All that Jazzer

Actor Ryan Kelly plays Jazzer, Ambridge’s non-resident milkman and skally in Radio 4’s everyday story of countryfolk, The Archers. Perhaps his biggest storyline was when he had more than a dabble with the drug ketamine, procured from an unscrupulous vet.

As Ryan answers our 10 questions, we discover that while Jazzer isn’t visually-impaired, he is perhaps a little too blinkered for Ryan’s taste.

Ryan discovered his flair for and love of drama while studying on a performing arts course at the specialist Royal National College in Hereford. He went on to train at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. Unlike other Archers actors, he learns his lines for studio recordings rather than reading them from a script. In common with many actors, disabled or not, he finds that there's not as much work as he'd like, but he is philosophical, saying that he's luckier than many to have any work at all, let alone regular outings on one of Britain's most popular radio shows.

What do you think is the best thing about being disabled?
Being able to have a dog.

What makes you angry?
Being patronised or treated as a second-class citizen.

What’s the funniest thing anyone’s ever said to you about your impairment?
It’s more what they do. The other day someone tried to sell a Big Issue to Hadley, my guide dog.

How do you deal with people who barf on about your impairment? Have you any good put-downs?
Depends what they say. When I was younger, it could make me angry. Now mostly I just laugh.

What’s the one thing that could be invented to make your life as a disabled person better?
A car that I could drive myself.

What do you most like about Jazzer, the character you play?
The fact that he’s Glaswegian.

And what do you not like about him?
He’s very closed in in his opinions. He thinks he’s learned everything, and he hasn’t.

Who’s your favourite disabled person ever?
Sonia [his wife].

Do you have any special or hidden talent apart from acting?
Playing the accordion. I taught myself. I used to busk with it but can’t now I’ve got the dog.

If you didn’t have your impairment, which other one would you like to have?
I’d rather be blind than anything else.