Disabled People & Television (Part 2)

In a previous blog, I bemoaned the fact that disabled people are sorely under-represented on our goggle-boxes. And this is still the fact but I was delighted to hear that a presence will be seen in one of our soaps shortly.

Actress and comedienne Kitty McGeever, is to be introduced to the prime-time soap Emmerdale, which can be seen on ITV1, as a character called Lizzie Lakely. Her remit is to bring “remorseless bad behaviour and mischievous antics” to the village.

With Kelly Marie-Stewart now established in Hollyoaks, we can only wait to see which of our remaining soaps follow suit.

I have only two wishes on this:- firstly that all characters are given more realistic and dramatic roles; and secondly, that one of them introduces a disabled male character.

Whilst it may seem that the introduction of only two disabled characters into programmes that are seen by millions is small, we must ensure that programme makers take note and dip their toes in the water!