© Crossroads Appreciation Society 1987-2011
Details from ATV Network Limited Archive, ITV Archive, Central Studio Library -Nottingham and the TV Times Cartoon strip courtesy of Jean Hochet and Shaqui Le Vesconte.
Crossroads Lady Penelope Magazine courtesy of Chris Hill.
Welcome to the Crossroads Shop, a list of items released over the years associated to the television saga. From official merchandise to publications, long out-of-stock memorabilia and more recent releases.
COLAG TABLEWARE ROASTING DISH

In 1966 the first major Crossroads item released was the stainless steel roasting and carving dish. You might have expected the ATV Licensing executives to release something revolving around the main characters of Meg Richardson and Kitty Jarvis, like a minature dolls house version of the motel or a toy newsagents. But no - instead its the motel kitchen that is the focus of this item.

There isn't actually a lot of Crossroads to do with the item itself, its just a standard Colag oven-to-table roasting and carving dish of the era. The only part of the perchase that has anything to do with the serial is the bit most people throw away - the packaging. Its cardboard box has a drawing of Carlos on the front in a pose far more happier than he ever appeared in the series.
MEG'S SITTING ROOM PAINTING

In October 1975 the readers of Woman's Weekly were treated to an offer, it seems, they just couldn't refuse. For years ATV had been asked about the floral painting in the set of the motel sitting room, and where a copy could be obtained. Cashing-in on the recent success of Crossroads in the ratings and the wide-spread coverage of the 'wedding of the year' when the character of Meg married Hugh Mortimer, ATV licensing decided it was time to give the public what they wanted from the motel set.

"For only 98p you can own the identical painting (unframed) that hangs in my lounge at the Crossroads Motel" Meg Mortimer told Woman's Weekly. The magazine goes on to say 'By special arrangement with ATV this is your chance to own this superbly beautiful painting seen and envied by millions of TV viewers every week... ...We've had this picture printed lithographically to a generous size of 22"x18". Hurry! Owing to the millions who regularly see this painting in Crossroads, we expect this painting to be in great demand.'
The original oil painting, on canvas, was by E Van Guelt and had been picked up in a second hand shop by the set dresser in 1964. Noele Gordon told Woman's Weekly of the demand for the item, "I know by the number of letters I have received just how popular this picture has been with the viewers of our show."

It appears to have been a sell-out. Of the 1,000 made 500 were sent by viewers of TV series Collector's Lot to fan club manager Peter Kingsman after he spoke on the Channel 4 show of how the painting was the only item he handn't managed to get a copy of.

There was at least one other painting of a vase of flowers by Van Guelt but little is known about the artist.
BOARD GAME

In 1977 along with many other populist ATV series of the decade, such as Celebrity Squares and New Faces, Crossroads was packaged as a board game. It was released just in time for Christmas.

Crossroads Motel is supposed to be about motel management, which is pretty dull in game format. Add the fact its not exactly easy to figure out it makes you wonder who at Delta Pastimes Limited devised it and thought it would be in any way interesting! The front of the box boasts that the game is a "skilful and exciting game of motel management for up to four players" So let's read on. The duration of the game is said to be two to three hours.
The objective of the game as follows: Each player picks their character from the series, either Meg Mortimer, Sandy Richardson, Jill Harvey or David Hunter. Each character is represented on the board by a different coloured Management piece. They also have three smaller staff pieces. They all start in the motel office (each player has their own section of the board, coloured the same as their piece.)

To win the game you have to get your staff pieces around the board and correctly located in each zone. For example the board is laid out with motel rooms. For the Blue Piece to win they would have to get themselves around the board once first, then each staff member, before finally ending up with one staff member in the Red area's kitchen, another in the green area's restaurant and the final staff piece in the Yellow area's chalet.

There are also cards, the reception cards are full of either positive or negative actions, such as be given £100 for a check-out or lose £50 in a fine and so forth. There are also Room Cards, these give challenges to the management piece as it moves around the 'motels' and 'rooms'.

There are motel money notes and also improvement markers which... Erm, well this game is best left played 'hands on' if you dare.
JIGSAW PUZZLES

A year later and maybe ATV realised that fans of Crossroads wanted something to play that wasn't going to take three hours to complete and leave its players bewildered. For Christmas 1978 they opted for the good old tried and tested jigsaw puzzle.

Released by Hestair Puzzles, the company produced two versions of the Crossroads Motel 240 piece jigzaw. The first was a 1977 cast photo (complete with several characters who had long left by 1978) with the second a montage of motel moments, including photos of L-R top: Jill Harvey, Benny Hawkins and his father, Meg Mortimer, David Hunter and Diane Parker.
L-R middle: Ed Lawton, Meg and David, Crossroads Motel sign, Jane Smith, David, Meg and Sandy. L-R bottom: Sam Carne, Meg and Sandy, Jim Banes and Shughie McFee with Meg. Yes, that's a lot of Meg!  These items were given pride of place in Woolworth's toy department at the time.

To be completist the puzzles were 264 x 384 mm in size.
CROSSROADS MONTHLY

In 1976 a magazine was unleashed by Felix Dennis - boss of the Dennis Publishing empire. For seven months from March to September 1976 Crossroads Monthly provided viewers with regular features including cast interviews, a review of previous storylines, character profiles, readers questions and comments in a letters page and short stories.

The opening magazine's introduction is as follows: "Welcome to the very first edition of CRossroads Monthly, the official magazine of Britain's favourite television series! Each month Crossroads Monthly will be bringing you the very best in Crossroads facts, photographs and fiction - in short everything you ever wanted to know about the longest running programme [episode numbers] in British television history."
CROSSROADS CARTOON - LADY PENELOPE MAGAZINE

In 1968 for the 'Lady Penelope Magazine', itself a spin-off publication from hit ATV series Thunderbirds, a Crossroads Motel cartoon strip was created.

The first episode of the Cartoon Crossroads made its debut on January 6th, with further instalments appearing weekly until May 18th 1968. Storylines included Diane Lawton being kidnapped while modelling a dress made of rare fabric! The motel is threatend with closure for a motorway expansion, Sandy (at the time a reporter) runs a story in the local paper revealing that a couple of councillors were trying to make underhand money out of the proposals. The motel is a victim of sabotage when rats are unleashed in the kitchens - all in a bid to have the place closed down.
CROSSROADS SPECIALS

Following on from the Crossroads Monthly and Crossroads Poster Magazines in 1977 it was ATV themselves in association with World Distribution who released the first of two 'Souvenir Specials' which later became annual-style books (although the latter were not yearly)

The first release was Crossroads Souvenir Special from 1977. Features include a profile of the original Producer Reg Watson and some of the programmes he produced at ATV before Crossroads such as Midland Farming and game show Hit The Target.
OFFICIAL BOOKS

There have been three authorised books about Crossroads. The first, My Life at Crossroads, in 1974, was a personal account of the programme by Noele Gordon released by Star Books. The second, The Crossroads Years, was released in 1988 by Weidenfeld and Nicolson and was written by Jane Rossington. The third by Geoff Tibballs, The Crossroads Story, was published in 2001 by Carlton Books.

The latter publication also contains a section on the then newly launched spin-off series set in the Crossroads Hotel.
UNOFFICIAL BOOKS

There have been many publications that discuss Crossroads and its successes - and sometimes shortcomings - such as TV Times Supersoaps by Chris Stacey, TVS' 40 Years of British TV by Barry Took, That Was The Decade That Was by Richard Webber, Soap Box by Hilary Kingsley and Screen Tastes by Charlotte Brunsdon.

However two books, one of which entirely revolves around Crossroads, have provided the best insight into the programme.
Features in the March edition included the life and times of leading actress Noele Gordon, a Crossroads photo album, a star interview with John Bentley and Ann George talks of how she's found real-life happiness with her new husband.

The 8th edition of Crossroads Monthly had been planned for October 1976 however the magazine was pulled at the last minute. Dennis Publishing had no record of why the magazine was suddenly dropped, however a local printing company holds the answer. In typical Crossroads style an oversight by ATV saw things suddenly change. The licence with Dennis Publishing was for six months - they ran for seven. The eighth edition of Crossroads Monthly was pulled when Cockatoo Publications based in Wolverhampton put in a better offer. The Crossroads Monthly magazine was replaced with The Crossroads Poster Magazine - which aimed to boost sales with what had proved to be the most popular in the previous magazine - the photographs. The second magazine also contained minor articles on the programme.
TV TIMES SPECIALS
The first TV Times Crossroads Special dates from May 1971 and celebrates Crossroads' 1500th episode which was due to air on the 15th of that month. The magazine cost 15p and contained features looking at the cast, the characters and the storylines of the past six years. The magazine also looked at how Lew Grade commissioned the show and presenter and writer Godfrey Winn defends the programme against the critics comments. There is also a report on how the cast spent their 1500th celebration - in Jersey.

Next is a TV Times Extra from 1975 to mark the wedding and cathedral blessing of Meg Richardson and Hugh Mortimer.
KNITTING BOOK
Cast of a television soap posing in knit-wear. Amusing, certainly. However not exclusive to Crossroads, only a few years later the cast of BBC One's EastEnders would also be putting on lovely wool jumpers in the name of Wendy Shetland Knitting Books.

The 1984 publication in association with Central Television sees the actors of the motel serial posing around the Holiday Inn Hotel (next door to the ATV Centre studios in Birmingham) in tastefully knitted garments - which if you follow the instructions contained within you too could soon be wearing.
FICTION BOOKS
The first fiction book was released in 1974 by Everest books, a further three by the author Malcolm Hulke would follow between 1975 and 1976. Another fiction story by Keith Miles was added to the collection in 1980.

The first book, 'Crossroads - A New Beginning' is based on the first two years of the television storylines. Malcolm Hulke's introduction explains however it isn't totally to what aired in episodes between 1964 and 1966: "The novel presents some of the events in the life of Meg Richardson and her family differently from how these events were portrayed on television. These changes result from the different structural demands of a novel compared with the shape of a daily serial... ...What I have tried to do, with my capabilities, is to be faithful to the underlying spirit of Crossroads. That, as faithful viewers well know, is based on three cardinal values - friendship, family bonds and love."
COOKBOOK
"Come behind the scenes into the kitchen of the famous Crossroads Motel and share the mouth-watering secrets of its success. At last everyone can try out the delicious recipes created to complement the seasons by Meg and her experienced team of chefs.

"Capture the real flavour of one of TV's most popular series in your own home. Enjoy Meg's and the other residents of Kings Oak favourite dishes. Take an invaluable tip or two from the experts and even pick up scraps of gossip from the kitchen staff at the same time..." says the publicity for this Star Book publication in association with ATV Network.
ALBUMS AND SINGLES
Stock car driver Sid Wheelan, leader of the Hellbats team, makes trouble for chef Pepi Costa, and tries to run the motel worker down after both try to woo Diane Lawton and a fake Heiress Tania Tilson tries to con Meg Mortimer out of a fortune. Each story was spread over two pages.

In the early 1970s Crossroads would again be recreated as a cartoon series...
It is quite amusing that many of the authors whom write about Crossroads have in their research the standard and quality that they deem the programme to also have - very little. This accusation however can not be placed at Dorothy Hobson who in 1982 wrote 'Crossroads - The Drama of A Soap Opera' and the 2005 guide book 'TV Heaven' by Paul Condon and Jim Sangster. Both publications are brimming with facts and not myths.

The Dorothy Hobson introduction for her book states: "Crossroads, one of the most successful programmes on television, has attracted a huge and devoted audience of some 15 million regular viewers. Yet, like many soap operas, it is derided by the press and treated with some distaste by other programme makers. Indeed despite its popularity, its very future hangs in the balance.

"While doing independent research on popular television in the ATV studios in 1981, Dorothy Hobson observed the storm that developed around the company's decision to dispense with Meg Mortimer, star of Crossroads. The repercussions of that announcement were immense and highlighted the gulf between the broadcasting authorities, the programme's critics, the Crossroads production team and the audience.

"Through talking to the actors, the programme controller and the viewing public, she went on to explore the contradictions of why and how a soap opera is made and viewed, examining the appeal of Crossroads and attempting to locate the programme as part of contemporary popular culture.

"The result is a revealing, controversial but also very absorbing analysis of soap opera in crisis."

The more recent book is an A to Z of the most popular programmes to be screened on UK television. Crossroads is given a large section of the book, which looks at the original series and the more recent remakes. The publicity for the book states:

"Designed for couch potatoes, telly fans and casual viewers alike, this is an unashamed passionate guide to the most loved, addictive and groundbreaking programmes to have hit British screens over the last 50 years. TV Heaven covers just about everything from jaw-dropping reality TV, to the very best drama, science fiction, comedy and children's programmes, including imports from all over the world."
The introduction to the book is as follows: "Welcome to the kitchens of the Crossroads Motel. At the last count nearly twenty million people, in Great Britain alone, switched on their television sets four times-a-week to watch Crossroads. And you'd be surprised how many of these millions take the time and trouble to write in and tell us what they like about the programme - and what they don't like!

"Some eager young ladies even write in to apply for jobs as waitresses or washers-up at the motel - recently we seem to have had staffing problems in the motel offices and a lot of girls have offered to come in and take over as secretary to Meg and David. But even more people write in to tell us how much they wish they could take a holiday and stay at Crossroads as guests - to chat to the staff and all their other old TV friends, and to eat in the motel restaurant or cafeteria and sample dishes expertly prepared in the motel kitchens.

"The Crossroads Restaurant menus are changed weekly thoughout the year, here are the menus for the full year - taking you right from spring to the following winter."

Dishes include: Grapefruit with Prawns, Crown Roast of Lamb, Strawberry Shortcake, Bortsch, Duck Terrine and Chocolate Rum Cake to name only a few. At the back there are also handy tips such as "When boiling potatoes, if they overcook and become 'mashy', sprinkle some crisp fried onion over the top. It adds to the appearance and taste."

As for gossip, they do note that Sam Carne the eldery night watchman thought that 40-something sour-faced kitchen assistant Rita Witton was after a bunk-up when she started baking him Cider Cakes!
The publicity adds: "Malcolm Hulke, a brilliant writer who was script editor of Crossroads for four years, captures the real spirit of the serial as he rekindles the never to be forgotten stories of the characters who started it all ten years ago.

"Remember the love affair of Meg's brother, Andy Frazer and the widow Ruth Bailey? Remember how Sandy leaves school at 15 to make tea at the local newspaper - and grows up overnight when the campaign to save the old coachhouse suddenly fails? Remember Jill Richardson's affair with Philip Winter, the Army sergent who escapes from the glasshouse after being charged with theft? These and many other stories that have helped make Crossroads a top rating serial are woven brilliantly into a compelling novel which will bring back memories for the millions of Crossroads addicts."

The second novel was released in 1975, 'Crossroads - A Warm Breeze'. It carries on the stories of Crossroads as seen in the TV series in 1967 and 1968. "Love, laughter and human drama, this is the winning recipe which makes Crossroads a television hit and bestselling series of novels."

The 1976 third release, now boasting on the front that its a 'best selling series', is 'Crossroads - Something Old, Something New'. The story once more looks at the events in Kings Oak as originally seen in the television version. This time we continue on from 1968 into 1970. Highlights include "Meg Richardson is offered a small fortune for the Crossroads Motel, enough money for her to retire to the Bahamas. Peter Hope wants to marry Marilyn Gates, she says no. Then his old flame, Constance Dory, arrives on the scene. Sandy Richardson investigates a gambling club - and gets into very deep water. Geoff Thompson falls in love with Angela Forster. She is very beautiful, and blind. Edge Sharp gets a gun and checks in to the motel."

In the back of Something Old, Something New there is a poster offer. "Relive those wonderful moments from the books and the TV series by buying a full colour pictorial record of Crossroads in the latest edition of the Crossroads Poster Magazine... ...The Poster Magazine contains behind-the-scenes photographs and articles on Crossroads plus a gigantic full colour poster of the cast. It will make a marvellous gift." They note that the replacement for the Crossroads Monthly magazine (which wouldn't be monthly but every few months) could be obtained in all good newsagents as well as by writing to publisher Cockatoo Publishing.

The final Hulke book, released at the end of 1976 in time for the sound of festive tills ringing, was 'Crossroads - A Time For Living' and looked at the TV storylines from the early 1970s. The introduction now boasts the success of the novels:

"The tremendous success story of the Crossroads television series has been repeated in paperback. More than 250,000 copies have been sold of Malcolm Hulke's heartwarming novels based on the TV programme. All the popular characters are here - dependable Meg Richardson, roguish Archie Gibbs, Amy Turtle the local gossip, glamorous Tish Hope - plus the magic Crossroads formula which keeps millions of viewers watching: drama, romance and humour."

Malcolm Hulke had run a Lakeside guest house, worked in a box-making factory and run an advertising agency. From 1958 to 1979 he wrote a number of television and radio plays and dramas. He became a best selling novelist with his Doctor Who and Crossroads releases. His other fiction titles include Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters, Doctor Who and the Green Death and The Dead Don't Cry. Factual books included Writing for Television, The Making of Doctor Who and Cassell's Parliamentary Directory. Hulke died in 1979 aged 55.

In 1980 the final motel fiction book hit the shelves, Crossroads - A Family Affair. It was released as a taster for a new spin-off series set in Kings Oak to be called 'A Family Affair' - revolving around the Hunters. However when new ATV Drama boss Margaret Matheson arrived with her upper-class mantra, the idea was shelved for the much more sophisticated Shine On Harvey Moon.

A Family Affair starts with the 1978 storylines surrounding Chris Hunter, son of motel co-owner David, and his involvment with the death of Meg's husband Hugh. The book promises a follow-up, but this never materialised.

A Family Affair was written by Keith Miles who had a track record of writing popular works of fiction for television, radio and the theatre. For five years he was a scriptwriter on BBC radio soap The Archers and has worked on TV series such as Space 1999, Z Cars and Freewheelers. He also wrote for Crossroads.
Cast of Crossroads featured in the knitting book are: Tony Adams, Jane Rossington, Sue Lloyd, Ronald Allen, Sandor Ellés, Susan Hanson, Kathy Staff, Pamela Vazey, Stan Stennett, Carl Andrews, Lynette McMorrough, Arthur White, David Moran, Claire Faulconbridge and Angela Webb.
The magazine captures, in photographs outside Birmingham Cathedral, that over 3,000 fans had filled the surrounding streets just to get a peek at the couple. The special features interviews with Noele Gordon (Meg) and Hugh (John Bentley) as well as a look at other Kings Oak weddings in previous storylines and profiles the regular cast and characters. There is also a look at the other big events - happy and sad - which have taken place at Crossroads since 1964.

In 1979 TV Times Extra once again revisited Crossroads. Features included a guide to the villagers of Kings Oak by Meg Mortimer, tragic moments including the motel bomb blast, Meg being poisoned, Meg going to jail for dangerous driving, Sandy's car crash and Benny being accused of murder. There was also a look to happier times such as the 1975 wedding of Meg and Hugh and the holidays at Tunisa and Spain.  There is also an interview with Noele Gordon on her pride in Crossroads' success, Paul Henry discusses his character of Benny Hawkins, Roger Tonge discusses the groundbreaking storyline of Sandy being confined to a wheelchair, Ronald Allen chats about his role as David Hunter and Sally Adock discusses her character of Jane Smith. There is also a look at the famous faces who have checked-in at the motel since 1964 and the royal visits to the set. The TV Times also visit the home of Sue Hanson and, singer husband, Carl Wayne.

The final major TV Times special was released in October 1983 to mark the wedding of Jill Harvey, daughter of Meg, to businessman Adam Chance. The magazines looks at previous Crossroads weddings and shows the return of Noele Gordon as Meg to the show when she makes a re-appearance on the honeymoon episodes in Venice. There is also a look at the current main characters and some of the storylines the show has featured.

The final special is a Crossroads pull-out as part of the regular TV Times released in April 1988 - which also contains a front cover starring cast Jane Rossington, Tony Adams and Jeremy Nicholas. The pull-out is a year-by-year guide to Crossroads plots complete with many photographs.
Other features included a profile of Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, the series creators. Ivor Jay, the storyliner and backstage chats with the directors and writers. Crosswords, cookery and gardening specials also featured. Tributes to deceased cast, including Jo Richardson and Beryl Johnstone.

The second issue, again by ATV in association with World Distribution, followed a year later. The 1978 issue however is called the Crossroads Special Souvenir Issue. This release looks at the producer Jack Barton and how the programme is put together in a backstage report. There is also the story of Crossroads' television success, a family tree for the Frazer family, a Crossroads quiz and how to make a selection of cocktails as found at the motel bar. There is a brief look at some key storylines and weddings. A brief tribute to the recently deceased cast member Jack Woolgar.

In 1979 it was now decided, on the back of the success of the specials, to release a full blown special in the format of an annual. Features include a look at 'The First Lady Of Television - Noele Gordon', 'Dishy David Hunter in profile', Crossroads Cuisine - make yourself some of the meals from the motel kitchen, 'Cars of the Stars' - what the Crossroads cast drive, interviews with Noele Gordon, Paul Henry, Susan Hanson, Jane Rossington, Roger Tonge, Ronald Allen and Tony Adams. There is also a feature on the Crossroads Caring For Carers which ATV and the serial founded in 1974. It was just titled 'Crossroads Special'.

The next annual-style book after 1979's was released in 1982.  The new Crossroads publication was an independent production - ATV having been replaced as the ITV Midlands service provider by Central Television. Grandreams Limited released the final instalment from the motel which was written by Keith Miles - who had previously written for the programme and also in association with ATV released a fiction book based on the series (see lower down page).

The 1982 annual-style book was called 'The Official Crossroads Special'. It contained a foreword by producer Jack Barton and a map of the new motel layout - which had been built after the 1981 fire. Features include a look at how the team had found a new outside location for the motel setting - the Golden Valley Hotel, a look at the early years of the show and its cast of yesteryear, a profile of the scriptwriters and how the storylines are devised, profiles of the main cast, including Benny Hawkins, Shughie McFee, David Hunter, Jill Harvey, Diane Hunter and J.Henry Pollard. There is a look at motel music - the cast who've had chart success and hats are modelled by the female cast!

Grandreams also released publications on shows such as Brookside, Emmerdale Farm and EastEnders annuals from 1986 to 1989.
Find out about the Crossroads singles and albums released over the years in a fact file here, find out about the Crossroads theme with Tony Hatch in an article here.
GOODBYE MEG
With the shock axing of Noele Gordon from the ATV saga in 1981 a tribute magazine by Sunday Publications was released in the November of the year, to co-incide with Meg's last on-screen episode. This special written by Noele was a thank you to her millions of fans. Noele's departure as Meg Mortimer is one of the most publically reported in British soap history. She had more coverage in the press than the Pope being shot in the same  year!

The magazine looks at Noele's early years before fame as well as her film, West End theatre and television career. The main section is of course about her role as Meg in Crossroads. Noele also looks to her future plans.
GENERAL MAGAZINES
There have been hundreds of articles about Crossroads over the years in various magazines, so many we can't possibly list them all. However there are some notible larger features too - some of which we're noting here. In the 1970s TV Life magazine ran a number of Crossroads features, two editions contained Noele Gordon on the sleeve. Titbits Magazine also featured Crossroads a couple of times, including a 1980 issue featuring Paul Henry and Angus Lennie on the sleeve. To mark 20 years of Crossroads Weekend Magazine looked back at the saga, while Ronald Allen and Sue Lloyd were pictured on the front cover.

Celebrity Magazine marked the end of Crossroads in 1988 with a special pull-out looking back at the plots, cast and real-life events that shaped the show.
The front sleeve was a photograph from the 21st celebration featuring Gabrielle Drake, Tony Adams, Susan Hanson, Jane Rossington, Paul Henry and Dee Hepburn.

In 1979 Star Magazine for the Midlands took a look at the behind-the-scenes recording of the Christmas Day episode in Tanworth-in-Arden (which was the fictional Kings Oak) and in 1998 Yours Magazine marked the 10th anniversary of the end of the show with a special section entitled 'Crossroads Revisited' which looked at what the former stars of the motel were up to a decade later.
CROSSROADS STRIP - TV TIMES MAGAZINE

In 1973 Crossroads made another first, as the TV Times at the time explained: "Meet the man with the magic pen. His name is Alfred Mazure and his cartoons have appeared around the world. Now he turns his talents to television and, from this week, TV Times will be presenting Mazure's cartoon-strip interpretation of Crossroads.

"This is the first time TV Times has illustrated a television show by a cartoon strip. The stories are self-contained. In his native Holland Alfred Mazure has the distinction of having some of his work retained in the national archives. He was the creator of cartoon detective Dick Bos, altogether, 6,000,000 books on Dick's exploits have been sold."
The TV Times series of MAZ Crossroads stories concerned Amy Turtle losing weight, Meg Richardson setting up an exercise class for motel staff, Diane Parker worrying that hubby Vince doesn't fancy her anymore so undergoes a transformation, David Hunter being overworked and causing chaos at the motel when he muddles orders and Meg being painted in oil by a motel guest only to end up as a "modern art abstract" result.

In the early 1990s an EastEnders cartoon strip appeared in children's magazine, Fast Forward.