Larry Grayson's love for Noele Gordon, and why Britain was enthralled...

Crossroads queen and comic fooled adoring fans with a prank proposal

- NATASHA WVMAROZYK

As one of the UK's most famous stars, Crossroads' Noele Gordon was used to receiving stacks of fan mail. And when her engagement to Larry Grayson was announced on live TV, it was no exception.

A But there was one problem Noele and the comic were not really engaged. It was a joke that started when Noele appeared on This Is Your Life in 1973.

The late Noele, the subject of ITV1 drama Nolly, which airs tomorrow, recalled: "When Larry appeared I couldn't believe hed come all that way just for a couple of minutes on TV with me.

"That's when our 'romance' was born. 'Noele, I do love you, he said as he walked on. I knew he was joking and I carried on in the same vein. 'I keep asking him to marry me but he won't, I explained.

"Larry's answer was gallant and to the point. 'I will then, he said.

"Neither of us realised so many people would take it seriously." However, in 1975, The Generation Game presenter did play a role in a wedding involving Noele.

More than 18 million Crossroads fans tuned in to see motel owner Meg Richardson marry Hugh Mortimer, played by John Bentley.

Larry had a cameo role as the couple's wedding chauffeur despite the fact he could not drive.

This was believed to be an in-joke referring to claims that he and Noele were romantically linked.

In reality, Larry was a gay man who feared. coming out would end his career. He was 44 when homosexuality was decriminalised in England in 1967.

Noele had vowed never to marry following two failed relationships.

Her first love, Army captain John Robertson Dunn Crichton, broke off their engagement a week before their wedding when she was 18.

Then, she spent 20 years as the mistress of TV boss Val Parnell.