Cherylee Houston joins Coronation Street

23rd February 2010

Coronation Street have announced that they have cast the show's first regular disabled character. Wheelchair user Cherylee Houston is to appear in the show mid-April.

The actress is to play heartbreaker Izzy, who shows up in Weatherfield when Kirk Sutherland (Andrew Whyment) arranges to meet her via an online dating service.

Houston said of her new role: "I'm really excited and well chuffed to be joining the show. I grew up with Coronation Street and I can't wait to get started. I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into the character."

A Coronation Street spokesperson said: "Izzy is a real firebrand, who wastes no time in taking on some of the Street's feistiest females - Liz, Carla, Janice - cutting even the most formidable foe down to size with one swipe of her razor-sharp tongue."

Other disabled characters on the Street have included Ryan Connor's best friend Phil (Richard Sargent) who uses a wheelchair,  and Emily Bishop's deaf niece Freda (Ali Briggs).