{"id":29642,"date":"2023-02-02T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T08:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1773446"},"modified":"2023-02-02T13:56:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T12:56:33","slug":"nolly-preview-russell-t-davies-eyes-crossroads-and-the-original-megxit","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/nolly-preview-russell-t-davies-eyes-crossroads-and-the-original-megxit\/","title":{"rendered":"Nolly preview: Russell T Davies eyes Crossroads and the original Megxit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Helena Bonham Carter plays a queen who loses her crown in the latest ITVX original. <\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 02 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Though it may not be apparent at first glance, there\u2019s a very clear theme connecting ITVX original drama Nolly<\/a> to Russell T Davies\u2019s previous work \u2013 harrowing Channel 4 miniseries It\u2019s A Sin<\/a>. That is, both involve the prolific screenwriter stepping into an educator role, examining a period in recent history unknown to younger generations and largely forgotten by the mainstream.<\/p>\n

Of course, the distinct subject matter covered by each is beyond comparison, but that isn\u2019t to say that Nolly is without any emotional weight of its own. On the contrary, this too is dotted with moments of real poignancy.<\/p>\n

For the uninitiated (i.e. anyone under the age of 40), Noele \u2018Nolly\u2019 Gordon was the face of long-running soap opera Crossroads for almost two decades, where she played strong-willed motel owner Meg Mortimer (n\u00e9e Richardson). Despite bitter disdain from critics, the series attracted enormous viewership of approximately 15 million per episode, making Nolly one of the most recognisable faces in the country.<\/p>\n

When news broke that she had been abruptly fired from the show \u2013 a move she publicly condemned \u2013 the press became fixated on behind-the-scenes drama and rumours of what fate could befall her iconic character.<\/p>

Helena Bonham Carter dons wigs and nylon for the title role here, instantly commanding attention with an opening scene that concisely demonstrates the control (or, some might argue, stranglehold) that Nolly had over Crossroads.<\/p>\n

Though she would never acknowledge it, she was the star of the show \u2013 and the glue holding this humble production together. From mentoring newcomers to changing scripts and improvising wherever needed, it\u2019s quickly made crystal clear that axing Nolly would be tantamount to ploughing through a load-bearing wall. So why did it happen?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the question that hangs over this three-part series and haunted Nolly in her day-to-day life post-1981, both in moments alone and interactions with her adoring public. The tragedy is that, in reality, she never did find out the truth, although Davies plays with the history in this retelling to correct what he clearly views as a grave injustice.<\/p>\n

The screenwriter\u2019s obvious investment in this saga makes him (uniquely?) qualified to tell this story, although at points there is a sense that his fandom might actually be a slight hindrance.<\/p>\n