Disabled Actors Cast In Groundbreaking UK Reality TV Show

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Disabled Actors Cast In Groundbreaking UK Reality TV Show

Monday, 30 November 2009 08:00

Cast Off Channel 4's ambitious new slant on reality TV premiered on Tuesday with six disabled people marooned on a British desert island. In a twist from conventional reality TV, the actors have the disabilities that they portray but will follow a script in a mock documentary way, one which promises to highlight the dark humour which often treads on the boundaries of decency.

Cast Offs is perhaps television's first attempt to not sympathise with the disabled community, but to provide them with a forum for comedy. Much has been made of just how the various disabilities on show will be portrayed. Reactions to trailers and the first episode have been positive, with many disabled groups indicating that programming like this opens the door to the possibilities of more disabled casting.

Disabled actors on television have often been cast to fill a role which demands the disability that they possess. Actors involved in the show hope that this could pave the way for more work based on their acting skills. Actor Tim Gebbels, who plays the character Tom, added: “Many disabled actors get cheesed off that more of us aren’t cast in non-disabled roles. I don’t get as exercised about that as others. I think [more casting] will come once TV programme makers relax a bit more about disability.”

Disabled Actors Cast In Groundbreaking UK Reality TV Show

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