Ryan Stocks arrived in Emmerdale like a breath of fresh air. He’s quick-witted, funny, and shaping up to be a brilliant chip off mum Charity Dingle’s block.
He’s proved a big hit with Emmerdale fans, too, who have been flocking to social media to share their delight in his one-liners, their appreciation of his friendship with Ross, and their love of his cheeky smile.
And that’s why we reckon soaps need more characters like Ryan.
Of course, there’s the positive portrayal of Ryan’s disability. Like his alter-ego, James Moore, Ryan has cerebral palsy.
He is no victim of his circumstance, however. Ryan’s sassy and funny, and totally unapologetic about his disability – which is exactly how he should be.
“As a mum to a special needs child I think it’s brill that @emmerdale have brought you into the cast,” one viewer wrote.
And another added: “It’s an absolute treat for our boys & as parents to see a disabled actor in #Emmerdale.”
“Keep kicking down the barriers!” declared another pleased viewer.
It’s really important to see diversity on our screens, both for people with disabilities, and those without. Anything that stops people with disabilities being seen as ‘different’ has got to be good.
But actually, the charm of Ryan’s story is that his disability isn’t the whole plot. He’s not been brought into the show to play a part that’s solely about him being disabled. Instead, he’s part of one of the biggest storylines in Emmerdale’s history – and his disability is by the by.
Yes, it’s important to his character but it’s not the only thing about him. Just like Billy Mayhew’s sexuality isn’t his only Corrie storyline, or how Masood in EastEnders being a Muslim is part of his character but not the focus.
Similarly, Emmerdale newcomer Matty Barton’s arrival was inevitably focused on his being transgender, his relationship with mum Moira and meeting old friends who’d only known him as Hannah.
But already he’s been thrown into a storyline about being a totally rubbish farmer, and a flirtation with sister-in-law Victoria. Him being transgender is important, but it’s not the be all and end all.
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It’s great to see diverse characters in soaps. And it’s even better to see them being given storylines that don’t revolve around their sexuality, disabilities, religion, race or gender.
But while this is all vitally important in today’s diverse society, there’s an even more convincing argument for why we need more characters like Ryan – and more actors like James – in our soaps. And that’s simply because he’s absolutely great.
Do you think we need more diversity in soap? Let us know by commenting on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix!