http://www.atvnewsnetwork.co.uk/today/index.php/soap-news/1432-crossroads-john-bentley

John Bentley Dies
Written by Mike Watkins
Friday, 14 August 2009 18:01

ATV / ITVFrom episode 86 in 1965 through to 1977 actor John Bentley became a 
housewives favourite as Crossroads' Hugh Mortimer. He also helped the soap 
reach its biggest-ever ratings in 1975 when he married Meg Richardson, the 
matriarch of the Crossroads Motel since episode one in 1964. John also had a 
successful movie, theatre and television career outside of soap, which 
included his own series, African Patrol.

In Crossroads, as businessman Hugh Mortimer, he became the lead male 
opposite, as Terry Lloyd - reporting for ITN on her death commented, 'The 
Queen of British Soaps' Noele Gordon. Noele as Meg had won every soap award 
possible in her reign as the owner of a small motel in the fictional Midland 
village of Kings Oak. With her popularity, John's increased too. However, 
not always to his advantage.

Speaking to the Crossroads Fan Club in 2006 he commented: "I recall one 
point Hugh was very popular with the fans and a certain gentleman engaged me 
for a couple of nights cabaret work in Birmingham. He didn't seem interested 
whether I could actually sing or do a turn, he simply hired me because Hugh 
was popular and would fill the club.It was all going well, with further 
bookings. Until one day the phone rang, the promoter said he'd have to 
cancel my cabaret bookings. It seems in the series Hugh had "done the dirty" 
on Meg and the audience were furious with him. I persuaded the promoter that 
the event was still worth doing, as people would know the difference between 
Hugh Mortimer and John Bentley. Come the night of the cabaret, the greeting 
to yours truly was incredible - for all the wrong reasons! I stepped out 
onto the stage to be greeted with jeers and very loud booing. It was 
petrifying at the time, but it does show the power of Crossroads. I won the 
audience over in the end, although how I don't know."

John was also greatly proud of the 'social awareness' Crossroads brought to 
its viewers. In the storylines he suffered numerous heart-attacks which won 
praise from Medical bodies for the portrait of how to deal promptly and 
correctly with an attack, and also how to improve lifestyle afterwards. In 
1975 18 million watched the on-screen wedding of Hugh and Meg, while fans of 
the show brought Birmingham city centre to a halt to watch the recording at 
the city's Cathedral.

He was also a strong defender of the programme, again commenting in 2006: 
"The press may have disliked us because Crossroads was not very British in 
production style or values. ATV originally boasted that we were using an 
American idea and format. The press, I think, didn't like that at all. But 
of course the things they mocked happened in every other programme of the 
era too. Every "as live" programme had the same problems and mistakes. I 
don't know why we were singled out from the rest."

Outside of the soap opera world he had a long and varied career. From acting 
in movies alongside Diana Dors to leading a cast in the police drama African 
Patrol back in the 1950s. John first got his break by singing as he recalled 
to the Crossroads Fan Club:

"Apart from the odd school play, I had very little interest in the 
theatrical world until I was sixteen and that was quite by accident. I got 
into the business through radio producer Martyn C. Webster. On one of his 
radio broadcasts he offered listeners to come to his studio and audition. 
Those who were good enough would be offered work at the station.

I actually decided that I would be quite a good singer, so armed with a 78 
record to accompany my performance, I sang for Martyn. He liked what he 
heard and offered me a part in a radio musical. And that is where the 
singing evolved into acting. Other radio dramas soon followed thankfully."

ATV

In the 1950s he began featuring on ATV programming, including the popular 
daytime live chat show, Lunch Box where he was one of the guest singers. 
This show just happened to be produced by Reg Watson, who later went on to 
create Crossroads and was hosted by Midland icon, Noele Gordon.

"When a few years later they were casting the part of Hugh Mortimer, Noele 
Gordon suggested me for the role to Reg, and they both agreed I was the 
perfect choice."

John Bentley was born in Birmingham on 2 December 1916, died 13 August 2009 
in Petworth, Sussex. He had been suffering from a long illness.

http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2009/08/16/death-of-crossroads-heart-throb-66331-24450879/

Death of Crossroads heart-throb
Aug 16 2009 by Christina Savvas, Sunday Mercury

FORMER Crossroads star John Bentley, who married Noele Gordon in the soap's 
biggest storyline, has died at the age of 92.
The actor from Sparkhill, Birmingham, became a housewives' favourite as 
Crossroads' smoothie Hugh Mortimer.

He helped the soap reach its biggest-ever ratings in 1975 when he married 
Meg Richardson, the matriarch of the Crossroads Motel.
Fans of the show brought Birmingham city centre to a standstill to watch the 
recording at the city's Cathedral and more than 18 million people tuned in 
to see the famous episode.

But the hearthrob was axed from the show in 1977. Writers killed him off in 
an international terrorist plot which he himself described as 'ridiculous'.

Outside the soap opera world he had a long and varied career. From acting in 
movies to heading the cast in the police drama African Patrol back in the 
1950s.

He also had a successful film and TV career in the USA, including a spell in 
Hollywood. He starred alongside Errol Flynn.

His number one fan Maria Brabiner, who is a member of the Crossroads 
Appreciation Society, said: "When I found out that he had died I was gutted.
"He has always been my favourite actor and always will be. He was not only 
good-looking but he had a lovely voice, was smooth, sophisticated and 
charming."

Mr Bentley died in Petworth, Sussex. He has been suffering from a long 
illness.
His on-screen wife Noele Gordon retired to Birmingham where she died in 1985 
of cancer.

http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2009/08/16/death-of-crossroads-heart-throb-66331-24450879/

Death of Crossroads heart-throb
Aug 16 2009 by Christina Savvas, Sunday Mercury

FORMER Crossroads star John Bentley, who married Noele Gordon in the soap's 
biggest storyline, has died at the age of 92.
The actor from Sparkhill, Birmingham, became a housewives' favourite as 
Crossroads' smoothie Hugh Mortimer.

He helped the soap reach its biggest-ever ratings in 1975 when he married 
Meg Richardson, the matriarch of the Crossroads Motel.
Fans of the show brought Birmingham city centre to a standstill to watch the 
recording at the city's Cathedral and more than 18 million people tuned in 
to see the famous episode.

But the hearthrob was axed from the show in 1977. Writers killed him off in 
an international terrorist plot which he himself described as 'ridiculous'.

Outside the soap opera world he had a long and varied career. From acting in 
movies to heading the cast in the police drama African Patrol back in the 
1950s.

He also had a successful film and TV career in the USA, including a spell in 
Hollywood. He starred alongside Errol Flynn.

His number one fan Maria Brabiner, who is a member of the Crossroads 
Appreciation Society, said: "When I found out that he had died I was gutted.
"He has always been my favourite actor and always will be. He was not only 
good-looking but he had a lovely voice, was smooth, sophisticated and 
charming."

Mr Bentley died in Petworth, Sussex. He has been suffering from a long 
illness.
His on-screen wife Noele Gordon retired to Birmingham where she died in 1985 
of cancer.