Deaf actress Vilma Jackson is set to star in ITV’s Coronation Street, it has been revealed, with Jackson reportedly taking on the role of Charlie, a British Sign Language (BSL) tutor.
In a preview pictures posted to the soap’s official website, Jackson can be seen in Number 5 next to Freda Burgess (played by Deaf actress Ali Briggs), who has been helping parents Chesney Brown and Gemma Winter support their deaf son, Aled.
“Freda offers a helping hand to Gemma and Chesney,” the caption reads.
According to Digital Spy, upcoming scenes see Freda return to the cobbles and “[bring] with her a BSL teacher named Charlie”.
“Chesney later admits that he’s struggling to get a grip on the sign language and hopes their son’s [cochlear implant] operation will make things easier,” the outlet writes.
They also report that the scenes will air as part of the hourlong episode next Friday, at 7:30pm (BST).
It’ll be the latest continuation of a storyline which was first announced in January last year, when it was revealed that Chesney and Gemma would learn about their son’s deafness.
At the time, it was reported that both Trafford Deaf Children’s Society and Great Ormond Street Hospital had worked with soap writers on the storyline to ensure its accuracy.
Last month saw the pair find out that Aled was an “ideal candidate” for a cochlear implant, before Gemma agreed to go ahead with the operation, on the condition that they would both continue to learn BSL.
And with Charlie arriving on the street as a BSL tutor, Jackson’s role could very well help with that.
In a post to Instagram, the performance artist wrote: “I am humbled and honoured to announce that I am in Coronation Street.
“It will be released very soon.”
Photo: Vilma Jackson.
By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and blogger from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.
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Cathy
July 23, 2021
Is this BSL tutor coming to Chesney’s house to teach BSL to him as he is struggling? It will be interesting to watch because tutors have never been known to go to anybody’s house to teach BSL. People usually book classes and pay for them and level 1 is around £250. So how would Chesney afford this with all those babies?!? Once again we see Coronation Street trying to teach awareness, but BSL tutors being introduced in the home is highly unusual, if not at all. It would be good if Corrie was more realistic especially if they are trying to raise Deaf Awareness. I know in my heart this story is going to be nowhere near realistic, sadly. This can sometimes send “awareness” backwards, which is the opposite to what is needed!
Amy
August 1, 2021
Actually, it isn’t unusual to have support at home with sign language for parents of newly diagnosed deaf children. Going to classes isn’t necessary a good way to start to learn for parents, as you need much more child/home/family specific signs. level one course vocabulary isn’t going to be helpful for a deaf child and parent initially so this is a common way to help the family.