News: Links to blogs and an item from BBC Ouch

Thursday 08 July 2010, 11:55

 Here's a link to our blog post about disability representation at Glastonbury:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ouch/2010/06/disability_at_glastonbury_2010.html

And a link to the La Rebla Fam interview:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/interviews/audio_la_rebla_fam.shtml   

 

Celebrities discuss their disabilities with each other in new BBC Ouch! Dis Connected Series

 

Trisha Goddard, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Blaine Harrison are among the celebrities who participate in a new series of films discussing what effect their disability has on their lives.

 

In relay style, they interview each other for Ouch!, the BBC's dedicated disability website. Online for 8 years, Ouch! has a strong track record in getting disabled people talking, showcasing gritty humour and revealing fascinating untold stories.

 

The series, called Dis Connected, brings seven noteworthy people together who share their personal experiences of disability with humour and honesty.

 

Senior Producer Damon Rose says:  "From chat show host to activist, the series has a diverse cross section of interesting people who have all achieved a lot whilst also dealing with those extra life challenges. On watching all the footage back we were captivated at how some of our interviewees embrace disability as an identity more than others, yet all find common ground. Underneath it all, we seem to accidentally be asking, 'What exactly is this thing called disability'. We hope it gives viewers lots to think about.

 

"I particularly love Tanni Grey Thompson's story about the first accessible loo in Cardiff and what a surprisingly life changing moment that was for her. Paralympian or not, if you don't have an available toilet, you can't easily go out socialising with your mates."

 

It kicks off with an interview between Trisha Goddard (chat show host) and Cerrie Burnell (CBeebies presenter). Trisha tells of how she was initially angry that we considered her disabled when she received the email invite to be part of this series. It was her husband, chief of a large mental health charity, who confirmed she fell under the protection of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) having suffered from breast cancer and depression.

 

Trisha says: "Mental health is a hidden illness" and discusses how she would like to take a more proactive approach to making people aware of it. "I know I needed more support coming back from a breakdown than I did having breast cancer. People run a mile when you mention it. They wouldn't maintain eye contact with me, both my parents worked as psychiatric nurses and my illness was never brought up. According to them it didn't happen! I don't think they could deal with it." 

 

Cerrie has faced barriers en route to her TV career: "It wasn't until I got to drama school that I realised I was disabled". She was born without a right hand. Last year, 9 viewers complained to the BBC that she was scaring children watching her on the CBeebies channel.

 

Cerrie discusses the surprising prejudice she experienced, and notes: "Now that I am in the public eye, I am going to have to step it up."

 

Other celebrities include presenter Gail Porter who has had mental health problems and alopecia, John Horan a DDA lawyer who suffered a stroke ten years ago and Blaine Harrison, the front man of top ten band the Mystery Jets, who was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth.

 

The series will be broadcast on the BBC Ouch! website from 28th June 2010 at www.bbc.co.uk/ouch with a new interview being added every Monday for seven weeks.

 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

1. There are seven interviews. They will go online one per week. As this is a relay, the interviewee becomes the interviewer in the next film.

 

2. The series starts with talk show host Trisha Goddard and ends with campaigner Baroness Jane Campbell.

 

3. List of all 8 contributors in order: 

 

Trisha Goddard:  chat show host who has a daily programme on Five.

 

Cerrie Burnell: CBeebies continuity presenter.

 

Cara Readle:  Young actress with cerebral palsy who appeared in Tracy Beaker and Zig Zag Love.

 

Gail Porter:  TV presenter

 

Blaine Harrison:  lead singer of The Mystery Jets

 

John Horan:  barrister specialising in disability discrimination cases since having a stroke.

 

Tanni Grey-Thompson:  Former paralympian and broadcaster, recently made a baroness and so now sits in the House of Lords.

 

Jane Campbell:  Life-long disability Activist and also a baroness.

 

4. The films were directed by Kate Ansell, a disabled TV producer and writer.

 

5. For further info about the series, contact Damon Rose on 020 8752 4427 or Emma Tracey 020 8752 5469. email;  damon.rose@bbc.co.uk / emma.tracey@bbc.co.uk