Nearly four decades after the death of Noele Gordon, the soap star’s “pioneering achievements” are all but forgotten, said Christopher Stevens in the Daily Mail. But Nolly, which was written by Russell T. Davies (and which can be seen on ITVX), “aims to bring her back to the fore – and castigate the chauvinistic male TV establishment that cancelled her for the crime of being female and forceful”.
Gordon is played by Helena Bonham Carter sporting “a mink coat that reeks of gin and ciggies, and an auburn hairdo that could scrub pans”. The drama focuses on 1981, when she was sacked from Crossroads, then one of the most popular British programmes ever made, after 17 years in the role. Davies clearly has a huge affection for the TV of that era, and Bonham Carter is fabulous as “the imperious soap queen”.
“This is a big, brassy period drama about a big, brassy star,” said Camilla Long in The Sunday Times. And I quite enjoyed it. “If you’re into soaps or dramas about dramas, the detail is rollicking.” But Bonham Carter’s Sybil Fawlty-esque Nolly doesn’t entirely convince in this “shiny, lost, camp world”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
With a cast of characters that includes Larry Grayson, Nolly serves as a “tender tribute to British television”, said Rebecca Nicholson in The Guardian. And though it could have done with a touch more “acidity”, it’s such a joy to watch that it’s hard to care. “It is warm, thoughtful and gorgeous, and by the end of it, I was a little bit in love with Nolly myself.”
-
‘Maps are the ideal metaphor for our models of what the world might be’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
What is China doing in Latin America?Today’s Big Question Beijing offers itself as an alternative to U.S. dominance
-
‘One Battle After Another’ wins Critics Choice honorsSpeed Read Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, won best picture at the 31st Critics Choice Awards
-
The ultimate films of 2025 by genreThe Week Recommends From comedies to thrillers, documentaries to animations, 2025 featured some unforgettable film moments
-
Into the Woods: a ‘hypnotic’ productionThe Week Recommends Jordan Fein’s revival of the much-loved Stephen Sondheim musical is ‘sharp, propulsive and often very funny’
-
The best food books of 2025The Week Recommends From mouthwatering recipes to insightful essays, these colourful books will both inspire and entertain
-
Art that made the news in 2025The Explainer From a short-lived Banksy mural to an Egyptian statue dating back three millennia
-
Nine best TV shows of the yearThe Week Recommends From Adolescence to Amandaland
-
Winter holidays in the snow and sunThe Week Recommends Escape the dark, cold days with the perfect getaway
-
The best homes of the yearFeature Featuring a former helicopter engine repair workshop in Washington, D.C. and high-rise living in San Francisco
-
Critics’ choice: The year’s top 10 moviesFeature ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘It Was Just an Accident’ stand out
