Corrie Stars lead the way helping TV companies better reflect their audiences

Corrie's Cherylee Houston and Melissa Johns have helped create a Disabled Artists Networking Community to encourage better representation Credit: ITV Granada

ONE in FIVE of us has a disability but it is hardly ever portrayed on our TV screens.

Coronation Street actors Cherylee Houston and Melissa Johns are leading the way, encouraging production companies to better reflect their audiences.

They've created DANC, a Disabled Artists Networking Community and a database of contacts, to encourage more conversations with TV companies, theatres and arts venues to promote better representation and create jobs.

The stars say they're often told by casting directors they didn't know where to find disabled actors.

Now in a major step forward, the makers of some of the country's best dramas, Fifty Fathoms/Tiger Aspect Productions have pledged to audition at least one disabled actor for all episodes in their new shows.

Here's our correspondent Elaine Willcox with the first of two signed reports:

Click here to watch a short film about DANC filmed at July’s DANC event at The Comedy Store Manchester.