David Proud made his Eastenders debut last night as Manda’s son Adam Best.

26 year old David was born with Spina Bifida and admitted to The Sun that he never expected to land a role on such a huge TV show. He said

I can’t believe that I am now in my dream job playing a “normal” character.

I never in a million years thought it would happen. My mum was so proud she burst into tears.

When you are born with a condition you get more used to it.

It gave me the ambition to do what I would never have done if I was able bodied.

The stereotypical view of my condition is that it is a weakness.

But I think if you can learn to love what you have and learn to live with it then you can overcome it.

I don’t think I would have achieved half of what I have achieved without it.

David also revealed that he loves how the writers have built elements of his own independent nature into Adam’s character and also that they haven’t made him too nice. He said:

They have purposely avoided making his disability a storyline.

Adam thinks his mother’s boyfriend Minty isn’t good enough for her and neither is the Queen Vic up to standard.

Not all disabled people are nice, so all characters shouldn’t be either. It’s a stereotype. People are people.

He is a multi-layered, rounded character and his story will unfold.