The A Word confirms spin-off series for Ralph and Katie, who have Down’s syndrome, after groundbreaking wedding
THE A Word has confirmed a spin-off series for Ralph and Katie, who have Down's Syndrome, after their groundbreaking wedding.
The BBC drama confirmed the new show which will focus on the newly married couple.
It will be titled Ralph and Katie, which will follow the characters played by Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy, 43, over the course of six 30-minute episodes.
We will see how the pair get on as they face various challenges during their first year of marriage.
Screenwriter Peter Bowker, who wrote The A Word, will be back to pen the series and will be joined by a team of disabled writers to help bring the show to life.
The 61-year-old is delighted to be able to work with Leon and Sarah again and to increase representation and diversity both on and off screen.
He commented: "Ralph and Katie is a natural step forwards from the ongoing ambition of The A Word to increase representation and diversity both on and off screen.
"Equally exciting is the opportunity to work again with two young actors as talented as Leon and Sarah."
He added: "It is a tribute to their performances in The A Word that the BBC have commissioned this series."
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Speaking of Ralph and Katie's wedding, The A Word actor Christopher Eccleston beamed with pride as he opened up on being part of the "radical" A Word plotline which saw them get hitched.
The actor, 56, plays grumpy Maurice Scott, whose grandson Joe, now aged 10, suffers from autism.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Christopher said of the sweet I Do moment between the characters: "I think it’s possibly a first.
"I can’t think of many episodes of television drama which have been centred around the wedding and celebration of independence of two people with Down’s Syndrome. I can’t.
"So I think in a very quiet and modest way, The A Word is a benchmark, really."