Crossroads Motel - The Home of the Crossroads Appreciation Society

REG WATSON

Reg grew up on a sugar farm in Queensland, in his teens he ventured into the world of broadcasting as a radio actor. He moved to the UK in 1955 and first worked for BBC Radio in Birmingham - including on The Archers - before joining ATV Midlands in January 1956. He produced at least once every programme ever made at the Aston studios.

Reg first suggested a daily soap to ATV in 1959 it wasn't until nearly five years later that Lord Lew Grade approved the idea. Reg had joined ATV from its inception, and before launching Crossroads was mainly based in the production of entertainment and variety programmes at the Midlands division. These included the highly popular Lunchbox chat show and Hi-T.

JACK BARTON

Jack had worked on Crossroads as a director on-and-off in the 60s and before that worked with Noele Gordon in theatre as a director and later on with her at ATV's Birmingham based, variety show, Lunchbox. For Associated Television he was also one of the directors on weekend top rating entertainment series, Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

Jack took over from Reg Watson in 1974, but the style of the show remained the same, Jack brought in many more socially realistic story lines, and took the show in a more serious direction, however the popular formula was kept.

November 1985 (the shows 21st Anniversary) is when Jack had wanted to leave the series, however he departed in December 1984, and his final episode aired in 1985 after numerous disagreements with the ITV bosses over the style of the series.

Crossroads in the early years under Reg was very light-weight, it was aiming at 'housewives' and had an early afternoon slot. Reg made the series mainly an entertainment programme with the occasional serious and socially realistic plots. 21 years later and Australian daily-soap, Neighbours would bare an uncanny similarity to the early Crossroads years..

In 1974, Reg decided to return home - to Australia. He joined the Grundy Organisation and soon was creating such serial hits as Prisoner: Cell Block H, Sons and Daughters and world-famous Neighbours.

In 2010 Reg was awarded the OMA, the Australian equivalent of a British MBE. First Episode as producer - episode 1, last episode as producer - 2105.

PHILLIP BOWMAN

It was back to an Australian-born producer for Crossroads in 1984 as Central Television hired Philip Bowman to take-over from the soon to depart Jack Barton. Philip had worked on Sons and Daughters before moving to the UK.

Unlike the previous hand-over of producer - where on-screen no change had occurred - Bowman's first episode of Crossroads was to have a whole new look. This first new look episode was number 4065. Phillip's last produced edition was episode number 4333.

Phillip brought a whole new production formula to the show, also a glamorous new look and sexier stories. Over time people began to like the new-look show, it retained a lot of its original qualities (and cast) and was even due to see the return of previously axed Noele Gordon. Sadly Phillip was moved to "other projects" for having an affair with another Central TV member of staff, and Noele died.

Phillip has said that Ted Childs, head of drama didn't want him to improve Crossroads, just change it - he regrets ever working on the programme. Bowman continues to work in television back in his native Australia. Including on a children's comedy drama that is produced in association with the BBC.

WILLIAM SMETHURST

After eight years of over-seeing the BBC Radio soap, The Archers, William Smethurst was poached to take on Crossroads, and make it into a all-new, all-upmarket Kings Oak serial.

William was given a free-run with Crossroads, making any changes he saw fit, and he made many - none of which contributed to the show being axed - as Kings Oak didn't launch until three months after Head Of Production at Central, Andy Allen, shelved the show.

His first episode was edition 4334. The last episode aired as "Crossroads" in its old style was episode numeber 4441.William's last episode in producer role was number 4486.

After Kings Oak came to an end William stayed with Central Television for a number of years working alongside Ted Childs, who as Head Of Drama had wanted to improve Crossroads and make it work. Sadly for Ted and William the show ended before their plans for Crossroads were fully complete, however dramas such as Boon and Peak Practice both were helped on their way by the Smethurst and Childs experience

From Decmber 15th 1987 to April 4th 1988 William was credited as Executive Producer. The shows only Executive Producer in its original history.

MICHELE BUCK

In the final months of Crossroads Michele Buck took control of the soap alongside William. She started her career at Thames Television as a secretary. Buck then progressed up the ranks into production roles. Speaking to The Stage magazine in 2005 she commented that her rise through the television departments would no longer happen anymore:

"You can't do it my way now, we only look at Oxford graduates. I would be suspicious if someone like me came along. They were golden times at Thames Television."

In 1989 and 1992 she produced the Central comedy-drama Boon, and then went on to many other BBC and ITV drama series. She was also in charge of the short-lived LWT soap, Night and Day. Michele has more recently with her work at Granada helped produce and adapt the drama series Casanova for BBC Three she also produced four series of Peak Practice for Central Television.

Michelle's first episode in role as producer was edition 4487 airing on 15th December 1987. Her last episode was edition 4524.

She was, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, in charge of drama output at Granada Television before leaving to work for Mammoth Screen an independent production company which she partly owns.

KAY PATRICK

Kay had previously worked on the original Crossroads as an actress, playing the character of Jean Peterson back in December of 1967, and appeared in other series such as Z Cars and Doctor Who before moving behind the scenes as a director.

Behind the camera Kay has directed Central's short-lived space soap Jupiter Moon which aired on BSB, Yorkshire Television's Emmerdale Farm and Channel 4's Brookside.

She worked on Coronation Street as a director before later returning to the series as its producer.

After a successful stint at Granada in Manchester, Patrick switched her talents back to the Midlands and returned to Central Television to oversee the revival of Crossroads for ITV in 2000. Kay has also worked for the BBC on dramas Holby City, Sunburn and Mersey Beat.

In recent years Kay returned to directing, and back at Granada hit the headlines in May 2009 when she was injured on the outdoor set of Coronation Street. She had been knocked over by a car.

A Granada Spokesperson said at the time: "The accident occured as the crew were setting up for a scene which involved a small amount of vehicle movement. The female director has been injured as a consequence and been taken to hospital. No other member of the cast or crew has been injured." The injuries proved to be minor.

SHARON BLOOM

Bloom is noted as starting her career as a floor manager at the BBC and, just like Michelle Buck, worked her way up the television ranks.

Still at the BBC she produced sitcom May To December - which starred ex-Crossroads actress Frances White in one of the lead roles. Bloom then moved to ITV and worked for Central Television in Nottingham on the popular Sunday evening medical drama, Peak Practice.

After a successful stint in the drama department Central moved Sharon over to Crossroads, where she would oversee most of the production for 2002. After Crossroads was deemed a flop Bloom moved back to the drama division.

It was decided rather than Bloom return to Peak Practice the show would be axed and a new drama would take its place. Sweet Medicine proved to also turn out a failure.

YVON GRACE

At Granada Television Yvon produced the comedy series' My Dad's a Boring Nerd and Knight School, in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Both shows such resounding successes that no one can remember them.

A more successful stint at the BBC however would follow with work on EastEnders and also the early series' of medical drama, Holby City.

In 2001 Yvon moved from behind the cameras to the front when she starred on ITV's 'Emmerdale SoapStars' competition, where she appeared as a judge. She was nicknamed 'Evil Yvon' for her scathing catty comments. The show was searching for new acting talent to appear as a family in Emmerdale.

The family picked by Yvon and co in SoapStars lasted almost as long as her time in charge of the Midlands' most famous motel. In August 2002 it was announced Yvon was to take over Crossroads, and make it a must-see show. I think its safe to say it didn't quite work out that way.

Yvon has hinted it was ITV Network, not Carlton nor herself that set the decline into the new Crossroads. Insiders at the Central and Carlton facility have suggested that bosses in London set about killing off everything made by Central to close down the studios - which were one of the biggest in Europe. Yvon now hosts training events for budding writers.

PETER ROSE

The Carlton-Central series also had a 'Series Producer' assigned to it, and for the entire run Peter Rose was positioned in this role.

Rose is possibly better known these days for his directing on BBC One soap, EastEnders. He started his career at the BBC as an assistant floor manager before becoming a production manager, notably on the BBC drama, Howards Way.

He progressed to director, working on Channel 4's Brookside before returning to Howards Way. He also directed Trainer and Come Outside for the BBC. Rose switched to ITV for the return of Crossroads, however since the series' demise he first returned to the BBC as a director where he resumed work on EastEnders and also Holby City. As of 2010 Rose was noted to be directing episodes of ITV Yorkshire's Emmerdale.

ERIC FAWCETT and PIETER ROGERS

When Crossroads was in production for five episodes a week in the 1960s, producer Reg Watson would from time to time take a break from the workload and guest producers would be brought in for spells. Eric Fawcett and Pieter Rogers being the regular stand-ins.

Eric first filled in for Reg on episode 101 - remaining with Crossroads until episode 150. Reg then returned through to episode 570, there after Pieter Rogers took charge up to episode 630. Reg again returned as producer until episode 756 which Pieter took over once more through to episode 763. Once the episodes were reduced to four a week, Reg remained in position until he left in 1974.

Eric died in 1972 aged 86, having started out as an actor he turned to behind the scenes in 1938. At the BBC he had produced shows such as Tony Hancock's comedy series and Sunday Night Theatre. For other ITV companies, such as Granada Television, he oversaw productions such as sitcoms The Army Game and Bootsie and Snudge. Pieter retired in 1985 and died in 2006 aged 78. At ATV as well as Crossroads he produced episodes of saga Emergency Ward 10 and drama Love Story. Also moving to Granada TV he produced daytime serial Crown Court in the 1970s.