Where is Nolly filmed? Locations featured in the ITVX Crossroads drama with Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter brings to life the dazzling career and controversies of acting legend Noele Gordon in the ITVX drama nolly – but where was the series filmed?
BAFTA winner and icon Helena Bonham Carter plays icon Noele Gordon in a drama series nollyLanding on ITVX (opens in new tab) on February 2nd. The legendary actress portrayed red-haired widow Meg Richardson on the long-running soap opera Crossing, one of the most recognizable faces in Britain. In 1981, at the height of the soap opera’s success and with Nolly a popular household name, she was summarily dropped from the show without warning or explanation. After Noele was kicked out of the show that was her life for over 18 years, the three-part series explores what happens to women who refuse to play by the rules and acts as a love letter to a TV legend while she depicts her most tumultuous years. Viewers are sure to recognize some of the drama’s locations as we reveal exactly where to find them as we take a deeper look into the life of Noele Gordon.
Elsewhere on ITV, Maternal (opens in new tab) is proving to be an important show, highlighting the plight of women returning to the workforce and realizing that it’s impossible to have everything. Although based in Manchester, Maternal filmed (opens in new tab) in a very different northern town. Another location fans have been asking about is where Hotel Portofino filmed (opens in new tab) – The actual locations featured might also surprise.
Where is Nolly filmed?
External locations presented in nolly, filmed in Manchester, Bolton and Venice. Internal recordings were filmed at Space Studios Manchester.
In Manchester, film crews have been spotted at the Salford Lads’ Club in Ordsall and Stockport Plaza. The Salford Boys Club (opens in new tab) opened in 1903 as part of the broader movement of lads’ clubs formed by local businesses and philanthropists between 1886 and 1910. Many similar clubs were formed in industrial cities, mainly in the North West of England. Their goal was to provide a safe place for local teenagers to engage in street gangs, engage in sports, arts, and cultural and educational activities. The Salford Lads’ Club also made an effort to help boys as young as 13 find jobs. The club is no stranger to TV appearances, having appeared in numerous shows, commercials and documentaries. It will be most recognizable when you appear in it Coronation Street, Shameless, Peaky Blinders, Cold Feetand Ridley Road.
(Credit: Vincent Abbey/Alamy)
The Stockport Plaza (opens in new tab) is an art deco super cinema and variety theatre. The building opened in 1932 and over 90 years later retains its original function of hosting pantomimes, musicals, plays, comedy and concerts and showing classic films in their proper proportion and format – customers can see the classics on the big screen, like they used to enjoy.
Mark Gatiss, who plays Larry on the show, spoke to Virgin Radio about filming at the Plaza. He said: “I play Larry. And it was a real treat, because he really was Noele’s best friend. People used to think they got married in this weird way that light entertainment used to rule the nation. What amazed me was that I had to recreate Larry’s performance, which we shot with 150 extras in Stockport Plaza. It was just so much fun.”
In Bolton, film crews were spotted at Le Mans Crescent in May and June 2022, which was transformed into a set of vintage cars and buses. The Crescent is no stranger to television either, as it features distinctive cobblestone streets and stately buildings, with Bolton Town Hall behind it. Fans might recognize it Peaky Blinders, it’s a sinand The IpPress file.
(Credit: Christina Bollen/Alamy)
In Venice, the shooting took place on the Grand Canal and in the Dorsoduro area. The real Noele Gordon briefly returned to Crossroads in 1983, filming scenes in Venice that may be re-enacted nolly. Augustus Prew, who plays Tony Adams on the series, shared a picture of himself and Helena Bonham Carter on set in Venice with the canal in the background.
Space Studios Manchester (opens in new tab) has more than 85,000 square meters of stages dedicated to television and film production. The production rooms have been designed to meet the needs of any production company, with 24/7 access for shooting any time of the day or night. The studio shared pictures of the cast and crew on its Twitter page with the caption, “This is a wrap, @quaystproductions have settled here at @SpaceStudiosMcr for the past few months to film their first production, the highly anticipated ‘Nolly ‘ Due, which will air in early 2023. Nolly is the true story of Crossroads star Noele Gordon, starring Helena Bonham Carter.”
That’s closure 🎬 @quaystproductions have settled here at @SpaceStudiosMcr for the past few months to film their first production, the highly anticipated ‘Nolly’, due to air in early 2023. Nolly is the true story of Crossroads star Noele Gordon starring Helena Bonham Carter. pic.twitter.com/RkYEjEyvu2July 28, 2022
Who was Noele Gordon?
Noele Gordon was born on Christmas Day 1919 in East Ham, London. She appeared in John Logie Baird’s world’s first color broadcast on July 3, 1928 and built a successful television career. Apprenticeship at RADA, after graduating Noele appeared in various West End productions such as brigadeand Call me madam. After a few film appearances, she presented herself The weekend show for associative television.
On February 28, 1941, she announced her engagement to Capt. Known as John Robertson Dunn Crichton. However, his wealthy family was unhappy that he was marrying an actress and the wedding was canceled at the last minute. Noele was said to be so upset at the wedding cancellation that she refused to ever get married in the future. In 1954, Noele went to America to study and observe her commercial services and studied television production at New York University for a year. On her return to the UK, she became the first female television executive when she was hired to oversee lifestyle output at a Midlands television station.
By 1955 she was part of Noele The weekend showbefore moving to ATV London to host ITV’s first chat show – Tea with Noele Gordon. Over the next decade, she held numerous production, writing, and acting jobs. In November 1964, she landed her most iconic and well-known role – that of Meg Richardson/Mortimer, owner of the Crossing Motel in the fictional village of Kings Oak. The role earned her multiple awards between 1968 and 1981, and she became the first celebrity to be inducted into the TV Times Hall of Fame. In 1975 her character Meg Hugh (John Bentley) got married and 1000 spectators came to the wedding location to see the couple.
In 1981, after 17 years as Meg, Noele was fired when ATV was converted to Central Independent Television (CIT). CIT had reportedly wanted to cancel Crossing overall, but could not do so at the time. It is believed she was fired because CIT hoped viewers would stop watching the show without her in it so they could cancel it and make room for other shows. However, the series retained some popularity and continued through 1988, with a brief revival between 2001 and 2003.
(Credit: PA Images/Alamy)
How old was Noele Gordon when she died?
Noele Gordon died of stomach cancer on April 14, 1985 at the age of 65. She is buried at St Mary’s Church, Ross-On-Wye, near Hereford.
After being fired from Crossroads, Noele returned to the soap for two episodes in 1983. She was asked again in 1985 when the series was retitled crossing hotel. However, by this time she was too ill to return and died shortly after appearing. A memorial service for Noele was held at Birmingham Cathedral in May 1985. Lots of famous faces from their past, and lots of the Crossing Cast attended the ceremony.
(Image credit: ITV)
Nolly: Reviews
The critical answer to nolly was largely positive.
Rebecca Nicholson out The guard (opens in new tab) offered 4 out of 5 stars. She said: “Ultimately, this is a posthumous defense of Nolly, who was mistreated by the industry she loved and sent out to pasture well before her time. It’s a defense of soap, of television, of fabulous older women and of showbiz, darling, even in its sleakiest and least glamorous form. It’s warm, thoughtful and beautiful, and I ended up feeling a little bit in love with Nolly myself.
Nick Hilton out The Independent (opens in new tab) Offered 3 stars, saying, “Despite being branded a ‘difficult asset’ by ATV executives, it’s clear that Davies and his cast have a unanimous enthusiasm for Gordon’s no-nonsense, feminist perspective on the industry they serve.” throws off the concept. Viewers unfamiliar with the cultural moment it represents may struggle to get past the opening episode, but those who do will find something treacherous but efficiently moving, with Bonham Carter in sensational form.
Anita Singh out The Telegraph (opens in new tab) gave the series a whopping 5 stars. She said: “For anyone who is nostalgic for that era, the show is filled with joy. The fashion. The shopping – Gordon and Adams manage to make a trip to look in the windows of Rackhams in Birmingham, incredibly glamorous. And if Crossroads was a regular part of your visiting schedule – even if you thought it was nonsense – then just hearing Benny say the words “Miss Diane” will induce a Proustian intoxication.”
Related ITV Features:
video of the week
