Celebrating Crossroads 2001 – The second series of ITV’s hotel soap from Carlton Television

Episode Guide

March 2001:

Episode: 001 Transmitted: 05- 03- 01 -  First episode of the series

Its all “go” for Rocky, who is a porter down – “but he’s not complaining”. It is also the biggest day of Deputy Manager Jake’s life, surpassing his wedding to wife Tracey by a country mile. He is about to secure himself a 30% share in the family hotel – that is if the contract turns up from the seller.

Mysterious teen Phil Berry arrives at the hotel. When the bike he is riding runs out of petrol, Phil goes looking for supplies in (handyman) Bradley’s shed. Having caught Phil in the act, Bradley is surprised when Rocky offers Phil the job of temporary porter. Not everybody is pleased by Rocky’s initiative, especially spoilt Nicola Russell who finds herself kissing him in full public view on the car park.

Despite his mind being on matters of business, Jake’s body is elsewhere when he meets a pretty young bridesmaid at the wedding reception being held at the hotel. It appears this is yet another chance for him to cheat on his long suffering wife. “She understands him” – apparently.

Upon returning from his liason, Jake is shocked to discover that hotel shareholder Jill Harvey has returned to Crossroads with an unexpected announcement – she has decided NOT to sell her shares after all.

Episode: 002 Transmitted: 06- 03- 01

Despite her father’s refusal to let them borrow a porter, Nicola and Chloe get Phil to row them to the island in the boating lake and then have the nerve to leave him hanging on for hours on end while they take photographs for a school project.

Hotel owner Kate discusses life at the hotel with Jill, which starts off amicably enough but hends up with Kate telling Jill that she will fight her if she has to. Jill tries to get back into contact with her estranged daughter Sarah-Jane, but has no luck.

Des and Minty found themselves on the wrong side of fierce head chef Billy again when their attempts tp defrost the freezer go very wrong.. Meanwhile it appears that the sous chef Joanne and the barman Ray have a relationship that is more than just professional…

When their boat is sent floating across the lake, Phil is forced to wade ou to rescue it. To make up for it, Nicola offers to dry Phil's uniform in her apartment. Unfortunately this leaves him with nothing but a towel on – just as Kate and Patrick come home…

Episode: 003 Transmitted: 07- 03- 01

The news of Phil’s appearance in the Russell’s apartment without clothes spreads around the hotel – although uncharacteristically Virginia the hotel gossip appears uninterested in this latest piece of trivia. Only Nicola's brave intervention saves Phil from getting the sack .

Jake gets a nice surprise when he finds out that Jill is penniless and wastes no time in cutting up her useless credit card. When Jake orders Beena to work on the night of her 18th birthday, little does he know he's opening up a can of worms. An upset Beena reveals to Jill about Jake's recent indiscretion with that bridesmaid…

In an attempt to entice Beena to their party, Des and Minty set about stealing a bottle of Tequila from the hotel stores.

Jill has no hesitation in bringing up Jake’s “meeting” with the bridesmaid when he challenges her about her unpaid bill. Their blazing row is witnessed by most of the staff - including Tracey herself who says that this time Jake's gone too far.

Episode: 004 Transmitted: 08- 03- 01 -  Sarah – Jane’s first appearance

Jake is busy trying to sort out the fallout from Jill’s revelations the night before. Tracey is having none of it and another row ensues – this time overheard by their emotional son, Scott. It appears the only respite he has from his turbulent family life are his mis-adventures with schoolmate Dan. This time their plan involves holding Des and Minty’s party booze to ransom – a scheme that first amuses and then frustrates the hapless kitchen duo.

Jill sets out to see her estranged daughter Sarah-Jane but having failed to pluck up the courage to get on the train she finds herself distracted, as ever, by the bottle. One long session later and she's in a bad way. Handsome handyman Bradley spots her tottering out of the pub and takes her back to Crossroads, although this is something he may just regret…

In the hotel reception Jill meets Jake and Tracey who miraculously appear to have patched things up and are celebrating their anniversary with a family meal.

The extremely drunk Jill gets into an acrimonious confrontation with Kate and Jake over her unpaid bill. It appears that someone else wants to book the executive suite. It is possible that a sober Jill may have been able to talk her way out of this, but the drunk one just slaps Jake around the face. Understandably Kate asks her to leave as soon as possible

Episode: 005 Transmitted: 09- 03- 01

Jill wakes from the night before as fresh as a daisy – if only her actions could be so easily forgotten. She finally gets enough courage to visit her estranged daughter Sarah-Jane but it's not the happy reunion that she had hoped for. Jill is heartbroken on her return to the hotel at not having had the chance to see Sarah-Jane. She is further upset when Kate repeats her demand that she leave the hotel immediately.

Having agreed to Scott and Daniel’s demands, Des and Minty regain their alcohol in exchange for an invitation to the party. It turns out to be just as dramatic as any good drunken occasion should be, although Daniel's joy at being there is shortlived when his brother Tom spots him.

During the party Des and Minty are distraught to find Beena in a steamy clinch with hotel chef Billy – she was after “something different” – and it appears that she found it – although “Prawn Cocktail crisps” was first on her list. Mandy is even more distraught when Ray and Joanne admit they are engaged.

The party is brought to an abrupt end when a concerned Kate sends Patrick to find out why there is no staff and why there have been complaints about noise from the hotel guests…

Episode: 006 Transmitted: 12- 03- 01 Jill attempts suicide

In hope that the meetings they've had with Jill have worked, Kate expects Jill to check out during the morning. But there's no sign of her. It is Doris, on a mission to clean the room, who finds Jill collapsed in the bathroom with an empty bottle of pills next to her. Therefore the shareholder is rushed to hospital which leaves Kate guilty, but Jake played the bigger part in the proceedings.

Phil is upset at the cold treatment offered him by Nicola and decides to flirt with Chloe instead. This goes down well, but Patrick would prefer it if his little princess stayed away from the staff.

Billy and Beena stayed tight-lipped about the previous night, while Des and Minty are devastated at seeing their ideal girl snogging the chef

Episode: 007 Transmitted: 13- 03- 01

Kate is still reeling from Jill’s suicide attempt although personal feelings have to be left aside when gossip starts spreading among the staff. Jake and Kate try to enlist Billy’s help in quashing the rumours although he enjoys the opportunity to involve busybody Virigina.

Minty and Des turn their amorous attentions elsewhere. Minty tries (and fails) to chat-up a young Irish student whilst Des set his sights on Mandy. Neither seems to be making much progress – although perhaps Minty is having more luck than he realises…

Valuables are stolen from a guest's bedroom. It's the second theft in as many days and Beena encourages everyone to point the finger at new boy Phil Berry. He shows himself to be a little bit hot-tempered by flying at Minty following an ill-advised remark. Needless to say this only adds fuel to the fire…

It seems that Minty and his student are destined not to be together when the note she leaves for him is thrown away by an absent minded Virginia. Elsewhere a Miss Sarah – Jane Harvey turns up at the Crossroads Hotel to visit her mother. Surely Jake wouldn’t take advantage of this situation..?

Episode: 008 Transmitted: 14- 03- 01

Rocky's acting like the Queen's bodyguard as he's determined to be extra vigilant following the thefts. It's making everyone's life a misery and staff gossip about Phil has reached Patrick's ears.

Jill's anxious to make up for lost time with Sarah-Jane, but the latter doesn't seem so keen. They go back to Crossroads together but Sarah-Jane is sick of Jill's whitewashing of the dirty linen of their not-very shared past.

Jake's allure possibly plays the biggest part in Sarah-Jane eventually agreeing to stay at the hotel for a couple of days. She certainly doesn't want Jill coming back with her to Newcastle. There's only so much one can take of Jill Harvey.

Meanwhile there's much chat in the staffroom. Mandy's reluctantly accepted a date with Des, while Doris has plucked up courage to apply for the post of housekeeper after encouragement from Mandy.

Episode: 009 Transmitted: 15- 03- 01

Little by little, the truth about Sarah-Jane and Jill's past begins to emerge. Despite Jill's sappy ramblings, she barely saw her daughter once she'd married Adam Chance. Sarah-Jane is not so forgetful and hints that she'll be off as soon as she can be, the sooner the better, really. Especially now she's met love-rival Tracey Booth who wants her man all for herself.

Jake isn't so sentimental and is bringing up the subject of those Crossroads shares again. Jill is now adamant that those shares are staying in the Harvey family. Jake's quite happy to work on one Harvey, going so far as to offer Sarah-Jane her own room - an idea that's quickly vetoed by Kate and Tracey.

Mandy goes on her date with Des and much to her surprise enjoys herself. OK so he's no Brad Pitt (or Ray Dobbs even), but he's a laugh. And that's all that matters, isn't it? Meanwhile, Rocky's security cameras land him in hot water with Virginia when she's unwittingly filmed in her underwear in the staff room! Explain that one away!

Episode: 010 Transmitted: 16- 03- 01

Kate’s got a business to run though sometimes she doubts anybody else recognises this. Sarah-Jane’s doing her best to ignore Jill’s enormous executive suite bill (pretty sky high it is by now, one would imagine), and Jake is being petulant about not owning a part share of the hotel. Oh and now Billy’s going on strike to protest at her cost-cutting measures. Some would of course argue that he shouldn't have gone over his original budget in the first place.

Then to make life worse, there’s no Virginia on reception and Tracey refuses to help out as she’s got a hot date with an aerobics class. Lovely Sarah-Jane steps in to do a late shift with Jake and ends up definitely ringing his bell.

There are hormones raging among the hotel’s genuine adolescents too. Chloe’s banging on about her date with Phil, much to Nicola’s annoyance. Mandy's not entirely sure about her budding romance with Des and Minty's not too thrilled at losing the attention of his partner in crime either

Episode: 011 Transmitted: 19- 03- 01- Adam Chance’s first appearance

Adam Chance is back. He's now in the alcohol business but then he always was one for wine, women and song. And speaking of women, he spots his ex-wife Jill from a distance. With her penchant for the bottle, she'll be interested to hear of his new line of work. That is, when Sarah-Jane has stopped quizzing her about her share of the hotel.

There's more share shenanigans as Kate asks Patrick whether he would consider selling Jake some of theirs. Initially he disagrees and argues that if Kate doesn't want to own the hotel, why not just sell it?

Meanwhile it's fun and games with the staff. Phil's asked Chloe out, much to Nicola's continued annoyance. Minty's been caught acting oddly in the reception area thanks to Rocky's new CCTV cameras, so he's prime suspect for the thefts. Virginia thinks that Rocky's flowers are from "gorgeous" Mr Chance, and Beena is being urged to join a model agency. As if she needs any further encouragement.

Episode: 012 Transmitted: 20- 03- 01

Adam manages to engineer a 'surprise' meeting with the ex-missus, Jill. Will the happy reunions ever come to an end at the Crossroads Hotel? He's all charm and smarm as he assures Jill that he's not bitter about the way things turned out when she scuppered his opportunity of buying the hotel by eloping with her lover. At least that's what he says...

Minty fears that he'll get the sack after being wrongly accused of being the hotel thief. His fear shows in his work at Crossroads as well. Unless the real culprit can be found it looks like he's out. It may not be a palace but it's become his home and the rest of the staff, especially Des, are like family.

It looks like Jake may finally get his hands on those hotel shares he so desperately craves. Patrick has, rather reluctantly, agreed to sell him a third of his Crossroads stake.

 Episode: 013 Transmitted: 21- 03- 01

 Jake just comes straight out and accuses Minty of being the thief. Outraged, he quits. But Phil sees Nicola acting in a distinctly dodgy way outside a hotel room. Has Jake got the wrong man?

The Harvey women's lives continue flakily. Jill goes out for lunch with Adam, while Sarah-Jane returns to her flat in Walsall, clears out her stuff and the joint bank account she had with ex-boyfriend Mick. She is going back to Crossroads.

There are shenanigans in the staff room. Phil tells Virginia that it was Rocky, not Adam, who sent her the flowers She doesn't believe him. Doris has an interview for the housekeeper's job from Kate, who practically assures her that she will get the job thanks to her many years of experience.

Episode: 014 Transmitted: 22- 03- 01

There's yet another theft but there's no way it can be blamed on the Midlands One, Minty. He's then in the clear and gets his job back from the ever-gracious Jake. Phil's got Nicola rumbled but can't get to see her alone to confront her. Is playing detective the only thing on his mind?

The passionate nature of Phil is once more revealed as he takes a swing at Billy after some taunts from the kitchen staff. Unfortunately his temper boils over just as Patrick, catering manager and father of Nicola, walks by.

Phil's temper is not the only thing that's hot. Des gets another date with Mandy, but forces her to kiss him and she quickly departs on the bus. The lovely Adam Chance stumbles on to the fact that his ex Jill still has shares in Crossroads. This could well fan his interest in her.

Episode: 015 Transmitted: 23- 03- 01

Phil finally pins the blame on Nicola as he catches her red-handed in a hotel room. But that's not the only thing he pins on her as they end up in a passionate embrace. Oooo-er.

Other people have the motives moved by matters of romance too. Jake offers Sarah-Jane the receptionist's job in an act of terrible ageism against the lovely Virginia. This means she's shunted into the position of housekeeper, yes the position that hardworking, loyal Doris Luke was coveting. This upsets Doris and angers Patrick, but he's ineffectual. Virginia is not happy at being demoted in her eyes.

Beena's not the tallest girl ever to consider modelling. In fact, lovely though she is, she's too short for the catwalk. That means the option left open to her is glamour modelling. Strange how too such lovely words can have an entirely different aura when conjoined. Should she do it?

Episode: 016 Transmitted: 26- 03- 01

Following that hot clinch between Nicola and Phil, he’s dumped Chloe. Could it be that true love is in the air for the upstairs-downstairs couple? And how is that going to affect Nicola’s bestie-friend status with Chloe?

One person who’s not full of the joys of spring is Kate Russell. She’s come back from a conference and is furious at Jake’s new staffing arrangements what with Sarah-Jane on Reception and Virginia in the Housekeeper's position. Sarah-Jane’s ousted Virginia from reception, which in turn leaves Doris without that well-deserved promotion. The cheek of it.

Sarah-Jane’s considerable charms have not only managed to get her a place on reception, it’s also got her bed-and-board. She’s sweet-talked Jake into letting her move into Mark’s unoccupied room in the Russells’ flat. Oh the cheek of it. Although its only a temporary measure, of course.

Episode: 017 Transmitted: 27- 03- 01

 Rocky's Mrs Marple-like antics (seraching staff bedrooms and the like) in pursuit of the thief have caused righteous outrage amongst the colleagues. But it's not only the workers who come under his magnifying glass - the search is being extended to management quarters. Phil races to warn the light-fingered Nicola who manages to stash away the swag just in time in a rather handily provided laundry bag.

Mandy finds some of the loot in the laundry bag and rather naively decides to sport a necklace from the haul. Patrick spots her and she becomes the latest in a long line of suspects.

It's not as if Patrick doesn't have enough tension in his life as Sarah-Jane's residence in the Russell family apartment continues to cause friction. Tracey's seen off many a strumpet in her time and isn't about to let Sarah-Jane break the Booths. She gives Ms Harvey a warning in no uncertain terms. Jake, however, has a mind of his own

Episode: 018 Transmitted: 28- 03- 01

Jake "my wife understands me" Booth is all set to make his move on the delectable Sarah-Jane Harvey. But lo, his plans are foiled as step-brother Mark Russell makes a surprise return from his travels to find her in his room. Jake probably won't be happy to see Mark, but for the females at Crossroads, it’s a welcome addition to the hotel. He’s absolutely gorgeous.

Poor little Mandy is devastated to be sacked for thieving. Phil urges the real culprit Nicola to do something to help her. As time passes, the guilt factor creeps up on Nicola but can she stop it from forcing her to own up?

Patrick’s made a big boob in accusing Mandy, but Beena’s got other boobs on her mind. Following the words of advice from that dodgy modelling agency, she’s now after a quote for a surgical enhancement to her chest.

Episode: 019 Transmitted: 29- 03- 01

Ray and Joanne go house hunting in King’s Oak, but it appears that things are not as cosy as they might be. Could it be that Ray is not as keen on the relationship as he once was – or is he having doubts?

Nicola is upset when she meets a jobless Mandy in the street. Unfortunately being accused of being the hotel thief has had far reaching implications – no reference – no job. Things are going better for Nicola’s brother, Mark who continues to flirt with the ladies at the hotel.

The Russell's find themselves sharing food and small talk with Jill Harvey and Adam Chance at the worlds worst dinner party. To make matters worse, Nicola chooses to drop a bombshell…. Stung by guilt over poor Mandy's plight and annoyed by her dad's continuing distrust of Phil Berry, Nicola confesses to being the real hotel thief.

Patrick is, understandably, shocked to find that his darling daughter's not such a darling after all.

 Episode: 020Transmitted: 30- 03- 01

Mandy looks like the cat who got the cream when Kate offers her her job back. Things get even better when (in an attempt to make amends) she also gives her a room at the hotel… Its just a shame that Joanne had already earmarked that room for her and Ray.

Jill’s decides that she’d like her involvement in the running of the hotel to extend beyond running up a big bar tab. Kate therefore offers her the job of beauty salon receptionist.

Adam successfully talks Jill out of giving her 30% of Crossroads to Sarah Jane. Later he warns Sarah-Jane that when it comes to scheming he is always one step ahead…

Back in reception, the man responsible for the security of pop group STEPS  has a meeting to discuss their forthcoming arrival. At the Crossroads Staff meeting, Nicola confesses that it is she that is the hotel thief.

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