The Avenue

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