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Dateline: 13th February, 2005
Talent Fund for Diabled Actors The BBC, Channel 4 and the actors centres are launching a new talent training fund for existing and aspiring disabled actors who want to work in television. Why are we launching this initiative? 16% of the adult population in the UK are Disabled People, but they make up less than 1% of representation on television. Research shows audiences are overwhelmingly in favour of seeing more disabled people on television. According to Ewan Marshall, BBC producer of Pear Shaped and Every Time You Look At Me which had disabled actors in lead roles, "there is a whole untapped pool of talent and new stories out there. I think the talent fund is a great opportunity to find and develop that talent." Channel 4's Editorial Manager for Disability Alison Walsh added, "In 2005 I am overseeing a number of new initiatives to increase the number of disabled people on and off screen. Channel 4 is determined to reflect disabled people's participation in society more fully. Disabled actors continue to find it difficult to break into the industry, and the Talent Fund will allow some of this untapped talent to develop." The fund will be fronted by Paul Henshall. Paul, who has cerebral palsy, appeared in A Thing called Love and will be appearing in Holby City as a regular later this year. Anyone wishing to audition must be over 18 years old and eligible to work in the UK. Full details are on the website at www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/talentfund Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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