Classic Soap 'Crossroads' Gets Trigger Warning, Sparks Debate
ITV adds content warnings to 'Crossroads' episodes on its streaming service, citing outdated standards and attitudes. Former cast member criticizes decision as "pathetic," highlighting show's innovative aspects.
ITV has recently implemented trigger warnings for episodes of the classic soap opera Crossroads on its streaming platform ITVX. The network cites "broadcast standards, language and attitudes of its time" as the reason for this decision, sparking a debate about the relevance of such warnings for vintage television content.
Crossroads, which first aired in 1964 and ran for over two decades, was a popular British soap opera set in a fictional Birmingham motel. Despite its notoriously low budget and often criticized production values, the show attracted millions of viewers throughout its 4,500-episode run.
The decision to add content warnings has been met with criticism from some former cast members. Fiona Curzon, who portrayed motel manager Faye Mansfield from 1975 to 1977, expressed her disapproval to the Daily Mail, stating:
"I don't think anyone sitting down and watching Crossroads would be shocked by anything. On the contrary, I think they would think: 'What is the matter with the people who are issuing these warnings?'"
[[Fiona Curzon, former Crossroads actress]]
Despite its perceived shortcomings, Crossroads was groundbreaking in several aspects. It was one of the first British soaps to feature a regular disabled character, with Roger Tonge portraying Sandy, the son of hotelier Meg Mortimer, who used a wheelchair. The show also made strides in racial representation, introducing Meg's adopted black daughter in response to Enoch Powell's controversial 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.
Crossroads is not alone in receiving such warnings. Earlier this year, the 1980s BBC sitcom "Terry and June" was given a similar advisory for "discriminatory" language when added to ITV's Britbox streaming service.
An ITV spokesperson addressed the issue in April 2024, explaining that the network regularly reviews its historical programming to ensure appropriate guidance is in place for on-demand viewers.
The enduring legacy of Crossroads was recently celebrated in the 2023 drama miniseries "Nolly," featuring Helena Bonham-Carter as Noele Gordon, the iconic actress who starred in the original soap.
As television archives become more accessible through streaming platforms, the debate over how to present vintage content to modern audiences continues to evolve, balancing preservation of cultural artifacts with sensitivity to changing social norms.
