
When preparing to write Nolly, his three-part biopic about the sacking of Noele Gordon from Crossroads, writer Russell T Davies was told that there was only one person who really knew what she was like, fellow Crossroads actor Tony Adams.
"And so, every morning, Russell would phone me up and we would talk about the various aspects that had happened while I worked with Nolly and some of the dreadful things that happened to her," says Tony.
"There were certain things I didn't think were going to be right, like Helena Bonham Carter. I think she's a wonderful actress, but I didn't think she was right to play Nolly.
"And when Russell finally got the three runs together, he said: 'Before anybody else sees it, I'm sending you the three runs of the show and I want you to have a look at it before we do anything more.'
"And I just picked up the phone and I said: 'I hate to tell you this, Nolly would be so thrilled by what you've done because there is nobody who can get the essence of what she's like and play it the way that Helena plays it. And then there was the boy who played me (Prison Break's Augustus Prew), and when my wife saw him for the first time, she said: 'Oh, he's a dish, isn't he?' And I said: "Thank you very much, darling! Born in Anglesey, Tony's mother was Winifred Brown, a pioneer of aviation, who explored the Amazon by canoe and represented England at hockey and ice hockey.
"She did some wonderful things and gave it all up for me. And I could never understand that. But that was what my mother was like."
Asked by his mother what he wanted to do, Tony said he'd like to be an actor ("I couldn't think of anything else") and successfully auditioned for the Italia Conti stage school.
"And then, literally a few days later, I was out filming. A film called The Magic Box was one of the first things I did.
Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av Best of British.
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Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av Best of British.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Chris Hallam takes a look back at the Channel 4 improvisation show

HORNERAMA
Derek Lamb celebrates Round the Horne, the radio comedy first broadcast 60 years ago

BACK IN TIME WITH COLIN BAKER
BoB's very own Time Lord recalls his early days on the amateur stage, lodging in Liverpool and playing pranks as a professional at The Playhouse

Pieces of Eight
The lovable rogues of childhood fiction belie the harsh reality of the scourges of the seas. Claire Saul previews the National Maritime Museum's latest treasure

Battling On
Ian Wheeler reflects on 50 years of Battle Picture Weekly, Britain's seminal war comic

Another Opening, Another Show
Graham Whalan offers a brief history of amateur musical theatre

Think Again
Simon Stabler talks to a television maths and science legend about his previous life in comedy and as the drummer who stood in for Ringo Starr

Terry's All Gold
Chris Hallam remembers Sir Terry Pratchett

By Royal Appointment
Michael Montagu traces the history of royal warrants

Faster Food
Chris de Winter Hebron recalls his early experiences of \"dining at speed\"