Charity welcomes Eastenders' disability announcement
12 January 2009
The country’s leading disability charity has welcomed an announcement by the BBC that it is set to raise the profile of disabled characters on EastEnders.
The soap’s executive producer Diederick Santer revealed to the BBC disabled staff forum yesterday (January 8) that the programme will be making “some big changes” in this area.
It was also announced that it would be improving access to its studios and backlot to allow a range of disabled background artists to work at Elstree.
John Knight, Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Assistant Director of Policy and Campaigns, said: “The proposed new changes in EastEnders are to be welcomed. It will be essential that any actress or actor has a disability.
“Equally important will be to strike a balance with any disabled character’s portrayal. It must show that disability is not a barrier to achievement, yet society still makes life difficult for many disabled people.”
Media enquiries
Media and PR Officer Jeanette Earl on 020 3242 0358 or email
Jeanette.Earl@LCDisability.org
Senior Media and PR Officer Jennifer Walters on 020 3242 0267 or email
Jennifer.Walters@LCDisability.org. Out-of-hours: 07903 949 388.
Editors Notes
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK and works in 52 countries. We campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way. Visit
www.LCDisability.org
