Who was Noele Gordon and why was she sacked from Crossroads?

NOELE Gordon was the staple of popular soap Crossroads from the mid-60s until the early 80s.

But the late legendary actress was unceremoniously sacked from the long-running programme, leaving fans in shock.

Who was Noele Gordon?

Noele Gordon — who was known to her friends as Nolly — was a legend in her own lifetime.

Born on Christmas Day in 1919, she was an English actress and television presenter.

The TV star was best known for playing the role of Meg Richardson in the long-running soap Crossroads from 1964 to 1981.

The actress, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1982, passed away from the disease on April 14, 1985 at the age of 65.

What shows did Noele Gordon star in?

Although she was mainly known for Crossroads, Noele enjoyed an incredible career, both on the stage and screen.

She was also popular for her work as a presenter.

During the early 60s she hosted a daily live entertainment show called Lunchbox.

Why did Noele Gordon get sacked from Crossroads?

As flame-haired widow Meg Richardson in Crossroads, at the time Noele was one of the most famous people in the UK.

She won her first TV Times Award for most popular actress in 1969, and would go on to win it another eight times.

Her pull with bosses was also strong, with Noele the only cast member to have been on a permanent contract while the show was in production.

The actress was essentially known as the first ‘queen of soaps’ due to her popularity and legacy in the soap role

Then in 1981, at the height of the show’s success and the peak of Nolly’s fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation.

With the boss’ words “all good things must come to an end” ringing in her ears, Noele found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.

Despite the bitter end to her permanent contract in 1981, she returned for two further episodes in 1985, shortly before her death.

Tony Adams, who played Adam Chance on Crossroads, commented in 1985 just after she passed away that, “There has never been a star of Crossroads, although Nolly was Crossroads.”

Her story has been immortalised in an ITV drama called Nolly, written by Bafta-winning writer Russell T Davies and starring Hollywood megastar Helena Bonham Carter as Noele.

Was Noele Gordon married?

During her life Noele never married or had any children.

She was known to have lived most of her life in a large white-washed country house in Weir End, near Ross-on-Wye.

However, when she passed away she was at her home in Birmingham.