First Actor With Down's Syndrome To Grace Cobbles

26-year-old Liam Bairstow will play Cathy Matthew’s nephew Alex in Coronation Street.

16:27 14 September 2015

Coronation Street’s first actor with Down’s syndrome, 26-year-old Liam Bairstow, will make soap history with TV debut tonight. He will play Alex, Cathy Matthew’s nephew. He will arrive on the cobbles to visit Cathy, played by Melanie Hill, in the show’s hour-long special at 7pm.

 

Cathy’s friend Roy Cropper, played by David Neilson will invite him to stay the night on his sofa. But Cathy and Roy are embarrassed when Alex assumes they are an item.

 

Corrie has made history by hiring 26-year-old Liam.

 

Producer Stuart Blackburn, said: “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.”

 

The production team found Liam in ITV’s Breaking Through Talent disability workshop, created in response to actors with disabilities getting few audition opportunities.