Today, Wednesday March 21 2019 is World Down Syndrome Day and Coronation Street's Liam Bairstow is marking the day with a 'follow your dreams' appeal.
Liam, 31, made an important piece of TV history in 2015 when he became the first person with Down syndrome to secure a lead role on Coronation Street. Four years on, he is still loving life on the soap, with his character, Alex Warner, regularly being seen on screen working in Roy Cropper's café.
And today he told the Yorkshire Evening Post how he hopes his story will inspire other people with Down syndrome to make the most of their talents.
Liam, who comes from Allerton in Bradford and is represented by the Leeds-based Yorkshire Academy of Film and Television Acting (YAFTA), said: "When I first went into Coronation Street it was quite overwhelming, I couldn't believe I was there. It's been great from the start, though – I feel like part of the team and have made some really good friends.
World Down Syndrome Day is held each year on March 21 and has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.
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He's quite a hero in the Bradford area amongst young people with additional needs and their families. Mind the Gap drama group where he started is excellent and well respected.
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