Welcome to Crossroads 2001

A website celebrating the ITV and Carlton revival of one of Britain’s most famous soap operas.  We are now the longest running, continually updated site dedicated to the new series of Crossroads.

“Crossroads 2001” as it is generally known was first broadcast on 5th March 2001. It featured four characters from the “Classic” series of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s - including Jill Harvey (Jane Rossington), Adam Chance (Tony Adams) and Doris Luke (Kathy Staff). Joining them were familiar faces from television including Jane Gurnett as Kate Russell, Roger Sloman as Rocky Wesson and Sherrie Hewson as Virginia Raven. 

Part of the impressive set

Originally planned as a replacement for “Home and Away” when ITV was outbid by Channel Five, the show was based on the hugely popular “Crossroads” that had been broadcast on ITV between 1964 and 1988. In keeping with the original series it was set in a family run hotel in King’s Oak – a small village just outside Birmingham. In reality it was filmed at Carlton Television’s Lenton Lane studio complex (home to other shows such as Peak Practice, Supermarket Sweep and Family Fortunes) and in several of the neighbouring villages including Bingham and Redmile.

In an attempt to banish the somewhat persistent reputation of the original series, Carlton spent millions of pounds building an impressive (and remarkably sturdy) set that even featured working lifts and furniture produced by genuine hotel  suppliers – to give an added touch of reality to the four star establishment.

 Initial expectations for the series were high and at one point it was even hoped that the show might lead to guided tours of the Lenton Lane complex – similar in style to the Granada Studios Tour in Manchester – However this was sadly not to be.

 Despite impressive reviews for the opening episodes, and over 9 million viewers (in total) watching the first episode – interest in the show failed to reach the heights of the classic series.

Jane Rossington returned as Jill…

After such a positive reception, the press – and indeed many fans of the original series turned on the show. This was brought to a head when series mainstay Jill (played since 1964 by Jane Rossington) was murdered on her wedding day by new husband Adam (Tony Adams). This was completely out of character and only served to highlight the differences (and many continuity errors) from the original series.

In the end, ITV decided to make substantial changes which led to the show being off air for several months, dropping several gripping storylines in the process and losing many popular characters…This resulted in a drop in viewing figures and the shows cancellation in 2003.

Ultimately the show remains one of ITV’s most successful daytime programmes, having regularly reached audiences of  3.5 million viewers, and although it only lasted for 320 episodes it was well written, well acted, fun, escapist drama.

What more could you want from your favourite soap?

… and joined many new cast members