Article by Hilary Kingsley 1978

Heart-throb actor Ronald Allen, back as charming as ever in Crossroads after a long break, has a hidden sadness.  For it was a personal tragedy which prolonged his absence as David Hunter from the top TV serial.  Now, battling with lingering sorrow, he has earned the admiration  of colleagues as he resumes the gruelling five days a week studio slog.

Ronald, 44, was holidaying in Spain this summer with his long-time pal, actor and antique dealer Brian Hankins.  Brian, who suffered from cancer, and who played a doctor in Crossroads about three years ago, suddenly became very ill and died.  The distressing task of arranging for his body to be flown home fell to Ronald.  Crossroads willingly gave quiet Ronald extended leave to help him recover from his ordeal.  The story line of the four nights a week serial was hastily changed to cover his non-appearance.

At last week's party for Crossroads' 3,000th edition, a member of the cast said:  "We all know Ronnie has been deeply upset by Brian's death.  But he has never been the sort of chap who goes on about his personal problems, so we don't intrude.  We all feel for him, though."

The serial's story lines have been liberally sprinkled with life-and-death tragedies - and critics have often knocked them as far-fetched.  But the real-life upsets of the cast have more than matched the plots.  Brian Hankin's death brings to five the toll of Crossroads cast to die in the past two years.  Jo Richardson, Morris Parsons, William Avenell and Jack Woolgar are the others.  Roger Tonge, who plays wheelchair-bound Sandy, is fighting the debilitating Hodgkin's disease with fortnightly hospital treatments.  And Sue Hanson, who plays Diane, revealed last year that she had miscarried her longed-for baby.