Emmerdale star James Moore has spoken out against shows casting non-disabled actors to play disabled characters.
The actor, who joined the soap as Charity's long-lost son Ryan Stocks last summer, feels that hiring disabled actors for such roles "will always" be the best choice.
James was reacting to The CW's new series In the Dark after show bosses decided not to cast a blind woman for the lead role.
"Yet another show casting a non disabled actor in a disabled role," James wrote on Twitter.
"At the end of the day - the product will suffer. The best actor to play a disabled part will always be disabled themselves. The difference is in life experience. No matter the character."
James has cerebral palsy like his character on Emmerdale and he has previously addressed the difficulties facing disabled actors in the industry.
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"I'd love to see more disabled people being represented, and I think in an age where we've progressed so quickly in everything – sexuality, race, and gender, and obviously you've just been talking to Ash [Palmisciano], a wonderful guy," he said.
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"I think it's fantastic that Emmerdale is hiring trans actors to play trans characters and disabled actors to play disabled characters.
"It really helps us, as actors, bring the most to our role because we have that experience – and a truth, because we have that experience and we have the knowledge to connect to the characters and to give it a fresh angle."
James recently shared that Emmerdale was the first role he auditioned for, scooping him the prize for Best Newcomer at the National Television Awards in January.
Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.
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