We've had a couple of enquiries about an apparent proposed spin-off series from Crossroads to be called 'A Family Affair' in 1980, and apparently focusing on David Hunter and his family.
Sorry we've never heard of it. Lady Plowden's 1979 announcement that Crossroads was to be reduced to three episodes a week from 1980 was definite. There was no suggestion that the team and certain actors should stretch things by producing a 'spin-off' - easing the load and 'improving quality' was apparently the reason, not creating a spin-off.
We still feel annoyed, thinking about that announcement! It seems amazingly snobbish as so many people, and we're thinking particularly about lonely, elderly or ill people, relied on the show as a link to life - viewing the characters as friends. We had busy, full lives at the time and still viewed the characters as friends, and loved our four nights a week check-in at the motel.
There is nothing recorded in the press of the time about a 'spin-off' replacement on the vacant evening, and I never heard anything about it at the time.
There was a novel called Crossroads - A Family Affair in 1980, by Keith Miles, but contemporary reviews of the book do not present it as any preparation for a spin-off. Soap opera based novels were common by 1980, and all had titles: Emmerdale Farm - Lovers' Meeting, Whispers of Scandal, A Sad and Happy Summer, etc; Coronation Street: Early Days, Trouble at the Rovers, etc; and Crossroads itself: A New Beginning, A Warm Breeze, etc. None were geared towards launching 'spin-off' TV series.
In fact, if the 'spin-off' was to be focused on David, it's hard to see how it would crossover with his role in the main serial.
We've also had enquiries about a 1980 series called For Maddie With Love, starring Nyree Dawn Porter, becoming a replacement for Crossroads. As this was the story of a terminally ill character, it hardly had long running serial potential.
There are many things said online, and we prefer to rely on contemporary reporting and absolutely solid, absolutely verifiable evidence. Also our memories.
So, sorry, we can't help in this instance!
