Former EastEnders star Lisa Hammond slams soap bosses for ‘only casting her because of her disability’ in play about life on TV
The disabled actress has hit out at bosses in a new play called Still No Idea where she stars as a wheelchair-bound actress trying to make it on TV
FORMER soap stars usually hold back from laying into their old bosses just in case they are ever asked back for a second round.
But EastEnders’ first female wheelchair-bound actor Lisa Hammond did the opposite and has written a play about her frustrations on Albert Square — claiming that bosses only gave her the role to tick BBC diversity boxes.
In the play, called Still No Idea, she stars as a disabled actress trying to make it big in mainstream telly. And the script written by Lisa, who grew up with a restricted growth condition, doesn’t hold back.
A source said: “Lisa was unhappy about her time on the show and felt that she didn’t get enough storylines. So when she left she poured her energy into writing a play about her experiences. She doesn’t names EastEnders specifically, but it’s clearly about it.
“There’s even a joke in the play about how when bosses suggest she unearths the identity of her father, and it’s Warwick Davis. At another point she makes a gag about how bosses thought she could only be friends with characters who had accessible houses.”
Before her stint in soapland Lisa starred in Grange Hil, Holby City, and Casualty — all BBC shows. Lisa, who also starred in Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere as Max’s ex girlfriend Tina, quit the Beeb show in 2018 to pursue other projects.
Hopefully bosses take what she’s saying on board rather than just ruling her out in future because they take it personally.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF ANDY HALLS' BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Yes, his pants do go Dorn
JAMIE Dornan's latest TV drama is a tantalising tale of betrayal and revenge. But what fans of the Fifty Shades hunk really want to know is . . . will he get his kit off?
So they’ll be relieved that in BBC2 three-parter Death And Nightingales – which starts tomorrow – his character Liam wastes no time getting fresh with his landlord’s step- daughter Beth, played by Ann Skelly.
Despite playing kinky Christian Grey, Jamie still finds sex scenes a struggle, and joked that he got co-star Matthew Rhys as “a cheerleader”. At the show’s launch this week, Jamie said: “You have to do sex scenes, they happen in a lot of jobs and they are never easy. Having Matthew there was a request I put in!”
The show, set in Ireland in 1883, was created by The Fall writer Alan Cubitt. And unlike the Fifty Shades films, it is steamy without any whips . . . or cheesy lines.
Bizbit
BILLIE Piper is to return to her role as Rose Tyler in a new Doctor Who spin-off.
Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon will star Camille Coduri, Shaun Digwall and Mark Benton in a four-part audio play written by Russell T Davies.
BBC Xmas
THE BBC have revealed their full Christmas line up.
It includes the start of a new series of drama Luther, a one-off live special of sitcom Not Going Out on December 21, plus TWO helpings of Mary Berry — with Mary Berry’s Christmas Party and Mary Berry’s Country House at Christmas.
There’s also a celebrity special of All Together Now to kick off a return series, documentaries on Ken Dodd and Fleetwood Mac, and a special 20th anniversary edition of comedy show Goodness Gracious Me.
The Missing
Tcheky Karyo is reprising his role in The Missing as cop Julien Baptiste with a BBC1 spin-off, Baptiste, set to air early next year.
Barbara Sarafian plays his former girlfriend Martha, a Dutch colleague who enlists his expert skills.
It’s good to have him back.
Nun-thing to see here
Meet the three new nuns arriving for the Christmas special of Call The Midwife.
Led by Miriam Margolyes as Sister Mildred, they are scatty Hilda, played by Fenella Woolgar and Frances, played by Ella Bruccoleri.
Writer Heidi Thomas said: “Each of them has already made me laugh and made me cry.”
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Soapbox
KAT regains consciousness following the accident in EastEnders, but after realising she’s hit someone she panics and drives off.
Hayley notices her injuries but Kat refuses to open up about what happened. Later, Stacey is concerned to see Kat drinking at the E20, especially when she refuses to come home.
In Emmerdale, when Megan finds out about the con, she tells Frank they are finished. Meanwhile, Jessie seeks closure and Faith delivers an ultimatum. And in Hollyoaks, Simone doesn’t want anything to do with Louis but he finds her and they end up kissing.
Elsewhere, Diane has invited Sinead, Laurie and Hannah to live in their flat without telling Tony.
must watch
WHAT? Mrs Wilson, BBC1, 9pm.
WHY? Actor Ruth Wilson plays her own grandmother Alison in a tale of secrets, subterfuge and deception. Alison’s world caves in after a woman knocks on her door to make a claim that changes her world.