REVIEW: 13/2/2023

 

Whoever would have thought that almost 60 years after it originally made it's debut on TV screen the Midlands based soap famed for it's wobbly walls and sometimes even wobblier dialogue would be having such a resurgence. Not only did 2023 bring the brilliant 3 part ITVX drama 'Nolly' but the good folk at Network DVD have now released the ultimate tribute to the golden age of Crossroads with actress Noele Gordon at the very heart of it as Meg Richardson/Mortimer we are of course referring to CROSSROADS: THE NOELE GORDON COLLECTION

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Head back to King's Oak and embrace those shaky sets, missed cues and occasionally fluffed lines once more and as we find ourselves back in a simpler time with this television classic with the characters that filled your tv screens at teatimes for almost three decades, characters such as the Queen of telephone acting Meg Richardson, hapless hat wearing handyman Benny, the ever dependable Miss Diane, forever forgetting her lines Amy Turtle and let's not forget the dashing yet cunning Adam Chance, champion of the cleaning rag Doris Luke and the likes of Jill Richardson, Sandy Richardson, Glenda Brownlow, Shughie McFee and so many more.

 

This impressive box set boasts a massive 94 discs containing over 700 episodes of the soap produced during the ATV years, hundreds of which have never been previously released on DVD, which brings you every known existing episode from the earliest surviving episode from 1964 through to Noele's much publicised exit in 1981. Who could forget the shocking moment when the motel went up in flames on bonfire night 1981 leaving everyone asking just one question...Would Meg survive? I don't think it would be a spoiler to say that she would and would go on to wave us all farewell aboard the QE2. Once again you can revisit such storylines as Megs wedding to Hugh, Sandys accident, the shooting of David Hunter, Meg in prison and add in a good mix of poisoning, terrorists, bombs, Russians spies and takeover bids and you know you have arrived at the Crossroads Motel.

 

The nostalgia comes flooding back with ATV introductory fanfare followed by those iconic opening chords of the very recognisable Tony Hatch theme tune and suddenly we are checked in to the Crossroads Motel for a 14,400 minute stay! this is going to be quite the binge watch.

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The package is impressive and will sit proudly amongst any DVD collection but don't delay in making your purchase as this is a limited edition set. When it's gone it's gone!

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Aside from the episodes there are a wealth of special features including behind the scenes insights and footage, rare tv appearances by the cast, images, unearthed episodes and audio excerpts, out-takes,  trailers, interviews, Megs 1983 return episode filmed in Venice and so much more and to top it off it comes complete with a photo souvenir book.  There is no word yet as to whether we will get a release of the following years which saw life at the motel go on without our beloved Meg which were produced by Central Television, or the ill-fated version which saw the show return thanks to Carlton Tv in 2001 but this collection gives us plenty of viewing to keep us going for a good while yet.

 

Featuring: Noele Gordon, Tony Adams, Sue Lloyd, Jane Rossington, Ronald Allen, Roger Tonge, Paul Henry, Susan Hanson, Sue Nicholls, John Bentley, Angus Lennie, Ann George, Carolyn Jones, Kathy Staff, Lynette McMorrough, Stan Stennett, Peter Hill, Angela Webb, Jack Haig, 

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This release is available now priced £13O. For full details and to order visit Crossroads: The Noele Gordon Collection / Network On Air