Liam Bairstow to play Cathy's nephew

[tammyy2j]

Coronation Street has cast an actor with Down's syndrome to play the nephew of Cathy Matthews (Melanie Hill).

Producers found Liam Bairstow at a recent workshop they held for actors with disabilities, and the youngster has already started filming on the ITV soap.

Producer Stuart Blackburn said: "We ran a workshop called Breaking Through a while ago, which was for actors with disabilities. It was recognising that they get so few auditions, and actually we found a young guy there called Liam Bairstow, an actor with Down's syndrome.

"He's going to be coming in as Cathy's nephew. It's not some politically correct thing. We actually found there a really great actor with a wonderful sense of timing. The cast have been really enjoying working with him."

Blackburn has also confirmed that Cathy's relationship with Roy will be one of the major storylines in the soap's upcoming live episode.

(Sorry I couldn't open any of Perdita's threads)

[Perdita]

...

[Perdita]

[QUOTE=tammyy2j;827956]Coronation Street has cast an actor with Down's syndrome to play the nephew of Cathy Matthews (Melanie Hill).

Producers found Liam Bairstow at a recent workshop they held for actors with disabilities, and the youngster has already started filming on the ITV soap.

Producer Stuart Blackburn said: "We ran a workshop called Breaking Through a while ago, which was for actors with disabilities. It was recognising that they get so few auditions, and actually we found a young guy there called Liam Bairstow, an actor with Down's syndrome.

"He's going to be coming in as Cathy's nephew. It's not some politically correct thing. We actually found there a really great actor with a wonderful sense of timing. The cast have been really enjoying working with him."

Blackburn has also confirmed that Cathy's relationship with Roy will be one of the major storylines in the soap's upcoming live episode.

(Sorry I couldn't open any of Perdita's threads)[/QUOTE

Strange, I could after posting but now I can´t again ....

[maidmarian]

I opened a new one, can´t you open that either?

Ive just tried to open your second one
Perdita and cant open it.

[maidmarian]

I opened a new one, can´t you open that either?

Ive just tried to open your second one
Perdita and cant open it.

[Perdita]

Ive just tried to open your second one
Perdita and cant open it.

No, I can´t now either

[Perdita]

Coronation Street recruits first cast member with Down's Syndrome
Coronation Street has announced the signing of its first cast member with Down's Syndrome, who will join the cast on the cobbles later this year.



Liam Bairstow will join the cast of Coronation Street later this year Credit: ITV

Liam's signing was announced on the show's Twitter feed as part of its #CorriePressDay event.

He was recruited following ITV's Breakthing Through Talent disability workshop.

In a statement, show producer Stuart Blackburn said part of the aim of the workshop was to recognise that actors with disabilities get few audition opportunities.
Actually we found a young guy there called Liam Bairstow, an actor with Down's syndrome.

He's going to be coming in as Cathy's nephew. It's not some politically correct thing. We actually found there a really great actor with a wonderful sense of timing. The cast have been really enjoying working with him.

– STUART BLACKBURN, CORONATION STREET
The decision has been welcomed by fans online, with many praising the soap for improving the diversity of its cast.
1pj-b-t0_normal
Mel
@AwesomestowArt

@itvcorrie Thank you wish I saw more diversity on TV

12:51 - 11 Aug 2015 Retweet Reply Favourite
_rw2qzwm_normal
MindtheGapStudios
@MtGstudios

@itvcorrie Congratulations on a really exciting new approach to casting! We're delighted for our Liam, can't wait to see him on the street!

13:21 - 11 Aug 2015 Retweet Reply Favourite
Liam had previously acted with Mind the Gap, a disability theatre company, having joined in 2009, juggling his stage work with collecting glasses in his uncle's pub.

Interviewed for Mind the Gap's website, he revealed his dream was to perform on television should he ever leave the theatre group.

But it was ITV's other main soap, Emmerdale, which originally caught his attention - saying he thought he would be ideally suited to play a Dingle.

[Dazzle]

Sounds good.

[lizann]

good on corrie just give him decent storylinesu

[maidmarian]

good on corrie just give him decent storylinesu

Yes - I hope he does get a good story and
chance to show what he can do.!!
This reminded me of an early Inspector Frost
episode where a Downs Syndrome Actor-
Timmy Lang-played a major role( he was a not
guilty murder suspect) and got great reviews.!!

He did get several roles in the years after that
but couldnt see he had done any acting since
2004.