Helena Bonham Carter transforms into Crossroads icon Noele Gordon for new ITV drama Nolly

Helena Bonham Carter was near unrecognisable as she got into character as Crossroads icon Noele Gordon during filming for ITV drama, Nolly, on Tuesday.

The Oscar nominee, 56, donned an coiffed auburn wig, a fur coat, patterned dress and Mary Jane shoes as she linked arms with a handsome co-star while walking down the streets of Bolton- which had been transformed into 1970s Birmingham.  

Helena put on an animated display as she linked arms with her co-star, who wore a black leather jacket, crisp shirt, slacks and sported a moustache.

Back in time: Helena Bonham Carter was near unrecognisable as she got into character as Crossroads icon Noele Gordon as filming continued on ITV drama, Nolly, on Tuesday

He was seen kneeling in the street to kiss the star’s hand and appearing to propose to her in the dramatic scenes. 

Three part drama Nolly, penned by Russell T Davies, will explore the all-powerful reign and fall from grace of the inimitable Noele Gordon, who died in 1985.  

She was declared the ‘Queen of the Midlands’ thanks to iconic role as Meg Mortimer in Crossroads and was the darling of the establishment until it turned on her. 

As flame-haired widow Meg in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, Noele became one of the most famous people in Britain.

Say yes? He was seen kneeling in the street to kiss the star’s hand and appearing to propose to her in the dramatic scenes

Spitting image: The Oscar nominee, 56, donned an coiffed auburn wig, a fur coat, patterned dress and Mary Jane shoes to transform into Noele (R)

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Transformed: The streets of Bolton were whisked back in time to the 1970s

Chat: The actors were seen during a dramatic scene in Bolton

What’s going on here? The man kneeled in the street as he wooed Noele

Then in 1981, at the height of the show’s success and the peak of her fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation, with the soap eventually ending two years later.

With the boss’s words ‘all good things must come to an end’ ringing in her ears, Noele found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.  

A love letter to a legend of television, and to the madcap soap she starred in, Nolly will be an entertaining ride through Noele’s most tumultuous years, and a sharp, affectionate and heart-breaking portrait of a forgotten icon.

Of the role, Helena said: ‘Noele Gordon was a fascinating, complex, brilliant and gutsy woman – none of which I knew before I read Russell T Davies’ script. 

‘I’m so thrilled to help tell Nolly’s long overdue and largely forgotten story. 

Fun: Helena put on an animated display as she linked arms with her co-star, who wore a black leather jacket, crisp shirt, slacks and sported a moustache

Discussion: Filming got underway on the hotly-anticipated drama

Discussion: The pair looked incredible in their 1970s outfits as they filmed

Doe-eyed: Helena showed off her eerie transformation into Noele

Throwback: The star looked stunning in her retro ensemble

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Script: Helena changed into trainers between takes as she read her script

‘Russell’s screenplay is a work of brilliance and I hope I’ll do him and Nolly justice. I can’t wait to start.’

Nolly has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, who commented: ‘Russell’s scripts are magnificent and a great tribute to Noele Gordon, but also to our national love of soaps and a celebration of the incredible women they create.   

‘Helena Bonham Carter is going to be amazing as Nolly and we can’t wait for her to step into those shoes.’

Classic: Retro cars lined the streets as filming commenced

Back in time: No expense had been spared on the background of the drama

Soap star: Nolly will explore the all-powerful reign, and fall from grace, of the inimitable Noele Gordon (pictured with actor Roger Tonge), who died in 1985

Russell said: ‘One of my very first jobs in TV was a trial script for Crossroads, and I’ve wanted to write the story of behind the scenes on that show for 40 years. At last, the truth can be told!’  

Noele, who had previously had multiple roles in the theatre before landing her part in Crossroads, played Meg from 1964 to 1981, and later returned for a two-episode stint in 1983.

After she was dropped from the show, Noele’s ill health prevented her from accepting many more roles, and she died in 1985 at the age of 66.

However the casting of Helena in the titular role hasn’t gone down well with everyone.  Angela Webb, 64, who played Iris Scott in the drama from 1980 to 1985, told The Express: ‘This is really bizarre. Someone writing a biopic of her who didn’t know or experience her… I do worry.’ 

‘She wouldn’t be my first choice. Nolly was statuesque and strong, Celticlike, with piercing blue eyes. Helena is tiny, dark-haired, dark-eyed. I hope she’s met people who knew Noele and gets advice about the presence that she had. I’d be hugely up for that.’

Career: As Meg in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, Noele (pictured with Sue Hanson) became one of the most famous people in Britain until she was axed without ceremony