More "Disabled TV"

[Davros]

There is a new series called Cast Offs starting next Tuesday on Channel 4 at 11.05pm (it is even later the week after!). It is a "comedy drama" about a group of young people with disabilities who gather on a remote island for a TV reality show. The actors have disabilities themselves.

I also saw Lizzy Clark and her mother on Breakfast this morning. She was the main character in Dustbin Baby, she has AS and plays someone with AS. It is being reshown on 21st December, don't know what time or channel but will be BBC. Her mother is campaigning for non-disabled actors to stop playing characters with disabilities. Not sure what I think about that though, no-one with DS's disabilities in RL could play him! I suppose, if an actor with a disability is available then maybe they should be considered first but what will happen, fighting over who can play a blind person if they have AS or DS, how disabled they are in RL etc? I thought things had improved in that black actors can now play all sorts of roles, not just Othello! This seems like a step backwards although I understand the principle. Hmmmmm

can see what you mean but largly disabled actors will only have opportunity to play disabled characters - so say if you have wheelchair user, they are hardly going to be able to get up and walk for a role.. and if the few and far between opportunities for character in a wheelchair then go to an able bodied actor what hope do they have of getting work?

can also see how it can be patronising, having somebody affect yr disability

er but obv that is what acting is to some extent. And of course more severe/ profound disabilities cannot be self represented due to unlikelihood of there being actors from these backgrounds

Tho following stanislavski's model, any person with some disability would be equipped to play these parts

But yeah - see yr point completely that we do not want to reduce disabled actors purely to these roles. V limiting. I think one answer is to have more characters in dramas that have disabilities that are not part of the plot.. that way more mainstream roles are available. Or yes - just put the actor in the role without having to pull their disability into the narrative. Sadly I think we are quite far away from that.

Using yr example of race, there was some confusion and criticism at a recent casting of a black juliet with a white mother (it didn't make any sense apparantly ) Shows that differences are still v obvious and we haven't quite got to the point where audiences transcend that

Yes, it is confusing and I agree with all you say. There have been more "incidental" disabled actors in kids' TV although the only one I can think of offhand is on Tracey Beaker. I wonder what this new programme will be like. No-one will see it who doesn't already have an interest, why is it on so late just like the Rosa Monckton prog?

i saw the lady on the tv this morning and thought it was an interesting subject, they do have an actor in EE that is disbled, but tbh he is rare.

dyou reckon they'll ever bring back billy and honey's daughter? remember at the time that was a big story bbc said they were in for the long haul

sounds an interesting programme. Will be recording that.. agree davros it is a bloody ridiculous slot that almost undermines its purpose

I think Janet(don't know the childs real neam) is in it every now and again

BUMP

I thought they could have done the down syndrome storyline on eastenders as a more long term thing and it is a bit of shame they haven't.

I can see what you are saying Davros. Have you watched the specials? (it's fab)

The Specials? Not sure what that is. Do enlighten me......

it is a documentary

There was really good peice in the sunday times about people with LDs accessing popular culture recently aswell, which is a bit similar. Did you see it? (though it is not tv at all )

Thanks so much for that. No I didn't see the Sunday Times, newspapers are banned in our house! I will look on-line though.

Wow! Just followed your link, Specials looks good.

this is the article Some of the terminology is clumsy but it is a positive peice overall

I was out last night so haven't watched it yet but wanted to make sure everyone knows that the next episode is TONIGHT at some god awful hour. They seem to be doing it in batches of 2 episodes a week, seems to be the latest fashion (a la Sarah Jane Adventures?!).
I just remembered the boy with AS in that choir programme.

i've got in on my + box to watch. Glad I read this - presumed next episode was next week

I'm sure Janet appeared briefly in the Children in Need Eastenders special.