Model with Down's syndrome 'beyond excited' to join Malory Towers
Now in its sixth season, Malory Towers follows the adventures of a group of girls at a boarding school in post-war Britain."I was nervous to go on set but when I saw the school house, it wasn't a dream, it was really true and I loved filming every scene at Malory Towers in school house," she said."Down's syndrome means I've got an extra chromosome - lucky me. Diversity should be out there and people should not be hidden in boxes. They need to be seen."
Patricia Hidalgo, director Children and Education at the BBC said it had "long been a leader in championing diversity and representation, both on screen and behind the scenes". "When children see themselves and their peers represented, it fosters empathy, belonging and a deeper understanding of others," she said. The first episode featuring Ellie, which is episode eight in the series, is available on BBC iPlayer on 30 June and airs on CBBC on 1 July.
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