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Disabled actor gets Albert Square axe

By Cathy Reay

David Proud tallActor David Proud has been axed from the cast of Eastenders as part of plans to “shake up” the popular soap opera.

Speaking to Disability Now, Proud said that it was a “natural exit” for his character Adam. His on-screen girlfriend, Libby, is also understood to be leaving the show.

“I only came on expecting to be here a little while and I’m really thrilled that by the end I’ll have been working on Eastenders for almost a year,” he added.

Proud is one of a slew of disabled actors to have been introduced as regular characters on primetime television in the last year. The 26-year-old wheelchair-user said: “I’d like to think that this has been a success, in terms of putting a disabled actor and character into such a big programme. I like that, with Adam, it was never about his disability; we focused on the effects of his personality instead.”

Proud said that he feels more confident looking for other roles after his success on Albert Square.

“I don’t know what is going to come next, that’s what’s so great about television, you never know! If I was really dreaming I’d say I’d love to get a bit part as a hot dog vendor on an episode of [American HBO shows] The Sopranos, Entourage or True Blood.”

David Proud first set foot on the Eastenders set last November as Adam Best, son of Manda Best. He is expected to exit the programme in the next few months.

Five other characters, most of whom have been on the soap for several years, are also leaving the show.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “It's sad to see characters leave the Square but obviously when a new executive producer comes on board they're always keen to refresh the show and make some changes.

"David Proud has been a joy to have on the show and he's made a real impact playing Adam so brilliantly, we'll miss him on the Square."

Disabled actor gets Albert Square axe

Posted by Helen Bryant at 21 Apr 10 12:38
Well, well, another genuine disabled person gets "the chop".

Meanwhile, across the pond, we have a faker going from strength to strength (in "Glee").

How are we meant to be "normalised" in society and therefore stop being the butt of people's "comedy" if we're never seen?

EASTENDSERS IS A DISGRACE TO DISABLED PEOPLE

Posted by katherine at 19 May 10 00:56
Predictable and weak that the Eastenders producers have chosen to erase a genuine wheelchair user from their cast.

From the moment David’s character wheeled on to The Square he was characterised as an obnoxious, intellectual snob that none of his working class Eastenders warmed towards.

It is imperative that scriptwriters and producers of Eastenders consult with disabled film makers and script writers to assist them in a very easy job of integrating disability into a mainstream soap.

For Eastenders to continue to reflect ordinary lives as they do with all other sectors of society how long are they going to get away with negating disabled people?