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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 353723" data-attributes="member: 23">24 August 1973 - 4 December 1973 1971; 1976-1981; 2012-2015; 2018; 2028 As with many series released by Network, the VTR slates at the beginning of each half of most episodes are great fun. Given Xrds’ reputation, it’s perhaps a little ironic that they look much more slick and professional than the hand-held ones featured in the concurrent nighttime drama Upstairs Downstairs, which I recently watched in full. While there is frequently chatter that can be heard in the background, I haven’t yet picked up any kind of inappropriate comments (more’s the pity). One does get to know the announcer, though. It’s usually a slightly plummy guy, but he must’ve gone on holiday for a bit as he was briefly replaced by a Scottish voice. How I gasped when Scottish guy said “Part One, Take Two” instead of “Part Two, Take One” (or was it the other way round?). All slates have been Take One or Take Two, but there was a shocker last night when Part Two of one of the episodes was Take FOUR! The announcer sounded suitably peeved and I’d be willing to bet the person responsible never worked again.The episode celebrating the twelfth anniversary of the motel’s opening felt suitbably celebratory and transitioned from a shot of Sandy, Meg and Jill to a still photo of the three of them standing in the same positions at the beginning of the series. I assume it was commemorating a significant milestone for Crossroads the series (and not just Crossroads the UK's sole motel) but I’m not sure what. The series’ ninth anniversary, perhaps?Having previously felt a couple of Aussie soap connections, I seem to have settled on seeing the similarities that would crop up in Reg Watson’s series which came after Xrds but before Neighbours: Just like the staff of The Young Doctors, the moteliers never seem to get away from the place in which they work. They socialise there; they get romantically involved with one another; they care about one another’s personal lives and problems; and they live together even when not at the workplace.Not that we never get away from the venue itself. Increasingly we’re moving into Kings Oak proper. Joining environs such as Vera’s canal barge; Wilf’s cottage, Lake House and Miss Tatum’s post office comes the latest spinoff into traditional soapville: the flats. Vince is back (hooray) and he and Diane have reunited and bought a flat that is best described as yellow (every inch of wall and even doors is bright yellow). Meanwhile, directly next door, Jill and Stan have moved into their yellow flat with their new baby (courtesy of Sheila). Despite the jaundiced hues, Diane has a touch of the green-eyed monster over their upwardly mobile neighbours’ fitted carpets and actual furniture. And she positively sees red when she learns that the Harveys have bought a new chair. The keeping up with the Joneses arc is great fun. It really is the stuff that good soap is made of: human, slightly petty and relatable.Meanwhile, the fellow who knocked up Sheila then gave her £100 before being told off by Wilf has returned and seems to want to reconcile. It looks like a tug of love over baby Harvey is on the horizon. Though since my latest episode will be followed by a gap of some 150 episodes no doubt it will all be resolved one way or another when I next tune in.</blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?