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

CHARACTER PROFILES – THE OWNERS – THE RUSSELL / BOOTH FAMILY

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VIRGINIA RAVEN (Sherrie Hewson)

Senior receptionist, Virginia is a stickler for protocol and is obsesive about how she runs the reception desk. She is a snob, and a gossip but basically harmless. She worships Jake.

Age: 49 - Position: Housekeeper

Mediocrity comes knocking at Virginia's door on a regular basis. She's never had much of a career, although that doesn't prevent her bossing for England. The senior receptionist job at Crossroads is the best title she's ever had and it means the world to her.

In her mind, she's a misunderstood heroine, a persecuted goddess who believes herself to be related to the royal family. But beneath the first-class snob is a more vulnerable Virginia. Only time will tell who gets to see it.

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

That's Miss Raven to you! Virginia is the hotel jobsworth, and woe betide any employee who commits a misdemeanour on her shift. She's a perfectionist, but mediocrity has plagued her all her life and she knows she'll never achieve her dream of becoming an air-hostess. The best job title she's ever had was senior receptionist at Crossroads so she was gutted when Jake demoted her to housekeeper.

Virginia's life has been full of disappointments. She was engaged once, to Bernard her tango dancing partner, but he jilted her for another member of the tango class after getting caught up in the passion of the music. Rocky would love to restore her happiness, but will Virginia ever lower her guard, and her standards, enough to give him a chance?

Virginia was whisked away from Crossroads by taxi driver, John - but the relationship didn't last and she returned to Crossroads. Virgina was later joined by daughter, Helen.

ROCKY WESSON (Roger Sloman)

Rocky has been head porter for many years. He has an anecdote for every occasion. Closest companion is Ebony, his Boxer bitch but he has a long-held crush on Virginia.

Age: 56 - Position: Head Porter (Boss to Phil)

Rocky's alright - he's got his dog and his anecdotes of service in the Falklands. He doesn't need anybody else, not even the unattainable Virginia.

A natural wanderer, he's been a postman, a builder, an oilrigger and anything else that may give him a story to tell. He was drawn to the job at Crossroads by its surrounding countryside and its space for Rocky II. No, really, he's very happy with his four-legged companion and doesn't want anything more to do with women. Definitely not

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

Rocky the wanderer has been a postman, a builder, an oilrigger and anything else that may give him a story to tell. He was drawn to the job at Crossroads by its surrounding countryside and its space for his beloved dog, Ebony. He soon learned to love the power of the master key that goes with the job of head porter.

Rocky's got his mutt, his job and his Falklands War anecdotes, and that is really all he wants in the world. Perhaps his life would be complete if only Virginia would give him a chance, but she certainly considers herself to be out of his league and Rocky has a sneaking suspicion that she might be right.

Rocky and Virginia never did get together.

PHIL BERRY (Neil Grainger)

Young runaway with a dark past, 17-year-old Phil is taken under Rocky's wing when he's given a job as temporary porter. There is a strong physical attraction between Phil and Nicola Russell.

Age: 17 - Position: Porter

Only 16 and yet he's been through more than any teenager should have done. All he's been given is abuse from a series of his mum's violent partners. He's a runaway, but no one in King's Oak knows quite what it is that he's running away from.

He's got nothing in common with a little princess like Nicola Russell. Well nothing but a growing mutual attraction.

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

Position - Handyman

Life has not been kind to Phil. He grew up on a Newcastle council estate with his mum Julie and a series of her violent partners, the last one of which was his stepfather Brian. Brian physically abused Phil and his mum for years, and eventually Phil snapped. Coming home to find Brian giving Julie a particularly nasty beating he retaliated with a baseball bat. He took off on his motorbike, not knowing if his stepfather was dead or alive. He found out weeks later that Brian had made a full recovery. Ending up at Crossroads, Phil has found trouble of a different sort as he tries to leave his delinquent past behind him.

Phil is a loose cannon with a violent streak which makes him come across as the original rebel. However his edgy, moody demeanour hides a sensitive soul seeking only the love and security which circumstance has so far denied him.

Him and Nicola seemed like the love story of the millennium, but it now seems that the differences are too great.

By the end of the series, Nicola and Phil were married - Unforrtnately Phil was left to rot in jail following the death of his violent step-father, Brian.

BRADLEY CLARKE (Luke Walker)

Hotel handyman is easy going and well liked by the rest of the staff. He came outwhen he was 16 and is now a year into a relationship with Tom Curtis.

Age: 30 - Position: Handyman

See that man gardening with the model-like looks and the penchant for taking his top off? That's Bradley, the hotel's hunk. He played the Birmingham scene for years, but Tom Curtis is proving to be Mr Right right now. He's even thinking of moving in with him, but Tom's little brother is a bit of an obstacle. Bradley's proud and confident of who he is, what if he's inherited his mother Ruby's fatal flaw?

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

Bradley is the hotel's hunky handyman with a laid-back attitude to work and play. He thinks life is for the living and has few ambitions other than to have fun.

In his 20s he had his share of wild nights out and sexual conquests, but meeting Tom encouraged him to settle down for a time. Unfortunately during a separation with Tom, Bradley fell into bed with Tracey and although him was quick to distance himself for her afterwards, Jake and Tom were not impressed. Tom left for Manchester soon after leaving Bradley to mope alone in King's Oak.

Eventually Bradley left the hotel to join Tom and Daniel in Manchester.

DORIS LUKE (Kathy Staff)

Doris has worked at Crossroads for years and now has a position in the laundry. She is Bradley's aunt and surrogate mother to young Scott Booth.

Age: 62 - Position: Laundress

Good old Doris - she's the bedrock on which Crossroads was built. Now, she's not one to gossip but... She's taken young Scott under her wing, but how long will she delude herself over Bradley's 'phase'.

She left Crossroads in 1984 to go to live with her sister in Blackpool but four years later her sister died and the house became cold and lonely. The hotel beckoned once more as Bradley told her they were looking for staff. It wouldn't be Crossroads without Doris...

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

Good old Doris. She’s always got a spare five minutes and a cup of tea to listen to other people’s problems. She left Crossroads in 1984 to go to live with her sister in Blackpool, but 14 years later her sister died and the house became cold and lonely. The hotel beckoned once more as Bradley told her they were looking for staff, and Kate took her on immediately.

She was in denial for years about Bradley’s sexuality, but although she’s disappointed that he will never have children of his own as long as he’s happy she’s happy. It wouldn’t be Crossroads without Doris and her words of wisdom, and with her around the laundry will always be the cosiest place to be.

Doris retired from Crossroads following Bradley's departure.

KULLY GILL (Sarah Nerwal)

Room attendant 16-year-old Kully is a bright girl who is doing her 'A' levels part-time and aspires to be a lawyer.

Age: 16 - Position: Room Attendant

Crossroads is only a short stay for Kully as she's heading for professional success. She excelled at school and is now earning enough money to go off to university. There she'll pursue her dream to become a lawyer, but for the moment she's already defending the underdog at Crossroads. Bright and successful she may be, but how long can she hide her insecurity?

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

Kully works hard at whatever she does, whether it is studying for her exams or cleaning hotels rooms. Her dedication means she has always done well at school and she has ambitions to become a lawyer. She doesn’t want to be changing dirty sheets for the rest of her life!

As friends go they don’t come more loyal than Kully. She stands by mates Beena and Mandy whatever mistakes they may make. In return she shares in the excitement of Mandy’s men problems and Beena’s feistiness. Always champion of the underdog, Kully is the best person to have around when trouble strikes. But every teenager has their own problems, and how Kully copes when strife comes her own way.

Kully didn't do as well as expected in her exams and left the hotel soon after.

MANDY STOCKS (Natasha Marquiss)

Room attendant 17-year old Mandy is a sweet girl who is a romantic dreamer. She is not as bright as her friend Kully. She has a crush on barman Ray Dobbs.

Age:17 - Position: Room Attendant

Mandy is a small-town Cinderella who's longing to be put her feet into some glass slippers. But King's Oak is short of Prince Charmings so for the moment she's got her sights set on Ray. Surely Joanne's got something to say about that?

And Cinderella never had to put up with her mother muscling in on the action.

LATER VERSION OF BIOGRAPHY:

Mandy is a hopeless romantic. She is always on the look out for a combination of Prince Charming and Superman who will sweep her off her feet and take her to the ball. She sees Oona as more of an ugly stepsister than a mother and has never really got over her father walking out on her.

A trusting, caring soul, Mandy has a lot of friends at Crossroads, and she’s happy there. All that she needs now is a man and her life will be complete. But whilst her naivety may be endearing, it can put blokes off. You get the feeling that when Mandy fixes her sights on a man, there is no getting away from her.

Things went from bad to worse for Mandy. She married Ray so that he could stay in the country - though he still loved Joanne. She became pregnant by Billy the chef following a one-night-stand. Mandy was killed in a car accident..

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