Soap Groundbreakers

EastEnders has its first disabled actor in a regular role. Actor David Proud, who uses a wheelchair, is playing Adam Best; the young Oxford University student is the son of Manda (Josie Lawrence).

Adam is a nasty snob and the 26-year-old actor playing him couldn't be more pleased. He is proud to portray a disabled character in a programme where the focus isn't on his disability. Born with spina bifida, David Proud cannot walk unaided.

In an interview with The Sun, he said: "Not all disabled people are nice, so all characters shouldn't be either. It's a stereotype. People are people. He is a multi-layered, rounded character and his story will unfold. The BBC scriptwriters used my independent nature to shape their characterisation of Adam - they have purposely avoided making his disability a storyline."

EastEnders' casting of its first disabled actor seems an apt moment to celebrate some other soap groundbreakers. In our gallery, we highlight the likes of Brookside's famous lesbian kiss, EastEnders' all-black episode and Dallas' defining cliffhanger: who shot JR?