Filming has started in Manchester and The Lake District on a groundbreaking spin-off series of the popular BBC One series The A Word.
The new BBC One series Ralph & Katie will follow The A Word favourites Ralph and Katie Wilson.
Starring Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy as the newlyweds, the six episodes with each feature a different story focusing on the domestic challenges the couple, who have Down’s Syndrome, face in the first year of married life.
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Leon and Sarah Gordy are joined by Eccles actress Pooky Quesnel who reprises the role of Louise, Ralph's mum, now Katie's mother-in-law.
New and familiar faces heading to Manchester's Space Studios and stunning Lakeside locations include The Royle Family, Gogglebox and Early Doors star Craig Cash as Brian and Dylan Brady, who plays Danny Tomlinson in Coronation Street, as Dan.
And Bohemian Rhapsody and Waterloo Road actor Matt Greenwood is back as Tom Clarke.
Co-produced by ITV Studios and Keshet Productions in association with Tiger Aspect, Ralph & Katie is written by The A Word's Peter Bowker alongside new and emerging disabled writers.
And the series is directed by BAFTA-winning Jordan Hogg who has worked on Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Casualty.
With funding from ITV Studios and BBC Drama, Ralph & Katie has employed five disabled trainees and is running a six-month long remote training scheme with The Disabled Artists Networking Community.
The A Word, which ran for three series between 2016 and 2020, followed the story of a young boy living with autism.
Writer Peter said: "The writing team have delivered a series of scripts that are full of joy, humour and authenticity.
"It will be exciting to see the wonderful cast bring them to life under the direction of the force of nature that is Jordan Hogg.”
And Jordan said: "We're embarking on something that's never been attempted in our industry, we're changing the world “
Ralph & Katie will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
