CROSSERROADS
Soap’s ‘most hated character’ has fears over new Noele Gordon ITV drama
A FORMER Crossroads colleague of Noele Gordon has spoken of her fears over the new ITV drama about her life – and the decision to cast Helena Bonham Carter as its star.
The three-parter entitled Nolly, which was Noele’s nickname, is the creation of new Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. It will cover the 1981 sacking of Gordon after 18 years starring as motel owner Meg Richardson in ITV’s Crossroads. She died from stomach cancer in 1985, aged 65.
Angela Webb, who played co-star Iris Scott from 1980 to 1985, said of the decision to dramatise Gordon’s downfall now: “This is really bizarre. As they’re doing this so far down the line, I guess it shows how much of a following Nolly still has. But someone writing a biopic of her who didn’t know or experience her… I do worry.”
Of the role being given to Bonham Carter, Webb, 64, said: “She wouldn’t be my first choice... Nolly was quite statuesque and strong, Celtic-like, with piercing blue eyes. Helena is tiny, darkhaired, dark-eyed. It’s a challenge for the make-up department. But she’s Helena Bonham Carter, so let’s see. I hope her portrayal does Nolly justice. If Helena wanted a conversation about how it was to be a young actress in the presence of Noele Gordon, I’d be hugely up for that. There are probably few of us left who worked with Nolly.”
Then in her 20s, Webb remembers fondly Gordon looking after her when they worked together.
She said: “Everybody loved her, and her departure was hugely sad. It was awful. Like the head of a family suddenly leaving. Nolly was absolutely devastated and soon after she had cancer. It killed Crossroads and killed her.”
Webb, who as Iris beat Joan Collins as Alexis in Dynasty to a Most Hated Character On TV award, was among many stars of Crossroads and other shows to attend Gordon’s funeral. She said of ITV’s Nolly: “I shall be watching.”
Bonham Carter previously said: “Noele Gordon was a fascinating, complex, brilliant and gutsy woman, none of which I knew before I read Russell T Davies’s script.
“I’m so thrilled to help tell Nolly’s long overdue and largely forgotten story. “Russell’s screenplay is a work of brilliance and I hope I’ll do
him and Nolly justice.”