A former ITV soap star has said she ‘can’t shake off’ a role that projected her into millions of living rooms each week – despite leaving 41 years ago.
Actress and broadcaster JoAnne Good rose to fame in 1981 when she joined the cast of legendary serial drama Crossroads.
As viewers will remember, the axed show followed the lives of staff and residents at a fictional Midlands hotel of the same name and aired between 1964 and 1988.
It was later revived in 2001, though ended two years later. By this point, Crossroads was a plush hotel.
Certainly a far cry from original owner Meg Mortimer’s (Noelle Gordon) day!
JoAnne played rebellious Carole Sands, who was David Hunter (Ronald Allen) and his wife Barbara’s (Sue Lloyd) housekeeper.
Rough and ready, she caused a small riot on the streets of Kings Oak, had an affair with Kevin Banks (David Moran) and later worked at the local garage.
Following her departure in 1984, she’s gone on to appear in Casualty, Last of the Summer Wine, Heartbeat and Doctors.
Despite that, JoAnne still holds the role very close to her heart.
‘I can’t shake Carole off,’ she told the Suddenly Single podcast.
‘I’m quite proud of it because my character was the forerunner to Kylie Minogue’s character (Charlene Robinson) on Neighbours.
‘I played the car mechanic in the motel garage. It had a viewership of 25 million a night.’
In 2021 she recalled her time on the series with the Crossroads Appreciation Society, saying it was ‘the best job [she’s] ever had in [her] life.’
Speaking of her exit storyline, she added: ‘It was like being kicked out of your family and you always believe you’ll be asked back.
‘And I think probably the problem with me is that I ended up having an affair with someone in it and I don’t think they liked that, I think they felt that you should keep the two things separate. So that was probably my downfall!’
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A dramatisation based upon leading actress Noelle’s time at the motel hit our screens in 2023.
Nolly, written by Russell T Davies, saw Helena Bonham Carter step into the iconic actress’ shoes.
Last year, a selection of archive episodes hit streaming service ITVX – but were hit with a guidance notice before each episode: ‘Contains broadcast standards, language and attitudes of its time.’
Although not uncommon for older programmes, one former actor branded the move ‘pathetic.’
Fiona Curzon, who appeared in 13 episodes of the show in the 1970s, didn’t think viewers would find anything offensive in the episodes.
‘I don’t think anyone sitting down and watching Crossroads would be shocked by anything. On the contrary I think they would think, “what is the matter with the people who are issuing these warnings?”’ she was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.
‘I just think it is absolutely pathetic. I am so sick of all of this. You cannot say boo these days.’
Classic episodes of Crossroads can be watched on ITVX.
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