racial romance between garage mechanic Dennis Harper, played by Merlin Ward, and motel receptionist Meena Chaudri (Karan David). 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Crossroads, EastEnders actress Heather Chasen dies, aged 92 While he had much success in films and other television series, he never forgot Crossroads and was always keen to be involved with reunion events. Duration: 0:02:21. She retired to her home in Birmingham, where she died in 1985 of stomach cancer. Kathy also had small roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, No Frills, Open All Hours, Dawson's Weekly, and The Benny Hill Show. The character - whom Hargreaves described as a "Technicolor. Susan Hanson played Miss Diane (aka Diane Parker, aka Diane Hunter) before her character was controversially killed off. Don't miss out on the biggest soaps gossip! Susan Margery Jeaffreson Lloyd (7 August 1939 - 20 October 2011) was an English model and actress, with numerous film and television credits. She is also known for starring in the 1970s TV .more Just a couple of years after her debut TV role as Lola Wise, Agyeman became the companion in Doctor Who, Martha Jones. The claim was not challenged on air.[2]. She was educated at a Malaysian boarding school, Pensionnat Notre Dame, in Pahang. He was an actor, known for Crossroads (1964), Crossroads: A Celebration (1971) and Nearest and Dearest (1968). Tonge thus became the first disabled actor in a soap, but it was something he always played down and his illness was never talked about. Just a couple of years after her debut TV role as Lola Wise, Agyeman became the companion in Doctor Who, Martha Jones. After this event, her mother and her aunt were keen for her to begin a stage career.