Crossroads' Tony Adams remembered as 'a joy'

The series first ended in 1988 after more than 4,500 episodes, with Tony Adams staying until the end

Crossroads actor Tony Adams has been remembered as an "absolute joy" following his death at the age of 84.

Adams played accountant Adam Chance for 10 years from 1978, when the Midlands-based ITV soap attracted millions of viewers before being cut from the schedules.

He made his name, following performances on stage, as Dr Neville Bywaters in 1970s soap General Hospital and appeared in Dr Who series The Green Death.

He died at Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Saturday, with wife Christine by his side.

Michael Rose, from The Michael Rose Organisation Ltd, paid tribute to Adams as an "absolute joy" and a talented actor, dancer and singer, with whom he had worked on a stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium in 2004.

Mr Rose said Adams "was one of the warmest gentlemen you could wish to work with" and there was "nothing Tony couldn't do".

"He was a very accomplished actor, he was a really good dancer and singer," he said.

"He played Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was a joy to have in the company, as he was in every company."

Tony Adams (second left) pictured with Crossroads colleagues (left to right) Sue Lloyd (who played Barbara Hunter), Noele Gordon (Meg Mortimer/Richardson), Ronald Allen (David Hunter), Jane Rossington (Jill Richardson/Harvey/Chance) and Paul Henry (Benny Hawkins)

Anthony Sawley Adams was born in Anglesey, Wales, in 1940 and trained as an actor at the Italia Conti theatre school.

Crossroads, set in fictional Kings Oak in the Birmingham area, was famous for wobbly sets, but had 18 million viewers at its height.

Launched in 1964, four years after Coronation Street, the show initially ran five days a week and was also known for performers' fluffed lines.

Speaking to the BBC in 2014 for the 50th anniversary of Crossroads' launch, Adams said the soap was recorded without stopping.

He said: "It was tortuous, terrifying… yes there was pressure, but it was enormous fun.

"Hardly anybody lifted a cup because they were stuck to saucers so they didn't rattle.

"It was one of the best shows I ever did... if you went into M&S, to Scotland, to Ireland, to Jersey, people recognised you."

'Magical man'

The nationwide soap ended in 1988 after more than 4,500 episodes and was revived in 2001, again starring Adams, but axed in 2003.

In 2023, he had a cameo role in Nolly - a TV drama telling the story of Crossroads actress Noele Gordon.

Augustus Prew, who played Adams in the drama, described him as a "magical man" during interviews at the time.