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The Avenue (acronymised as either 'TA', or by its project code 'AVE') is a Writers Express forum serial drama created in December 2011 by the production company eventually known as Red Lion Pictures (RLP). This company had several names and staff over the years, but from 2015-2020, consisted only of Chloe and founder Ross. The project ran for 167 episodes from 19th December 2011-19th December 2016 - exactly five years (although its demise was not announced until a year later, 19th December 2017). This makes it the third most volumous project on Writers Express in terms of episodes, behind (Noxy project) These Days 1.0 (173 episodes) and unbeaten title holder Uncertain Nights (270 episodes) - a project which also involved Chloe and Ross.
In January 2017, RLP relased a statement on Writers Express (known as Lit in 2018) announcing that the project was to 'take an extended break'. However, in a new statement posted on 19th December 2017 - the project's sixth anniversary, and a year to the day since the most recent episode was published - it was revealed that the project had come to an end. This decision was in part due to Chloe and Ross feeling that five years to the day was a good point to draw a line, but also because a brand-new version of the project had been in discussion and development for some time, beginning in 2016. Hence, RLP wanted to put the project on ice to make a final decision about whether to continue with the then current version, or start afresh. In the end they chose to do the latter.
History
The Avenue began on 19th December 2011, and was written, produced and created by Ross. Over the course of exactly five years, it produced 167 episodes in total, including two full seasons. Shortly after it began, former forum member Lem partnered with Ross to co-write and co-produce the project, and she did so from 2012-2015. Between 2012 and 2013, they were joined for a stint by Jaay, and for two short stints by AppleCobbler, before later continuing as a duo again. In 2014, as part of a forum event, Chloe produced a five-part fan fiction version of the project. Lem and Ross were so impressed by this that they asked Chloe to join them on The Avenue and form a trio, in May 2014. Chloe accepted, and joined full-time with her first credit at Episode 108 (S03E08). Chloe had previously freelanced as a writer on the project, co-writing Episode 68 (S01E68) and solo writing Episode 69 (S01E69) and Episode 70 (S01E70), as a favour. Lem's first material debuted in Episode 55 (S01E55), which she wrote solo. Her last material appeared in Episode 152 (S03E52). Lem officially left both the company and the project at Episode 155 (S03E55). During her three-year tenure, Lem briefly left and rejoined. So from 2015-2020, both The Avenue and Red Lion Pictures counted Chloe and founder Ross as sole staff.
The Avenue followed the lives of those who resided in and around Catford Grove, a fictional area of Lewisham, SE London. There were two successful seasons of the project, with the third season not finishing its run. Season 1 ran from 19th December 2013 (Episode 1/S01E01) - Tueday 25th December/Christmas Day 2014 (Episode 73/S01E73), whilst the shorter but more acclaimed Season 2 ran from 9th February 2015 (Episode 74/S02E01) - 19th July 2015 (Episode 100/S02E27). The Season 2 finalé also marked The Avenue's 100th episode. Season 3 was the most popular season, despite only completing around two-thirds of its run.
On 22nd July 2014, it was confirmed that a spin-off series, The Avenue: Sun, Sea & Sand, would air between 19th and 23rd August 2014, with the 3rd series of the main show beginning on Monday 8th September 2014 (Friday 1st February 2014 in 'real-time').
From Episode 108 (S03E08) - the episode Chloe joined the team - The Avenue time-jumped by around eighteen months. At its conclusion, it was set in April 2016. This was to allow the project to 'officially' be published thrice a week, while in reality it was only published once a week. In 2016, real-time output caught up with AVE time output, meaning the project fell behind in AVE time.
Episode 133 marked the show's second anniversary, with a one-hour special that featured many references to past characters and storylines, as well the dramatic and top secret return of original character Carla Baker (formerly Westaway). This was to be the beginning of a new era for the Bakers, as the Baker parents, Phil and Maggie, joined in 134, and Carla's first child, George, was born at the end of Episode 135, a Christmas episode.
The Avenue won 15 Writers Express Awards in all, including a breakthrough accolade as 'Best Soap' in March 2015. It won this award again in February 2016, as well as two others, totalling 15.
The project took an impromptu six month sabbatical following Episode 160 on 31st January 2016, but returned on 31st July 2016, exactly six months to the date since the previous episode. The project was not eligible for WRIXAS 12. From the 27th-31st August 2016, the project ran a five-night special. 19th December 2016 saw the project turn five-years-old in AVE time. To mark the occasion, Episode 167 - written only by the show's creator, Ross - was published.
At 19th December 2016, there had been 167 episodes of the project to date. On 6th January 2017, it was announced that the project would be put on hiatus 'for an extended break'. On 19th December 2017, the project's sixth anniversary and a year to the say since the final episode was published, a statement was released revealing the demise of the project.
Two pilot versions of a contemporary remake of The Avenue were published - one in September 2018, the other in September 2019 - but neither of these took off and have since been removed from the forum. As the second pilot was cancelled in 2020, and it was the company's only project, its demise also marked the end of Red Lion Pictures as a company, after nine years.
Title Card
The final title card was the fifth of Season 3, and is somewhat more humble than the red/white/blue/tube train look of the previous title card. Whilst the logo remains unchanged, the black strip behind it has been replaced by a wavy yellow strip. The wavy strip vaguely represents a river (as in the River Thames), whilst the yellow makes a return. Producers Chloe and Ross have said they feel 'yellow' is now the show's trademark colour, and is likely to be used in all future title cards and redesigns. The background image is a blurred picture of Catford in Lewisham, and includes the infamous Catford Cat.
Theme Tune
Since Episode 1, the show had used an instrumental version of 'New York' by Snow Patrol. However, to mark a visual revamp, an instrumental version of 'Charlie Brown' by Coldplay came into use from Episode 161.
Awards
The Avenue picked up 15 WRIXAS, since WRIXAS 5. These have been for as follows:
- Best Soap Male four times, including twice-in-a-row at one point: twice Aleks Glukhov (WRIXAS 9 and WRIXAS 11), once Graham Anderson (WRIXAS 6) and once Dylan Baker (WRIXAS 5)
- Best (Soap) Family thrice: twice The Brannigans (WRIXAS 6 and WRIXAS 8) and once The Jameses (WRIXAS 11)
- Best Soap Scene twice-in-a-row: Viv's Private Goodbye To Thomas (WRIXAS 8) and Linda Comforts Michael In Hospital After His Stroke (WRIXAS 9)
- Best Soap twice (WRIXAS 9 and WRIXAS 11)
- Best Big Week: Season 2 Finalé Week (WRIXAS 6)
- Best Soap Episode - Episode 151: Indecent Proposal (WRIXAS 10)
- Best Soap Female (Carla Westaway) - WRIXAS 5
- Best Exit (Carla Westaway) - WRIXAS 5
Final Cast (at Episode 167)
| Status | Character | Actor | Duration (by episode) | Duration (by year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | Leyla Baker | Kylie Minogue | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Carla Baker | Billie Piper | 1-81, 133-167 | 2013-14, 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Shirley Wilkins | Ann Mitchell | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Sonia Wilkins | Sally Lindsay | 1-122, 160-167 | 2013-14, 2015-16 |
| Regular | Viv Wilkins | Ali Bastian | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Luca Rossi | Joseph Long | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Nicola Seaby | Preeya Kalidas | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Maria Glukhov | Michelle Collins | 2-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Aleksander 'Aleks' Glukhov | Neil McDermott | 2-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Jacques Glukhov | Christian Cooke | 2-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Yasmin Brannigan | Nicola Stapleton | 3-4, 50-167 | 2013, 2014-16 |
| Regular | Steven Carwell | James Sutton | 28-167 | 2014-16 |
| Recurring | Doris Carwell | Gwen Taylor | 45-167 | 2014-16 |
| Recurring | Michael Brannigan | Chris Chittell | 50-167 | 2014-16 |
| Recurring | Linda Brannigan | Barbara Windsor | 50-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Eddie James | Rob Norbury | 55-82, 127-167 | 2014, 2015-16 |
| Regular | Ruby Brannigan | Jorgie Porter | 60-167 | 2014-16 |
| Recurring | DCI Elaine Radford | Victoria Pritchard | 67-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Dylan Baker | Tyger Drew-Honey | 73-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Saskia Baker | Dannii Minogue | 74-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Crystal O'Reilly | Christine Bleakley | 82-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Jade O'Reilly | Karen Hassan | 82-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Nina Anderson | Nina Toussaint-White | 84-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Bobbie-Lea Anderson | Maisie Richardson-Sellers | 85-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Alfie Anderson | Shiven Shankar | 85-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Ronan O'Reilly | Colin Morgan | 87-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Diane Brannigan | Harriet Walter | 89-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Arthur 'Artie' Brannigan Jr. | Uncredited | 112-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Jez Thatcher | Michael French | 113-167 |
2015-16 |
| Regular | Sandra Murphy | Nicola Duffett | 117-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Perry Castle | Ray Fisher | 118-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Cameron Murphy | Danny-Boy Hatchard | 118-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Will James | Dominic Power | 127-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Danica James | Katie Goldfinch | 127-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Lucy James | Julia Joyce | 127-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Maggie Baker | Deena Payne | 134-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Phil Baker | Brian Conley | 134-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Maeve O'Reilly | Brenda Fricker | 135-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | George Baker | Uncredited | 135-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Stan Bishop | Michael Caine | 144-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Lorna Thatcher | Patsy Kensit | 146-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Kia Thatcher | Nelly Currant | 146-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Tia Thatcher | Gwen Currant | 146-167 | 2016 |
| Regular | Dan Baker | Nigel Harman | 147-167 | 2016 |
| Regular | DC Ethan Castle | Richard Blackwood | 148-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Olly Castle | Samuel Anderson | 150-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Benji Wilkins | Uncredited | 150-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Beth Wilkins | Uncredited | 150-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Jeannie Castle | Angela Wynter | 155-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Darcus Castle | Don Warrington | 155-167 | 2016 |
Complete Cast
| Status | Character | Actor | Duration (by episode) | Duration (by year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | Leyla Baker | Kylie Minogue | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Carla Baker | Billie Piper | 1-81, 133- | 2013-14, 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Shirley Wilkins | Ann Mitchell | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Sonia Wilkins | Sally Lindsay | 1-122, 160-167 | 2013-15, 2016 |
| Regular | Thomas Wilkins | Danny Midwinter | 1-99 | 2013-14 |
| Regular | Viv Wilkins | Ali Bastian | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Luca Rossi | Joseph Long | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Nicola Seaby | Preeya Kalidas | 1-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Georgia Anderson | Freema Agyeman | 1-100 | 2013-15 |
| Regular | Graham Anderson | Firass Dirani | 1-100 | 2013-15 |
| Regular | Herbert Glukhov | Michael Melia | 1-100 | 2013-15 |
| Regular | Katya Glukhov | Carey Mulligan | 2-99 | 2013-15 |
| Regular | Maria Glukhov | Michelle Collins | 2-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Aleks Glukhov | Neil McDermott | 2-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Jacques Glukhov | Christian Cooke | 2-167 | 2013-16 |
| Regular | Yasmin Brannigan | Nicola Stapleton | 3-4, 50-167 | 2013, 2014-16 |
| Regular | Shaniqua Seaby | Rochelle Humes | 14-107 | 2013-15 |
| Regular | Steven Carwell | James Sutton | 28-167 | 2014- 16 |
| Regular | Doris Carwell | Gwen Taylor | 45-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Michael Brannigan | Chris Chittell | 50-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Linda Brannigan | Barbara Windsor | 50-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Martha Brannigan | Sheree Murphy | 50-160 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Eddie James | Rob Norbury | 55-82, 127-167 | 2014, 2015-16 |
| Regular | Claire Learner | Catherine Tate | 55-122 | 2014-15 |
| Regular | Ruby Brannigan | Jorgie Porter | 60-167 | 2014-16 |
| Recurring | DCI Elaine Radford | Victoria Pritchard | 67-167 | 2014-16 |
| Recurring | Miriam Learner | Lynda Baron | 72-122 | 2014-15 |
| Regular | Dylan Baker | Tyger Drew-Honey | 73-167 | 2014-16 |
| Regular | Saskia Baker | Dannii Minogue | 74-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Amanda Carwell | Amanda Redman | 77-142 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Izzie Carwell | Georgia May Foote | 77-142 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Holly Anderson | Uncredited | 80-107 | 2015 |
| Regular | Crystal O'Reilly | Christine Bleakley | 82-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Jade O'Reilly | Karen Hassan | 82-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Nina Anderson | Nina Toussaint-White | 84-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Bobbie Anderson | Maisie Richardson-Sellers | 85-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Alfie Anderson | Arian Chikhila | 85-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Ronan O'Reilly | Colin Morgan | 87-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Diane Brannigan | Harriet Walter | 89-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Mabel Krupin | Pauline Quirke | 92-96, 110, 121 | 2015 |
| Recurring | Jake Carwell | Uncredited | 94-142 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Kelvin Malik | Nabil Elouahabi | 112-143 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Arthur 'Artie' Brannigan Jr. | Uncredited | 112-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Jez Thatcher | Michael French | 113-167 |
2015-16 |
| Departing | India Diliwar | Anjli Mohindra | 114-167 | 2015 |
| Regular | Sandra Murphy | Nicola Duffett | 117-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Perry Castle | Ray Fisher | 118-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Cameron Murphy | Danny-Boy Hatchard | 118-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Will James | Dominic Power | 127-167 | 2015-16 |
| Regular | Danica James | Katie Goldfinch | 127-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Lucy James | Julia Joyce | 127-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Maggie Baker | Deena Payne | 134-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Phil Baker | Brian Conley | 134-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Maeve O'Reilly | Brenda Fricker | 135-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | George Baker | Uncredited | 135-167 | 2015-16 |
| Recurring | Stan Bishop | Michael Caine | 144-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Lorna Thatcher | Patsy Kensit | 146-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Kia Thatcher | Nelly Currant | 146-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Tia Thatcher | Gwen Currant | 146-167 | 2016 |
| Regular | Dan Baker | Nigel Harman | 147-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Ethan Castle | Richard Blackwood | 148-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Olly Castle | Samuel Anderson | 150-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Benji Wilkins | Uncredited | 150-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Beth Wilkins | Uncredited | 150-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Jeannie Castle | Angela Wynter | 155-167 | 2016 |
| Recurring | Darcus Castle | Don Warrington | 155-167 | 2016 |