Disabled film director: βIt was like I was invisibleβ
Director Owen Tooth on his switch from film sets to EastEnders
Owen Tooth is the first wheelchair user to direct EastEnders β he's already handled his first "duff duff" moment and is due on set for a string of episodes in early 2025.
But he says he moved into TV after his film career collapsed when he became a wheelchair user and people acted as if he was βinvisibleβ.
Also on the programme, millions of people rent properties and yet nearly half of private landlords in England say they would be βunwillingβ to rent to tenants who require adaptations to be made to the property.
More than 9,000 people answered the English Private Landlords Survey - with 47% saying they would be reluctant to provide adaptations.
Sam Lewis, who lives in privately rented accommodation in London and has Crohnβs Disease and rheumatoid arthritis, shares her experience of asking numerous landlords to make their properties more accessible for her.
We also hear from Paul Smith, Director of Foundations, the public body advising prospective tenants who require adaptations and the agencies who provide them. He also has some advice if youβre about to begin the process of requesting adaptations yourself.
Presenter: Emma Tracey
Produced by: Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins
Recorded and mixed by Dave OβNeill
Edited by Beth Rose and Farhana Haider
Transcript
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7th January 2025
bbc.co.uk/accessall
Access All β episode 141
Presented by Emma Tracey
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EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Tell me that you also have this thing where you start researching something and you go into all sorts of other areas and down all sorts of rabbit holes. Because we have this really good housing story about disabled people and renting coming up on this episode, and I was doing some homework for that and I was going through ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ iPlayer stuff, and I found this ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ Three documentary from late last year where four young Scottish people are evicted from their homes and they have to find somewhere to rent, and itβs really difficult. And one of those people was Alannah whoβs disabled and needed a ground floor property, so it was almost impossible to find somewhere. But I was listening to her story on the documentary and all the things about it just got me really excited: sheβs a young mum, sheβs got a stoma, sheβs got lots of tattoos, and she writes about it online as Glitteryguts. I was so interested in her story that I called her up for a bit of a chat. Have a listen:
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Alannah, you have so many strings to your bow.
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ [Laughs]
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ You talked about having an ileostomy bag. I mean, I love that the way you talk about this is through social media, and what you call yourself is Glitteryguts, which just says so much, because youβve got lots and lots of tattoos as well. Tell me a bit about what you do online.
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Gosh, well I just started by doing my blog on WordPress actually, and it was me sitting in my hospital bed waiting on stoma surgery and I was terrified. And it literally just started from there, just being this terrified young woman of not knowing what life was going to be like. And it was just like sharing peopleβs stories on my WordPress, sharing my own story on my Instagram, talking about topics and everything to do with chronic illness and just all the weird and wonderful things that come along with it.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ A bit of a handbrake turn, but I mentioned earlier that you have tattoos, and Iβm always fascinated about how people choose their tattoos. Where did the tattoo journey come from?
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I used to be part of a community for people that had Crohnβs and colitis and stoma and things. And there was a ball in 2019, so there used to be an annual ball and everybody would meet up who had the same condition, everybody understood each other, and obviously me and my friends went. And we were like, oh wouldnβt it be really cool if we just got a tattoo. So, we all just literally walked into this first place we saw in Birmingham, it was terrible.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Oh wow!
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, we all got a little love heart about the size of my thumb print.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And have you any disability related tattoos?
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Yes, Iβve got one. This is before I had any of my ostomate pregnancies, so itβs very stretched out and it needs to be redone, but around the top of my stoma bag Iβve got two ribbons, so one is a sepsis ribbon which is red, and then Iβve got one which is the IBD ribbon which is purple, because purple is the colour for inflammatory bowel disease.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Oh my goodness. You mentioned pregnancies with a stoma; when you were expecting Odin and Kian what were the things you needed to think about with a stoma?
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, with any pregnancy with a stoma you should expect your stoma to swell because obviously youβre retaining more liquid so it makes the stoma swell, and then youβve got the pressure from the baby and the fluid behind the stoma itself so that pushes on the bowel and make it swell.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I mean, itβs great because youβre able to describe that for other women who might be thinking of having children but who do have a stoma.
ALANNAH-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Thereβs a lot of other women like me who were told they couldnβt have children. Theirs was more related to just having an ileostomy bag made permanent, so people actually put it off or really worry and get really anxious. And then they see me raising awareness about having my children with my permanent stoma and they say, oh I never thought it was possible. And Iβll say everythingβs always possible, unless testing says otherwise.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I love stories like that one. And you can hear more from Alannah on the documentary, Evicted, on ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ iPlayer. On with the show.
MUSIC-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Theme music.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Hello, Iβm Emma Tracey and this is Access All. And what I want to know is how are your New Yearβs resolutions going? Mine have mostly fallen by the wayside, except for the promise I make to bring you the best of disability and mental health on this podcast in 2025. Email us, weβre on accessall@bbc.co.uk. I absolutely love to hear from you. Later in the podcast we have wheelchair using TV director Owen Tooth, heβs directed EastEnders you know.
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ But first, millions of people live in rented accommodation, but according to the governmentβs latest survey of over 9,000 private landlords in England 47% of them said that they would be unwilling to rent to people who might need adaptations to their property. That statistic jumped out at us, so letβs talk to a couple of people about why it might be the case. Sam is a lawyer living in London and sheβs with us now. Hi, Sam.
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Hello.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Also with us to set out what we can expect from private landlords and also how we go about getting the all-important adaptations is Paul Smith. And he is the director of Foundations, which is the public body which advises on all of this. Hi, Paul.
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Hi.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Sam, letβs start with you. You have rheumatoid arthritis and Crohnβs disease and youβve been renting for quite a while. What has your experience of renting in the private rental market been?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ For me the difficulty is the insecurity in private rental market. Itβs very unequal negotiating power, so you're always at risk of eviction; any complaint you have with your landlord offers a threat of eviction, and therefore asking for these things is very scary. And then also we just move more often. I think itβs something like in London the average rental is two years.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, how many places have you lived in the last few years then?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I have just moved into my third place in five years. The first time I was evicted it was post-COVID in that rush of everyone coming back to London. So, I moved very quickly to a level access property, which was mostly suitable but it was far too far out of London and from my job, from me. So, it was never going to be a long-term solution.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And with your particular impairments thereβs an energy impairment there too, so itβs hard to travel far etc.
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ It is, and also continence issues for Crohnβs if youβre on a train for a long time, so I need to be a lot closer. And again, with having rheumatoid arthritis where Iβd moved to it was only serviced by about one tube, so if thereβs any problems on that tube, that platformβs particularly busy, I canβt wait at the front of the platform when thereβs less trains and itβs getting really crowded.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Okay. So, youβve moved again; what adaptations do you need, Sam, in your current home?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ My main oneβs around the bathroom and toilet. So, for me my rheumatoid arthritis affects my lower limbs quite severely, so itβs to be able really to get in and out of the shower is a main one, so youβve got to step in and out of the bath, which is slippery, itβs very hard for me to lift my leg up that high. So, a walk-in bath or a wet room would be ideal. And also mostly just grabrails is the main thing, just to be able to get around my house. And also to have things like my cooker not be on the floor, have a medium height cooker oven so that I can get food in and out of it.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, whatβs happened when youβve asked for adaptations in a rental house?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ My experience has been previously landlords were sort of just saying no, which you can essentially possibly take them through the Equality Act for discrimination. But what Iβve found recently is with the Disabled Facilities grant and getting an occupational therapist, theyβve sort of cottoned on to how delayed local authorities are with this. So, what they are ultimately saying at the moment is, show us the OT report and then weβll consider the adaptations. And so you go to your local authority, and in my experience I have not yet had an OT come to my home and do an assessment.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Okay. So, the Disabled Facilities Grant is money that local authorities can provide to create adaptations and adjustments to a home, whether thatβs in social renting or in private renting. And to get that money you need an occupational therapist; so youβve found that you havenβt had anyone come out. And what impact has that had on your day-to-day life, Samantha?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Well, essentially it just means that itβs hard for me to live in my own home. It means that itβs very hard for me to shower, it means that itβs hard for me to cook, it means that itβs hard for me just to do those things that you should be able to do in your own home. Thereβs been quite a lot where I shower at my local gym rather than in my home, because my gym always has level access showers.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Now, Paul Smith youβre the director of Foundations, which advises people who need adaptations and are looking for the Disabled Facilities Grant, and also agencies who provide those adaptations. Paul, is Samβs experience unusual?
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I think in terms of the wait for assessment thatβs not necessarily unusual. But I think the Disabled Facilities Grants arenβt always that well understood, and it doesnβt actually require an OTβs assessment to make an application for a grant. And quite a lot of local authorities are now developing trusted assessors, which are other people who have been trained to assess simpler adaptations, like the kinds of things that Sam was talking about, like grabrails and showers, where you then donβt need to wait for an OT to come and do the assessment.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ What does the law say about private landlords providing adaptations?
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ As Sam said, in terms of the Equalities Act giving permission for an adaptation shouldnβt be unreasonably withheld. But the definition of reasonable can vary depending on the landlord and the house and the situation. But landlords and tenants can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant funded. I think one of the things in the survey you mentioned was that there are very few landlords use DFGs to pay for adaptations; but it is definitely available. One of the perhaps limiting issues is that to apply for a DFG you have to have an intention to stay in the property for five years.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Is it also a lot about ignorance, particularly around funding? The survey that weβre talking about said that 90% of the landlords who did make adaptations for people renting their properties paid for it themselves, and something like 1% used the Disabled Facilities Grant. Whatβs going on there?
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ The government have increased funding for DFGs quite considerable, both governments over the last ten years, just some additional funding was announced on Friday. So, in most local authorities thereβs funding available for DFGs. There are 70,000, 80,000 adaptations done every year where itβs made a real difference for people. And weβre working with local authorities across the country to improve those timescales.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Okay. And Paul, what would your advice be for someone moving into a private rental property and needing to ask for those adaptations?
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I think if youβre in a property that youβre looking to stay in long term DFGs is definitely available. Itβs a mandatory grant so if somebodyβs eligible for it then local authorities have a duty to provide it. But itβs also a means tested grant, so there is a means test to be eligible for it. We have a website called adaptmyhome.org.uk where thereβs a means test calculator, so anybody whoβs interested to find out if they would be eligible they can put in their details and fairly quickly find out if they would be able to access the grant.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Thanks Paul. Sam, Paul keeps saying you need to intend to stay in your property for five years to get any of the grant. I mean, itβs quite hard, isnβt it, as a disabled person or anybody to know whether youβre going to be in the same place for five years. What would your advice be?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I think my advice would be more towards the private landlords would be to say that if any of the homes that I was in were adapted then, you know what, thatβs going to make me want to stay for longer. Iβm a good tenant, Iβve always paid my rent on time, Iβve had no issues.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Yeah. Paul, 47% said that they would be unwilling to rent to someone who needed adaptations. What else is putting landlords off?
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ National Residential Landlords Association have done some work in this area and they have found that where landlords are more aware of DFG they are more likely to consider making the adaptations. And some of the case study they shared did show that where landlords had supported tenants with adaptations then that disabled tenant can be a really good long-term tenant for them.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Are they worried about the aesthetics of the adaptations that might need to be made? I mean, disability equipment is famously not the prettiest generally.
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I think thereβs definitely an element to that. But there is definitely an option for landlords to perhaps invest a little bit on top of the DFG to have nicer fittings. Itβs not that much more expensive to have nice tiles and a nicer grabrail. There are ranges out there that are disguised as towel rails or shower guards.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I know there are the basic ones that you might be able to afford or might be funded; you can get nice ones if youβre willing to pay for them. But have landlords said that that is an issue for them?
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Yes, some have said that they would adapt if those adaptations were removed when the tenant moved out. But the DFG doesnβt cover the cost of removing them, so itβs there to adapt and not to unadapt.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And obviously a lot of disabled people wouldnβt be in a position to unadapt, as you say β thatβs my new word for this week, unadapt a property. Would you be able to unadapt a property, Sam?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Probably not, no. But I would also say something, because I work in housing for social housing clients now and disabled clients now within housing, but previously I worked for injured clients that had had a road traffic accident or a clinical negligence and suddenly found themselves maybe a wheelchair user pretty much overnight. And the amount of accessible homes out there is just negligible. You would have to potentially with these clients find them a new home very quickly, they might be living on a fourth floor walk-up, which they can no longer live in, and we would have to hire people to find homes. So, therefore if landlords were adapting these homes theyβre actually going into a niche. Theyβre usually a bit more rent, theyβre usually a bit more expensive. Youβre probably going to have a good influx of tenants. And also if you spend a bit more on having those adaptations which are a bit more aesthetically pleasing theyβre going to last longer and youβre going to have a solid stream of tenant revenue.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Now, we reached out to the government about that 47% statistic that weβve been talking about, and they provided this statement:
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ βThe law is clear that landlords must not unlawfully discriminate against prospective tenants on the basis of a personβs disability, and any such behaviour is completely unacceptable. We are taking action to decisively level the playing field between landlord and tenant by providing all renters rights and protections through our Rentersβ Rights Bill.β
ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Sam, youβre a lawyer, youβve worked in various areas and youβve had your own challenges around renting, what do you know about the Rentersβ Rights Bill and how would that help with this situation?
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, the Rentersβ Rights Bill is a really exciting and positive change for renters. The main change is the abolishment of Section 21 or otherwise known as no-fault evictions, which is where a landlord essentially doesnβt need a reason to evict someone. And that is going to mean that tenants can ultimately push back and argue for their rights more because, as I was saying earlier, thereβs always this threat of when youβre a tenant you complain to your landlord about anything you suffer the risk of being evicted.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ The Rentersβ Rights Bill is rumbling through parliament at the moment. Itβs got its third reading next week. Samantha Lewis and Paul Smith, thank you for joining me.
SAM-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Thank you.
PAUL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Thank you.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ If you have something to say about what weβve been talking about on this episode, I mean housing is always a hot topic for disabled people and rightly so, please do email accessall@bbc.co.uk. You can send us a message, so it can be a voice message or a text message, send it to our WhatsApp number 0330 123 9480, and put the word Access before it. So, if youβre sending a voice message, write the word Access, send that and then send me your voice message; it just makes it a lot easier to find for us. You can also get in touch with us on the socials, we are on X and Instagram @³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦAccessAll.
MUSIC-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ We have a world first [EastEnders theme music], the first ever wheelchair user to direct EastEnders. Owen Tooth, thank you for being on Access All. Hello.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Hello. Thank you so much for inviting me here.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ First wheelchair user ever to direct EastEnders. That is so exciting! What was it like being on set and everything?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ You know what, it was absolutely brilliant actually. Lots of sets theyβre really not used to any form of disability; thereβs a lot of nervousness, uncomfortable people and awkward people not knowing what to say or how to act. On EastEnders theyβre just really used to it, so it was so smooth going on to that set actually and just getting straight to work.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Can I ask you a basic question: what does a director actually do?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I think a director is a bit like a conductor, so your job as a director is to take all the people that are experts in their field, whether thatβs an actor or a composer, and youβre trying to get the best out of them.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And if theyβre not doing it the way that you want them to do it, interpreting it in the way that you want them to interpret it do you get all sort of diva-y and make sure that they do it the way you want it?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Not me, no. I like surprises. I think film is a great medium to work in if youβre a collaborator and if you like working with people. Itβs always bigger than the sum of its parts when you work with a lot of talented people. No, I like it when people bring something that I havenβt thought of to it.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Oh good, great, so youβre not a diva director then [laughs].
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Iβve never been a diva director. Iβd quite like to have a go.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Youβre been a director for ages. EastEnders is not your first directing rodeo. How did you get into the profession?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I started out in short films. So, my short films started doing really well in festivals. And from there I met a producer who then helped finance my debut feature film, which sold worldwide, that did relatively well. And then just in the last I guess five years my careerβs changed quite a lot, which I think weβll probably come onto, to do with disability, and I just started looking at TV as something that had really developed really interestingly in that in the last ten years, I guess, TV has really come into its own and started telling stories that Iβm not seeing in films. And as a career it felt like actually thatβs a better home for me right now.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Tell me about that change in the career and why TV and soaps became a better fit.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I mean, itβs all based on my assumptions that TV has an infrastructure that can accommodate disability in a way that film canβt or hasnβt. I was doing quite well in the feature film industry, and then when I became a wheelchair user it was like my career went into rewind, I just disappeared off the map. It wasnβt just that I couldnβt get meetings, it was that in meetings or networking it was like I was invisible, it was genuinely like I was invisible, people just didnβt see me quite literally. I went from earning quite a good amount of money to living in poverty overnight, and for a number of years that was my situation, and so I just started looking for it.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And how did you deal with that, Owen?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ There wasnβt a way of dealing with it. I mean, that was the brutal truth was when youβre earning nothing you scramble, you scramble to find a way of earning. So, I was just doing anything I could to make ends meet because Iβm the person in my house that earns the money, so I was just taking on any job I could to earn enough to pay bills.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And you were also dealing with becoming disabled. How did you become disabled, Owen, if itβs okay to ask that?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I had a fall when I was rock climbing a number of years ago, and it just kicked off an autoimmune disease that I wasnβt aware of, and so my joints kind of started eating themselves. So, my hips have just got worse and worse and Iβm living with a lot of pain as well as struggling to move.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, youβre living in pain, youβre learning how to move in a body that works differently than it used to do. Is there anything that a wheelchair user canβt do in terms of directing? Because it sounds like a job that is probably fairly equal in terms of the actual doing of it.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ You get a chair named after the job, you have a directorβs chair, itβs absolutely a job you can do sitting down.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ In a chair.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ In a chair. Itβs just based on your mind and your imagination and your ability to collaborate and inspire people. So, thereβs nothing that you need to be able to do as a director that warrants anything that you canβt do in a wheelchair.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, why do you think people were so discriminatory towards you when you could do the job as well as you used to?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Iβm still not quite sure why. I really struggle with people understanding that Iβm experienced at all. People assume that I must be an absolute beginner and that I must need training, and my training needs to be the very, very beginning level. Thatβs something I encounter all the time, and it was something I never encountered before.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, has being disabled changed how you work as a director?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I mean, itβs been quite a humbling experience. I think yeah, itβs changed my drive. I think my drive before was just to entertain; and now I want to entertain but I also want to make change.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ What change do you want to make?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ As a filmmaker Iβve got a social responsibility, and I was always aware of that, but now that comes to the forefront of my mind. I like the idea that being visible is bringing change. I think thereβs a certain amount of ambassadorship that I feel every time Iβm on a show or meeting a different production company, just opening their eyes to the preconceptions they might have had. Iβve made a documentary about my journey into film, which has actually opened quite a lot of doors for other people.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ That makes sense. Now, letβs get back to EastEnders because youβre directing some more episodes in early 2025. Can you give us any teaser about what those episodes are about?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ No. You never know. I think I will start in late January and thatβs the day Iβll get the script.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Did the episode youβve already directed have a big duff-duff moment? And if so what was it like directing that scene of the episode?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ It did and it was brilliant fun. Itβs a slightly surreal moment because normally when youβre directing youβre trying to get everyone to act very, very naturally, and when youβve got an iconic moment like the duff-duffs everyone has to hold their pose for an extra four seconds at the end and just look shocked and stay facing exactly where they are, because if they carry on then you canβt edit it. And so it was really funny and really fun. And that was the first thing I shot as well, the first thing I filmed on the first day there was my final scene, so that was really daunting.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Can you remember the line, the final line?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ I remember that Denise is admitting that her daughter is the person whoβs caused the crash that Pennyβs been blamed for, so it was a big moment because her admission might be sending her daughter to prison.
[Clip]
PENNY-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ You think just because I canβt walk my life is over, donβt you?
MALE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Do you know, what bother. Donβt even try and listen because she doesnβt listen, do you?
PENNY-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Do you know what, you donβt need to see me again because Iβm going back to Paris.
MALE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ So, youβre just running away.
DENISE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ You canβt do that.
MALE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ No, sheβs not welcome!
DENISE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ No, but it wasnβt herβ¦that, that caused the crash that put you in the hospital. It was Chelsea. [EastEnders theme tune]
[End of clip]
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Oh, Owen, thatβs so awesome! Penny was in that scene as well.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Pennyβs formidable. Sheβs an incredible actor.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And is it good to direct another wheelchair user then?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ It was good to direct another wheelchair user who was so brilliant. It was interesting that we both picked up on similar things in the script.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Are you allowed to tell me what you picked up on in the script?
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ No, just some little things we changed a little bit.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ But I think thatβs the thing, disabled people in crew, and itβs a very good advertisement for having disabled people in front of and behind the camera, is that you can change things and you can look at a script when itβs real life disabled people and say, that doesnβt work and that doesnβt work. And as long as people listen youβre actually doing something really good. And you know what also annoys me is that thatβs quite emotional for me, for you a wheelchair using director to be directing a brilliant wheelchair using actress. And it shouldnβt be that because it should be just normal, but Iβm just like, oh youβre going to get the best from her and the rest of the cast, and itβs so good for the rest of the cast to see that as well.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Exactly that. And it was emotional, and it was wonderful how open they were. Because coming on to a show like this I felt like maybe itβs not my place to say anything or maybe I havenβt got that kind of voice.
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Okay, Owen Tooth [puts on East London voice] get out of my studio!
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ [Laughs]
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Thank you so much for talking to me.
OWEN-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Itβs been a pleasure.
MUSIC-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ
EMMA-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Since I spoke to Owen we got the news that he is one of just six filmmakers chosen to make a documentary as part of Netflix Documentary Talent Fund. Well done, Owen, yay. That is it for another episode of Access All. And now that 2025 is well and truly underway we want to hear whatβs happening for you this year. Let us know. Tell us the stories you want to share, or give us a heads-up about something youβve heard that you think needs a bit more investigating. You can contact us in all the usual ways: weβre on WhatsApp 0330 123 9480. Weβre on the email accessall@bbc.co.uk. And you can find us on social media, weβre on X and Instagram @³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦAccessAll. See you next week. Bye.
[Trailer for The Today Podcast]
AMOL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Hello, itβs Amol Rajan here.
NICK-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And itβs Nick Robinson, and we want to tell you about The Today Podcast from ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ Radio 4.
AMOL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Yes, this is where we go deeper into the sort of journalism that you hear on Today, exploring one big story with more space for insight and context.
NICK-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ We hear from a key voice each week, a leader in their field, be they a spy chief, a historian, a judge, a politician, all with something unique to say. And we make sure theyβve got the time and space to say it.
FEMALE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ The WhatsAppβs show the character of the men who were running our country at that point.
MALE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ The United States and its allies will then be confronting a kind of axis, call it the axis of ill will.
AMOL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ And from surprising voices with something important to say.
FEMALE-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ If the next scan says nothingβs working I might buzz off to Zurich.
NICK-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ We give you our take as well and lift that lid just a little bit on how The Today programme actually works.
AMOL-ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ That is The Today Podcast. Listen now on ³ΙΘΛΏμΚΦ Sounds. And subscribe.
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