Nolly (Crossroads drama written by RTD)

[jamiefairlie]

It's mostly just the rebranded ITV Hub. If you give them money you can get Britbox content and ad-free, but you can still watch regular ITV shows for free.

Yeah I watched their live world cup games via that (on VPN from Canada). Streaming quality didn't seem as good as BBC equivalent, plus ca change

[neveragain]

Watching now, onto Gatiss' spot in episode two. It's lovely. Everything you would want from this type of drama.

[bobloblaw]

yes, it's lovely in the way that Gatiss' An Adventure in Space and Time was lovely (and possibly the best non-LoG thing he'll ever do). Made with affection but not overdoing the sentimality

[Norton Canes]

Watching now, onto Gatiss' spot in episode two. It's lovely. Everything you would want from this type of drama

Hmm. Not seen it yet and was a bit apprehensive when I read who he was portraying.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

I wouldn't worry, he does a good job.

[George White]

Interesting that it was shot mostly in Granadaland, Manchester, Bolton as Bangkok (a classic Granada technique), being produced by Granada offshoot Quay Street, despite being an ode to ATVland.

Enjoyed it, but 'Angus Lennie' was too old (Gordon Kane, not Kaye - Kane actually costarred with Lennie in an episode of Hannay).
Noticed that one of the bus ladies was Jacki Piper, the Shakin' Angela Douglas of the Sixventies Carry Ons.
Was trying to place the guy who played (a way too old) Roger Redfarn, and it's only Robin Hood from Maid Marian and her Merry Men.

[centristmelt]

I am the only person in the universe who realised Tony Adams was gay when I watched this?

[George White]

He has a female partner, but I've read he might be bi.

[mjwilson]

OK, random question: towards the end of episode 1, an angry chef walks in and says "If she goes, that's the last this motel will see of Shughie McFee."

Now I've never seen Crossroads, but for some reason that rang a bell. So was another show that did a take on that? An angry chef walks in, is angry for a minute, and then leaves?

[mjwilson]

Oh I'm thinking of McBlane from Reggie Perrin.
Uninteresting mystery solved.

[mjwilson]

Interesting that it was shot mostly in Granadaland, Manchester, Bolton as Bangkok (a classic Granada technique), being produced by Granada offshoot Quay Street, despite being an ode to ATVland.

Nice to see Stockport Plaza getting a showing.

[Fambo Number Mive]

Having a watch of some Crossroads clips on Youtube. I've never seen a full episode - was the show actually as bad as was claimed?

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Yeah it was pretty shoddy, but in a rather endearing way. I think RTD got the tone just right in Nolly, he takes the piss affectionately while treating the cast and crew with respect.

[Gulftastic]

And it gave Eddie Large an easy go to impression

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

They must've deliberately cast a young Eddie Large lookalike as Paul Henry? The resemblance is uncanny.

Come on, RTD, please dramatise the Little and Large story. CaB will be eternally grateful.

[superthunderstingcar]

Or better yet, a Doctor Who episode where it turns out the killer seaweed can only be defeated by a bad Deputy Dawg impersonation.

[imitationleather]

Watched all of this last night and thought it was great.

Thanks.

[gilbertharding]

Watched part 1..


Was prepared to be appalled, going on the terrible dialogue in the opening vignette:

"Hoots! I've just invented colour television. My name? Och, it's John Logie Baird the noo! I reckon that Chancellor of Germany will be starting World War 2 in a little over a year by the way..."


But then I wondered if that was supposed to be meta somehow. It definitely improved. And a LOT of Acorn Antiques suddenly made sense.

She did seem like an absolute monster. I wonder if the scene in the church where the director was trying to make her see the problem of the crowd outside really happened.

I'm old enough to remember 1980, and I remember the brouhaha over them killing her off, but no-one in our (Anglia TV region) house watched Crossroads (Corrie all the way), and I was 10, so it all seemed like news from a distant planet. Russell Harty was upset, iirc.

[gilbertharding]

(open the youtube window and scroll down to see a comment from your own Al Needham).


I told a lie up there. I used to watch the end of Crossroads so I could see the credits roll - they alternated going across the screen, and going down the screen. One in every five credit screens would collide, much to my delight.

[jamiefairlie]

The best bit of this is that it reminded me of this (starts at 1:49)

[gilbertharding]

The crazy world of Arthur Brownlow.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Never forget.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

But then I wondered if that was supposed to be meta somehow.

You've presumably watched the whole thing by now, so yes, it was very meta at times.

My favourite bit: the scene in which the Crossroads cast deal with Gordon's sacking in the manner of a melodramatic scene from Crossroads.

[gilbertharding]

You've presumably watched the whole thing by now, so yes, it was very meta at times.

My favourite bit: the scene in which the Crossroads cast deal with Gordon's sacking in the manner of a melodramatic scene from Crossroads.

I liked that bit too. Only watched EP 1, but I'm looking forward to the eest. We'll probably watch the documentary afterwards, for a laugh.

[George White]

Also meta, the dodgy CSO in the QE2 and the Abu Dhabi bits, Crossroads using Chromakey just as egregiously as contemporary Dr Who, i.e. Benny's farm.

[gilbertharding]

Now seen the second episode. All in all I think this is pretty good. At the end of the first one, I thought 'she's a MONSTER'. Opinion completely reversed by the end of the second. Obviously I think I know the arc of the final episode.

Gatiss as Grayson was OK. I don't think they could have cast many people who looked less like him though.

[daf]

Keep missing this - is it on terrestrial?

[El Unicornio, mang]

They're on ITVX

https://www.itv.com/watch/nolly/10a1369/10a1369a0001

[gilbertharding]

Keep missing this - is it on terrestrial?

Not sure when it's scheduled (if it's scheduled at all) but I'm watching it on demand via ITVx.

[daf]

They're on ITVX

https://www.itv.com/watch/nolly/10a1369/10a1369a0001

Oh that's a relief - thought I was going mad as I couldn't find it on the regular ITV listings.

Not sure when it's scheduled (if it's scheduled at all) but I'm watching it on demand via ITVx.

Presumably this will eventually be shown on normal telly (I'm not keen on giving my email out to what sounds like a porn channel!)