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| Crossroads fans mark 50th anniversary | Crossroads fans mark 50th anniversary |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Fans of TV soap Crossroads have marked its 50th anniversary at a real hotel which doubled up as the show's motel. | |
| The ITV soap opera, set in fictional Kings Oak in the Birmingham area, was famous for wobbly sets but had 18 million viewers at its height. | The ITV soap opera, set in fictional Kings Oak in the Birmingham area, was famous for wobbly sets but had 18 million viewers at its height. |
| The Sutton Coldfield Ramada site was used for outdoor filming in the 1980s before the ITV soap was axed in 1988. | The Sutton Coldfield Ramada site was used for outdoor filming in the 1980s before the ITV soap was axed in 1988. |
| Memorabilia including popular character Benny Hawkins' hat were on show at the event. | |
| 'Tortuous and terrifying' | 'Tortuous and terrifying' |
| Launched on 2 November 1964, four years after Coronation Street, the show initially ran five days a week and became famous for fluffed lines. | Launched on 2 November 1964, four years after Coronation Street, the show initially ran five days a week and became famous for fluffed lines. |
| Tony Adams, who played womanising Adam Chance for 10 years from 1978, said it was recorded without stopping. | Tony Adams, who played womanising Adam Chance for 10 years from 1978, said it was recorded without stopping. |
| He said: "It was tortuous, terrifying… yes there was pressure, but it was enormous fun. | He said: "It was tortuous, terrifying… yes there was pressure, but it was enormous fun. |
| "Hardly anybody lifted a cup because they were stuck to saucers so they didn't rattle. | "Hardly anybody lifted a cup because they were stuck to saucers so they didn't rattle. |
| "It was one of the best shows I ever did... if you went into M&S, to Scotland, to Ireland, to Jersey, people recognised you." | "It was one of the best shows I ever did... if you went into M&S, to Scotland, to Ireland, to Jersey, people recognised you." |
| Adams, 73, of Saltdean, Brighton, said one viewer upset at the way his character treated girlfriend Miranda Pollard got into the Birmingham studios. | Adams, 73, of Saltdean, Brighton, said one viewer upset at the way his character treated girlfriend Miranda Pollard got into the Birmingham studios. |
| He said: "He pulled a knife. Fortunately, there were two security guards. I didn't get hurt, but it was a bit of a shock." | He said: "He pulled a knife. Fortunately, there were two security guards. I didn't get hurt, but it was a bit of a shock." |
| Crossroads was revived in 2001, again starring Adams, but axed in 2003. | Crossroads was revived in 2001, again starring Adams, but axed in 2003. |
| An anniversary cake featuring the motel sign has been baked for the Sutton Coldfield event. | An anniversary cake featuring the motel sign has been baked for the Sutton Coldfield event. |
| 'Russian spy' | 'Russian spy' |
| But the original red motel sign will not be on show because "it's so big" to transport, the Crossroads Appreciation Society said. | But the original red motel sign will not be on show because "it's so big" to transport, the Crossroads Appreciation Society said. |
| Proceeds from sales of props and photographs will go to the Crossroads Care charity network, which gives a break to carers. | Proceeds from sales of props and photographs will go to the Crossroads Care charity network, which gives a break to carers. |
| Fan club member Chris Stacey, 55, of Newham, east London, said: "As a child growing up it was like an extended family... they featured Spaghetti Junction in the opening titles at one point." | Fan club member Chris Stacey, 55, of Newham, east London, said: "As a child growing up it was like an extended family... they featured Spaghetti Junction in the opening titles at one point." |
| But he said while it was "escapism", there were "bizarre" storylines including "when Amy Turtle, a famous Brummie, the cleaner… was thought to be a Russian spy". | But he said while it was "escapism", there were "bizarre" storylines including "when Amy Turtle, a famous Brummie, the cleaner… was thought to be a Russian spy". |