Television
In 2012, I landed my first TV acting role as Clarissa Mullery (link opens in new window), forensic scientist in the landmark BBC drama, Silent Witness (link opens in new window). Clarissa is the sarcastic, super smart side-kick to Jack Hodgson (link opens in new window) (David Caves).
The latest series is the show’s 21st and we have new producers, redesigned titles, Clarissa has a different wig and even the Lyell Centre has been remodelled! It’s been my favourite series to film so far – perhaps because not only does Clarissa’s husband Max (Daniel Weyman) reappear in a number of episodes but, at long last, there’s a main storyline for me and my character. The story involves abuse in a care home and centres on disability hate crime – subjects I haven’t seen dramatised on UK TV before – so I’m very proud to have been part of these brave and groundbreaking episodes.
In addition to Silent Witness, I’m regularly repeated on CBeebies Bedtime Stories (link opens in new window) reading five children’s stories, including my personal favourite, The Magic Porridge Pot.
I also pop up now and again on talk shows, news programmes and the odd quiz show. Plus there are a few exciting roles lined up for the new year, so do keep a look out for even more of me on your screens in 2018.
Theatre
I’ve performed all over the world and have ‘wheeled the boards’ in various plays – further details of all this can be found on my Spotlight (link opens in new window) page.
In the past couple of years I’ve been touring a show I created, wrote and perform in called Assisted Suicide: The Musical (link opens in new window). With the help of a fantastic cast, this ‘TED talk with show tunes’ explores my views as a disabled woman who is an atheist and pro-choice yet concerned about legalising assisted suicide.
The show premiered to sell out audiences at London’s Royal Festival Hall in 2016, received a standing ovation when it returned there ‘Back by Popular Demand’ in 2017, and then toured to the Melbourne Comedy Festival. It’s hoped the show will tour again nationally in 2019.
Activism
I’ve been involved in disability rights and activism for over 25 years. I’ve spoken in Parliament Square about the effects of austerity on disabled people, appeared on Newsnight on various occasions, addressed the Labour conference (link to story in the Daily Mirror opens in new window) (pictured above) and been handcuffed to buses in the campaigns to secure accessible public transport for all.
I support Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) (link opens in new window) and I’m very involved with Not Dead Yet UK (link opens in new window), a group of disabled people and allies who oppose a change in the law relating to medical assisted suicide.
Broadcasting
For seven years, along with Mat Fraser, I was the co-host of the BBC’s disability-focused podcast, Ouch! (link opens in new window) We won a Royal Television Society award, we talked about disability in a frank and often amusing way and – most controversially – we were known for our ironic quiz Vegetable, Vegetable or Vegetable, where as the hosts we had to work out what was ‘wrong’ with the disabled caller on the line.
I’ve contributed to many BBC Radio programmes from Today and The World Tonight to Front Row, Loose Ends and You and Yours. In 2012 I visited all the countries where assisted suicide and / or euthanasia were then legal, the results of which were made into a self-authored two-part BBC World Service documentary, When Assisted Death is Legal (link opens in new window) (pictured above).
Comedy
I began my life as a comedian with the sketch group Nasty Girls, before trying my hand at stand-up thanks to Abnormally Funny People (link opens in new window) (pictured) back in 2005.
Since then I’ve received an amusing ’special’ commendation in one comedy competition, been runner-up in the prestigious Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition and I’ve gigged, MC-ed and performed in the worlds of mainstream comedy and queer cabaret all over the world.
