Campaign FOR CHANGE

ARTHUR HUGHES and RUTH MADELEY on playing real life disability rights activists

- ELAINE REILLY

THEN BARBARA MET ALAN

 MON, 9PM, BBC2 DRAMA

The remarkable true story of the fight for disabled civil rights in Britain is at the heart of new BBC2 drama Then Barbara Met Alan.

Written by Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials) and actor-turned writer Genevieve Barr, the plot centres on two disabled cabaret performers, comedian Barbara Lisicki and singer-songwriter Alan Holdsworth, who fell in love after meeting at a gig in 1989.

The couple went on to become the driving force behind the Disabled People’s Direct Action Network (DAN), a national group whose peaceful campaigns ultimately led to the passing of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.

Years and Years star Ruth Madeley takes on the role of Barbara, who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in late childhood, while Arthur Hughes (The Innocents) plays Alan, who was aged one when he contracted polio.

Here, Ruth, 34, and Arthur, 30, tell us the importance of bringing this groundbreaking story to our screens…

How would you describe Alan and Barbara?