Lizzie Lakely
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Lakely is a fictional character
from the British ITV1
soap opera
Emmerdale
, played by Kitty McGeever
. She is Emmerdale's first blind character, and is played by a blind actress. She made her first on-screen appearance on 28 April 2009.
had stepped down from the position of series producer and that Gavin Blyth
had taken over the role. With Turner's departure Blyth began the show's rejuvenation and with that came his first signing, actress Kim Thomson
as Faye Lamb
. On 2 March 2009, it was announced that Emmerdale had signed comedienne Kitty McGeever
, the first blind actress to be cast in a British
soap, as Lizzie Lakely, the old friend of Lisa Dingle
(Jane Cox
). Speaking of her casting, McGeever said, "I'm thrilled to be joining Emmerdale as Lizzie and delighted that the show is challenging stereotypes in this way. Lizzie spells trouble from the word go and will be causing all kinds of strife in the village." Of the casting, the show's series producer Blyth said, "Kitty is an extremely talented actress and I'm pleased that she will be joining the show, marking the arrival of such a fascinating character. Lizzie is forthright and fun and she'll soon prove that she isn’t afraid to manipulate circumstances to her advantage."
McGeever later revealed in an interview with This Morning
that she helped to create her new alter ego Lizzie, of this input she explained, "The character was developed by me with the producers. So I had some input. The producers came to see my standup show and Gavin [Blyth] the producer said: 'We want that woman on stage but toned down', because I'm quite outrageous on stage!" Speaking to BBC Radio 4
’s Front Row about filling a disabled quota McGeever said, "I’m not representing anyone, I’m Kitty McGeever and I’m just blind."
(Charlotte Bellamy
) at community service. Laurel takes pity on Lizzie after realising she is blind, and buys her a meal after Lizzie lies and says she has left her purse on the bus. Lizzie is then reunited with her old friend Lisa Dingle
(Jane Cox
) in the village shop and whilst in the shop she tries to steal some items and puts them into her bag. However, Lisa catches her and asks her to put them back, with Lizzie getting out her purse which she had told Laurel she had lost. When leaving Laurel and Ashley's
(John Middleton
) Lizzie is taken away by the police after not obeying her curfew. Lizzie moves in with the Dingles but outstays her welcome which annoys Zak Dingle
(Steve Halliwell
) and she soon makes friends in the village. Lizzie makes friends with David Metcalfe
(Matthew Wolfenden
) and begins to support him in the upcoming council election, but when she is bribed with money she supports Eric Pollard
(Chris Chittell
) instead. She attends a council function for the disabled with him, but they are both removed by security when she is recognised as a thief and her tag is seen.
Lizzie attends Natasha Wylde
(Amanda Donohoe
) and Mark Wylde
's (Maxwell Caulfield
) vow renewal reception, and belittles Marlon Dingle
's (Mark Charnock
) catering, knowing that he would cook her another meal too change her opinion of his cooking. Lizzie and Marlon become friends and Marlon asks her too move into Tall Trees Cottage with him which she accepts, much to the annoyance of his brother, Eli
(Joseph Gilgun
). Eli doesn't trust Lizzie and begins to follow her to find out where she makes her money. It eventually turns out that she is working on a psychic
hotline and Marlon later discovers that she is, in fact, the psychic that he had been ringing and asking for romantic advice. After he makes Lizzie give back the money he spent on the premium phone calls. When she wins some money on a scratch card, Eli Dingle and Jake Doland (James Baxter
) trick her in order to keep the winnings themselves. However, Jake feels guilty and owns up, returning the money. In his defence, Eli then observes that Lizzie herself is a con-artist and she starts to question her own behaviour. She and Eli gradually become good friends.
Over time, Lizzie makes more friends in the village, getting a job at David's cleaning firm; however she eventually takes a job at the sweet factory owned by Jai
(Chris Bisson
) and Nikhil Sharma
(Rik Makarem
) instead. Lizzie is attacked by an angry Aaron Livesy
(Danny Miller
) sending her handbag into the river and causing her to fall to the ground; thinking she has been mugged, Lizzie calls the police. Aaron later returns the bag after fishing it out of the river which Lizzie is grateful for, however he does not accept the reward she offered him. Lizzie is left feeling traumatised by this – vulnerable at her lack of eyesight. Marlon and Eli become very concerned when she refuses to leave the house. Lisa eventually speaks to her and Lizzie confesses that she had once been violently mugged and just how much her blindness scares her under all the bravado. Lizzie is intimidated when a desperate Shadrach Dingle
(Andy Devine) hassles her for money for alcohol when they are alone.
Lizzie starts to grow close to Bob Hope
(Tony Audenshaw
). Lizzie hears Viv Hope
(Deena Payne
) and Brenda Walker
(Lesley Dunlop
) doubting his interest in her and begins avoiding him. Later, Lizzie develops feelings for Bob as they spend more time together. When Hazel Rhodes (Pauline Quirke
) tells Bob that Lizzie has feelings for him, Lizzie is upset when Bob tells her that they are just friends.
In December 2010 her and Bob try to cheer up Marlon after him falling out with his best friend Paddy Kirk
(Dominic Brunt
) because Paddy was seeing Marlon's ex Rhona Goskirk
(Zoe Henry
). She pretends to go ice skating with her friend Toni, but she actually sets up drinks, pizza and games, for Marlon and Paddy to make up - which they do.
) had raped her close friend, Lisa Dingle. After Lisa had been raped, Derek starts flirting with Lizzie and Lizzie is flattered with the attention she is getting from Derek, when Lisa tries to tell Lizzie that he is messing with her, Lizzie tells her to back off and thinks she is jelous that the man Lisa used to flirt with was paying someone else attenton. The later on in that week, Nikhill asks someone to do over time and Derek volunteers himself and Lizzie, Lisa is worried by this because he thinks that Derek might rape Lizzie, so Lisa puts a stop to it by finally revealling that Derek raped her, he is suspended pending an investigation and Lizzie feels guilty because she blocked her best friend out when she needed to talk to someone, she apologises to Lisa and they make up and since then Lizzie has taken a distinct dislike to Derek and she, Lisa and everyone else was happy when Derek was sent down for rape.
In April 2010, Disability Now
, a magazine aimed at disabled people criticised Lizzie along with fellow disabled characters in UK soap operas such as, Adam Best
(David Proud
) of EastEnders
, Hayley Ramsey
(Kelly-Marie Stewart) of Hollyoaks
and Izzy Armstrong
(Cherylee Houston
) of Coronation Street
for all being portrayed as 'vengeful' and 'personality-driven' stating that soap operas need to portray some disabled character's as 'normal' good people.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
, played by Kitty McGeever
Kitty McGeever
Kitty McGeever is a British actress, the first blind actress to be cast in a British soap opera. Since April 2009 she has played the fictional character Lizzie Lakely in Emmerdale.-Biography:McGeever was trained at RADA, and became diabetic at age 19....
. She is Emmerdale's first blind character, and is played by a blind actress. She made her first on-screen appearance on 28 April 2009.
Character creation and casting
In January 2009, it was announced that Anita TurnerAnita Turner
Anita Turner is a British script editor, and television producer. From 2008 to 2009 Turner was the series producer of the British television soap opera Emmerdale.-Early career:...
had stepped down from the position of series producer and that Gavin Blyth
Gavin Blyth
Gavin John Blyth was a British television producer and journalist. He was well known for being series producer of Emmerdale from January 2009 until his death. Beginning his career in 2002, he joined Emmerdale in 2003 as a writer...
had taken over the role. With Turner's departure Blyth began the show's rejuvenation and with that came his first signing, actress Kim Thomson
Kim Thomson
Kim Thomson is an English actress who has appeared on stage, television and film since the early 1980s in both the United Kingdom and the United States.-Early life:...
as Faye Lamb
Faye Lamb (Emmerdale)
Faye Lamb is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Kim Thomson. She made her first on-screen appearance on 17 March 2009...
. On 2 March 2009, it was announced that Emmerdale had signed comedienne Kitty McGeever
Kitty McGeever
Kitty McGeever is a British actress, the first blind actress to be cast in a British soap opera. Since April 2009 she has played the fictional character Lizzie Lakely in Emmerdale.-Biography:McGeever was trained at RADA, and became diabetic at age 19....
, the first blind actress to be cast in a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soap, as Lizzie Lakely, the old friend of Lisa Dingle
Lisa Dingle
Lisa May Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Jane Cox.-Casting:Lisa Clegg was first introduced by producer Mervyn Watson in 1996 who cast Jane Cox for the role...
(Jane Cox
Jane Cox
Jane Cox is an English actress well known for her part in ITV's Emmerdale as farmer's wife Lisa Dingle.She lives in the former mill town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire and trained at Rose Bruford College....
). Speaking of her casting, McGeever said, "I'm thrilled to be joining Emmerdale as Lizzie and delighted that the show is challenging stereotypes in this way. Lizzie spells trouble from the word go and will be causing all kinds of strife in the village." Of the casting, the show's series producer Blyth said, "Kitty is an extremely talented actress and I'm pleased that she will be joining the show, marking the arrival of such a fascinating character. Lizzie is forthright and fun and she'll soon prove that she isn’t afraid to manipulate circumstances to her advantage."
McGeever later revealed in an interview with This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
that she helped to create her new alter ego Lizzie, of this input she explained, "The character was developed by me with the producers. So I had some input. The producers came to see my standup show and Gavin [Blyth] the producer said: 'We want that woman on stage but toned down', because I'm quite outrageous on stage!" Speaking to BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
’s Front Row about filling a disabled quota McGeever said, "I’m not representing anyone, I’m Kitty McGeever and I’m just blind."
2009–2010
Lizzie is first seen in April 2009, when she meets Laurel ThomasLaurel Thomas
Laurel Thomas is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Charlotte Bellamy. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 3 September 2002. Laurel has been off-screen at various times while Bellamy has taken maternity leave.-Casting:In 2004, Bellamy announced she...
(Charlotte Bellamy
Charlotte Bellamy
Charlotte Bellamy is an English actress.-Early life:Bellamy attended Middlesex University studying Performance Arts, graduating in 1993.-Acting career:...
) at community service. Laurel takes pity on Lizzie after realising she is blind, and buys her a meal after Lizzie lies and says she has left her purse on the bus. Lizzie is then reunited with her old friend Lisa Dingle
Lisa Dingle
Lisa May Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Jane Cox.-Casting:Lisa Clegg was first introduced by producer Mervyn Watson in 1996 who cast Jane Cox for the role...
(Jane Cox
Jane Cox
Jane Cox is an English actress well known for her part in ITV's Emmerdale as farmer's wife Lisa Dingle.She lives in the former mill town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire and trained at Rose Bruford College....
) in the village shop and whilst in the shop she tries to steal some items and puts them into her bag. However, Lisa catches her and asks her to put them back, with Lizzie getting out her purse which she had told Laurel she had lost. When leaving Laurel and Ashley's
Ashley Thomas
Ashley Michael Thomas is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by John Middleton.-1996–99:Ashley soon began developing feelings for the landlady of the Woolpack pub, Bernice Blackstock. He tried putting them aside as Bernice was engaged to Gavin, despite suspecting that...
(John Middleton
John Middleton (actor)
John Middleton is an English actor well known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as Reverend Ashley Thomas...
) Lizzie is taken away by the police after not obeying her curfew. Lizzie moves in with the Dingles but outstays her welcome which annoys Zak Dingle
Zak Dingle
Zachariah Bartholomew "Zak" Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Steve Halliwell. He first appeared on 20 October 1994 and has remained since except for a brief break from 2002-2003. On his time in the show he has been involved in a testicular cancer...
(Steve Halliwell
Steve Halliwell
Steve Halliwell isan English actor best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as smallholder Zak Dingle, a role he has played since 1994....
) and she soon makes friends in the village. Lizzie makes friends with David Metcalfe
David Metcalfe
David Eric Metcalfe is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He is played by Matthew Wolfenden. He is the illegitimate son of Eric Pollard-2006–09:...
(Matthew Wolfenden
Matthew Wolfenden
Matthew 'Matty' Wolfenden is an English footballer currently playing for FC United of Manchester. Wolfenden started out at Oldham Athletic, his hometown club, before moving to Wales to play for Wrexham in the summer of 2009.-Early life:...
) and begins to support him in the upcoming council election, but when she is bribed with money she supports Eric Pollard
Eric Pollard
Eric Charles Pollard is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Chris Chittell.Pollard has appeared on the show since 1986, making him the second longest running current character after Alan Turner who has appeared since 1982. He has lied to, cheated and swindled...
(Chris Chittell
Chris Chittell
Christopher John Chittell is an English actor best known for his role as Eric Pollard in ITV's Emmerdale, a part that he has played since 1986....
) instead. She attends a council function for the disabled with him, but they are both removed by security when she is recognised as a thief and her tag is seen.
Lizzie attends Natasha Wylde
Natasha Wylde
Natasha Jane Wylde is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Amanda Donohoe. She made her first appearance, along with her husband Mark Wylde, on 15 January 2009. It was announced in July 2010 that Donohoe had quit her role as Natasha, and would leave the series later...
(Amanda Donohoe
Amanda Donohoe
Amanda Donohoe is an English film and television actress. She is known for her 1980s relationship with popstar Adam Ant and her later work on television — including L.A. Law and Emmerdale — and her roles in successful movies including Liar, Liar.-Early life:Donohoe was born in London, the daughter...
) and Mark Wylde
Mark Wylde
Mark Wylde was a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Maxwell Caulfield. He made his first appearance on 15 January 2009 and departed on 3 January 2010....
's (Maxwell Caulfield
Maxwell Caulfield
Maxwell Caulfield is a British film, stage, and television actor who is based in the United States, known for his roles as Michael Carrington in Grease 2 and as Miles Colby in The Colbys and its parent show Dynasty . He has more than 70 film, stage and television credits. He starred in Ronald F...
) vow renewal reception, and belittles Marlon Dingle
Marlon Dingle
Marlon Sebastian Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Mark Charnock. -1996–:...
's (Mark Charnock
Mark Charnock
Mark Charnock is an English actor best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as lanky chef Marlon Dingle.-Biography:...
) catering, knowing that he would cook her another meal too change her opinion of his cooking. Lizzie and Marlon become friends and Marlon asks her too move into Tall Trees Cottage with him which she accepts, much to the annoyance of his brother, Eli
Eli Dingle
Eli Dingle is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Joseph Gilgun. He first appeared on screen in the episode which aired on 13 July 2006 and made his last appearance on 30 April 2010.-Casting:...
(Joseph Gilgun
Joseph Gilgun
Joseph William Gilgun is an English actor best known for playing Eli Dingle in ITV's Emmerdale, Woody in the film This Is England and Rudy Wade in series 3 of E4's Misfits.-Biography:...
). Eli doesn't trust Lizzie and begins to follow her to find out where she makes her money. It eventually turns out that she is working on a psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
hotline and Marlon later discovers that she is, in fact, the psychic that he had been ringing and asking for romantic advice. After he makes Lizzie give back the money he spent on the premium phone calls. When she wins some money on a scratch card, Eli Dingle and Jake Doland (James Baxter
James Baxter
James Baxter played rugby union for the English rugby union side between at the turn of the 20th century and won a silver medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics for sailing in the 12-metre class....
) trick her in order to keep the winnings themselves. However, Jake feels guilty and owns up, returning the money. In his defence, Eli then observes that Lizzie herself is a con-artist and she starts to question her own behaviour. She and Eli gradually become good friends.
Over time, Lizzie makes more friends in the village, getting a job at David's cleaning firm; however she eventually takes a job at the sweet factory owned by Jai
Jai Sharma
Jai Sharma is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Chris Bisson. He made his first on-screen appearance on 11 September 2009.-Character creation and casting:...
(Chris Bisson
Chris Bisson
Christopher Paul "Chris" Bisson is a British actor.-Career:Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Chris Bisson first appeared on television as J.J. in Children's Ward in 1990...
) and Nikhil Sharma
Nikhil Sharma
Nikhil Sharma is a fictional character, from the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Rik Makarem. He made his first on-screen appearance on 11 September 2009.-Character creation and casting:...
(Rik Makarem
Rik Makarem
-Career:Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Makarem is currently known for playing cast regular Nikhil Sharma in Emmerdale. He has also starred in BBC's Torchwood- Children of Earth alongside John Barrowman and has featured in ITV period drama Foyle's War...
) instead. Lizzie is attacked by an angry Aaron Livesy
Aaron Livesy
Aaron Livesy is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Danny Miller, who took over the role from Danny Webb in 2008. He made his first on-screen appearance on 24 December 2003. Aaron is the son of Chastity Dingle and Gordon Livesy...
(Danny Miller
Danny Miller (actor)
Daniel Benedict "Danny" Miller is an English actor from Bredbury, Stockport, Greater Manchester, best-known for his role as Aaron Livesy in ITV soap opera Emmerdale.-Career:...
) sending her handbag into the river and causing her to fall to the ground; thinking she has been mugged, Lizzie calls the police. Aaron later returns the bag after fishing it out of the river which Lizzie is grateful for, however he does not accept the reward she offered him. Lizzie is left feeling traumatised by this – vulnerable at her lack of eyesight. Marlon and Eli become very concerned when she refuses to leave the house. Lisa eventually speaks to her and Lizzie confesses that she had once been violently mugged and just how much her blindness scares her under all the bravado. Lizzie is intimidated when a desperate Shadrach Dingle
Shadrach Dingle
Shadrach Dingle is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Played by Andy Devine, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 30 March 2000. Since early 2010 the character appeared from time to time on an episodic basis after Devine felt he could not...
(Andy Devine) hassles her for money for alcohol when they are alone.
Lizzie starts to grow close to Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
(Tony Audenshaw
Tony Audenshaw
Antony Audenshaw is an English actor best known for his role as Bob Hope on the popular ITV1 soap Emmerdale. In 1995 and 1996, he had a brief appearance as PC Ian Coban in the Channel 4 Soap Brookside...
). Lizzie hears Viv Hope
Viv Hope
Vivienne "Viv" Hope was a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Emmerdale. Portrayed by Deena Payne, the character first appeared on 10 August 1993, and remained until 13 January 2011, becoming one of the longest serving characters, after nearly 18 years in the show.In November...
(Deena Payne
Deena Payne
Deena Payne is an English actress and former singer who is best known for playing Viv Hope in ITV's Emmerdale.Payne was born in Orpington, Kent. She used to tour with ex-Animals keyboard player Alan Price as a backing singer and she was a member of the novelty girl band Cats U.K....
) and Brenda Walker
Brenda Walker
Brenda Walker is an Australian writer. She studied at the University of New England in Armidale and, after gaining a PhD in English at the Australian National University, she moved to Perth in 1984. She is now Winthrop Professor of English and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia...
(Lesley Dunlop
Lesley Dunlop
Lesley Dunlop is a British actress.Daughter of the television writer Pat Dunlop, she began as a child actress in the seventies featuring in a BBC version of the classic A Little Princess and as Lydia Holly in the ITV adaptation of South Riding.Her transition to adult roles began by playing Lizzie...
) doubting his interest in her and begins avoiding him. Later, Lizzie develops feelings for Bob as they spend more time together. When Hazel Rhodes (Pauline Quirke
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Perpetua Quirke is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon in the comedy series Birds of a Feather, alongside her lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson...
) tells Bob that Lizzie has feelings for him, Lizzie is upset when Bob tells her that they are just friends.
In December 2010 her and Bob try to cheer up Marlon after him falling out with his best friend Paddy Kirk
Paddy Kirk
Patrick Frederick "Paddy" Kirk is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Dominic Brunt. Paddy demonstrates the dedication of the soap's writers towards maintaining a comedic tone in plotlines. While he has appeared at the centre of some grave storylines, Paddy is often...
(Dominic Brunt
Dominic Brunt
Dominic Brunt is an English actor known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as vet Paddy Kirk. He was educated at Accrington Moorhead Sports College....
) because Paddy was seeing Marlon's ex Rhona Goskirk
Rhona Goskirk
Rhona Goskirk is a fictional character who is a veterinary surgeon, from the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Zoe Henry. She made her first on-screen appearance on 17 September 2001. The character was introduced by series producer Steve Frost and appeared initially in 2001 and 2002,...
(Zoe Henry
Zoe Henry
Zoe Henry is a British actress, who has had roles in the three main soap operas on British TV, Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale....
). She pretends to go ice skating with her friend Toni, but she actually sets up drinks, pizza and games, for Marlon and Paddy to make up - which they do.
2011—
In 2011 Lizzie is unaware that Derek Benrose (Stephen BentStephen Bent
Stephen Bent is an English actor who has appeared regularly on British television since 1970 in varied roles, including on three soaps, Coronation Street, Eastenders, and Emmerdale. He has also done theatre work.-External links:...
) had raped her close friend, Lisa Dingle. After Lisa had been raped, Derek starts flirting with Lizzie and Lizzie is flattered with the attention she is getting from Derek, when Lisa tries to tell Lizzie that he is messing with her, Lizzie tells her to back off and thinks she is jelous that the man Lisa used to flirt with was paying someone else attenton. The later on in that week, Nikhill asks someone to do over time and Derek volunteers himself and Lizzie, Lisa is worried by this because he thinks that Derek might rape Lizzie, so Lisa puts a stop to it by finally revealling that Derek raped her, he is suspended pending an investigation and Lizzie feels guilty because she blocked her best friend out when she needed to talk to someone, she apologises to Lisa and they make up and since then Lizzie has taken a distinct dislike to Derek and she, Lisa and everyone else was happy when Derek was sent down for rape.
Reception
Disabled charity Leonard Cheshire Disability praised the decision to sign the first blind actress to be cast in a UK soap, John Knight the charity's assistant director of policy and campaigns, said of the move, "We applaud the decision by Emmerdale to champion the country's first ever blind soap actress. It is a breath of fresh air in an area where disabled actors and actresses are totally underrepresented."In April 2010, Disability Now
Disability Now
Disability Now is a UK magazine for disabled people, published by UK disability charity Scope.It was first published in 1984 as a newspaper and continued in that form until 2008, when it was redesigned as an A4 magazine with a greater emphasis on lifestyle and features...
, a magazine aimed at disabled people criticised Lizzie along with fellow disabled characters in UK soap operas such as, Adam Best
Adam Best (EastEnders)
Adam Best is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by David Proud, the first adult actor with a visible disability to appear regularly in the soap. Both Proud and his character live with spina bifida...
(David Proud
David Proud
David Proud is an English actor. He was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. He only began his acting career during his early twenties, having previously believed that it would be impossible for him to have a career in that field. His first professional acting role was as a wheelchair...
) of EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, Hayley Ramsey
Hayley Ramsey
Hayley Ramsey is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kelly-Marie Stewart. She made her first on-screen appearance on 28 January 2009 as the sister of already established character Zak Ramsey . Hayley is notably the first prominent disabled character in...
(Kelly-Marie Stewart) of Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
and Izzy Armstrong
Izzy Armstrong
Isabelle 'Izzy' Armstrong is a fictional character on the UK soap Coronation Street portrayed by Cherylee Houston. The character first appears on-screen on April 16, 2010; she is introduced as a new love interest for Kirk Sutherland. Soon after her arrival she gets a job at the Underworld factory....
(Cherylee Houston
Cherylee Houston
Cherylee Houston is a British actress. She grew up in Morecambe, Lancashire, in the United Kingdom. She is best known for her role as Izzy Armstrong, friend of Kirk Sutherland in Coronation Street.-Early life:...
) of Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
for all being portrayed as 'vengeful' and 'personality-driven' stating that soap operas need to portray some disabled character's as 'normal' good people.
External links
- Character profile on the ITV website.
- Character profile on the Five website.