THE REIGN AND FALL FROM GRACE OF IMIMITABLE BRITISH SOAP STAR NOELE GORDON
A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
Growing up in the UK as a youngster through the 1970s and as a teenager into the early 1980s iconic TV serial CROSSROADS, the UK’s first half-hour daily soap opera (running from 1964 to 1987), made a huge and lasting impression on me. A faster-paced version of the American format, 25 minutes rather than an hour. Intelligently handled, ground-breaking storylines depicted and explored varied real-world themes, and was also the first TV soap to have a disabled main character and actor. Transcending unfair jibes and jokes, aimed for the most part at cheap production design, due in no small part to the progressive nature of the subject matter covered, yet soaps in the years to come received recognition for wrongly being perceived to have depicted similar first.
At the epicentre was the now almost forgotten grand-dame of British TV Noele Gordon. Of whom my Nan had a huge fondness and respect. Now I assumed this was because she was an avid CROSSROADS fan. Little realising, until recently when I first heard of NOLLY, it in fact went far beyond that. Noele Gordon prior to CROSSROADS could be unarguably considered a trailblazer for women. In 1938 she was the first woman motion transmitted in colour from the camera to a TV set, the first commercial TV female executive, in her own words “pretty much invented [UK] daytime TV” when in 1957 ATV launched LUNCHBOX, the first-weekday daily lunchtime variety, chat, and music show on network TV, and also became the first woman to interview a Prime Minister on TV (Harold Macmillan).
Needless to say, when I heard her life was to be dramatised by Russell T. Davies (Queer as Folk, Dr Who) and she was to be brought back to life by one of my favourite actresses, the ever dependable Helena Bonham Carter, the anticipation factor was not unsurprisingly high.
Having now watched this three-part limited series expectations were met, and more.
Foremost the casting of Noele Gordon had to be spot on, and it was wonderfully inspired. Even though Bonham Carter does not particularly look like her she is absolutely sublime in one of her career-best roles. Capturing every facet of Noele Gordon beautifully. Brilliantly fleshing her out and making us feel every emotional high and heartbreaking low, many a time with beautiful subtlety.
However, Bonham Carter would not reach these heights without the foundation of a great script. And Russell T. Davies, one of the best writers around, delivers yet again. His screenplay jumps back and forth to key points in Noele Gordon’s career painting a picture of a complex person who was far from perfect. The core of this covers her final days on CROSSROADS and the aftermath of her unceremonious sacking in 1981 that made national news and newspaper headlines. Davies spoke to many of the cast that worked with her, who affectionately called this mother figure Nolly, and became his narrative basis. The only slight negatives in the wake of watching were the inventions of a fictional character and one scene near the end of episode three, which is not unusual in true-life dramas for dramatic purposes. Yet in hindsight, the aim of these is clear, particularly in giving Noele Gordon one possible reason for being axed and Davies striving to give her a resolution she herself never had in life.
Bonham Carter is backed up by a brilliant cast who bring to life some of the CROSSROADS actors. Fan favourites such as Susan Hanson (“Miss” Diane), Jane Rossington (Jill), Paul Henry (Benny), Ronald Allen (David Hunter), Sue Lloyd (Barbara Hunter), and Angus Lennie (Shughie Mcfee). Noele Gordon’s close friendship with Tony Adams (Adam Chance), a marvellous Augustus Prew , takes up a large part of the story. Also depicted is her friendship with legendary British comedian and TV host Larry Grayson. He is, while not looking like him, wonderfully brought to life by Mark Gatiss. The few scenes he appears in are touching, with much depth and heart that fully fleshes out their relationship. He really needs to portray Larry Grayson at some point in a film or series of his life. Not forgetting also Con O’Neill as producer Jack Barton.
NOLLY is as near perfect as true-life series or films get, even though nostalgia-tinged. For fans and those that have never heard of Noele Gordon it is highly recommended and will leave you wanting to discover more about this remarkable lady. Every aspect is exquisitely moulded to create a wonderfully touching tribute to a much-loved yet sadly forgotten British national treasure.
Quite simply NOLLY is Russell T. Davies helmed brilliance.
Dedicated in loving memory to My Nan xxx
NOLLY IS NOW STREAMING EXCLUSIVELY ON ITVX IN THE UK.
More can be discovered about this remarkable woman here:
MR GEEKY 