Veteran soap opera Crossroads is getting the five-star treatment - a big-budget facelift to help fight off two new rival series.

 

ITV's homely Midlands motel  - which celebrated its 20th birthday last week - will get its ritzy boost when whizz-kid producer Phillip Bowman, 32, takes over from 64 year old Jack Barton in the New Year.

 

Extra cash means Crossroads will be filmed as well as videotaped - and that will bring outside action plus indoor studio scenes.

 

And Jane Rossington, who plays Jill Chance, and Sue Lloyd, who plays Barbara Hunter, should look more like Alexis and Krystle of Dynasty in glamorous costumes.  

 

A Crossroads insider said:  "The cast are overjoyed that at last we'll have the money to do things properly."