Britain's "EastEnders" wins diversity award for its portrayal of disabled people

From Digital Spy. Pictured is "EastEnders" cast member David Proud.

BBC soap EastEnders has been recognised for its positive portrayal of disabled people at the 2009 RADAR People of the Year Awards.

The event, which celebrates efforts to promote equality and diversity in the UK, saw the Walford-based programme picking up the 'Doing Media Differently' award for its plotlines in the past year.

Executive producer Diederick Santer told DS: "EastEnders is really delighted to receive this award as it recognises that we've made real progress in the last year, increasing and improving our on-screen representation of people with disabilities."

He added: "Approximately one in five of our audience are disabled, and we are really pleased that we have been recognised for representing them better."

Praising the long-running drama, a RADAR spokesperson said: "Over the last 12 months, there have been a number of positive portrayals of disability on EastEnders - Jim Branning's return home following a stroke and rehabilitation in a nursing home, Stacey's realisation that she, like her mother is bipolar, single mother Syd whose young son Noah is deaf, the continuing appearances of Billy's daughter Janet who has Down's Syndrome, and the recent arrival of Manda's son Adam who has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair."

EastEnders was chosen for the gong ahead of BBC radio drama The Pursuits of Darleen Fyles, which focused on a young woman with learning difficulties and featured a disabled actress in its lead role.

Over the last year, EastEnders has made extensive changes to its filming lot to ensure that the old-style buildings can easily be accessed by disabled main cast and supporting artistes.

Meanwhile, BBC Three documentary Otto: Love, Lust and Las Vegas won the equivalent prize for factual programming. The one-off show had followed a 21-year old Down's Syndrome sufferer as he went on a mission to lose his virginity.

Last week, Stacey Slater's (Lacey Turner) bipolar storyline earned EastEnders a prize at the Mental Health Media Awards. Stacey began to show signs of the condition earlier this year following the death of her best friend Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace).