Channel Five in the UK to have facially disfigured news presenter

A British television channel is to try to help break down prejudice against people with facial disfigurement by having one of its news bulletins presented for one week by a facially disfigured man.

Channel Five is to have the chief executive of charity Changing Faces, James Partridge, present their lunchtime news bulletin for one week from Monday coming. Mr Partridge himself has been facially disfigured since the age of eighteen when he was seriously injured in a car accident. A survey done on behalf of Channel Five by YouGov found 44% of those who took part in the poll thought it was a good idea to have people with facially disfigurements presenting shows on television. As part of the survey people were asked if they would change the channel should they see a presenter with facial disfigurement and 64% answered that they would not. However, one fifth of those polled said that they would feel uncomfortable if they were watching something presented by someone with a disfigured face. The charity Changing Faces was launched in 1992 by James Partridge so that people who were disfigured either in their body or face would have support and also have someone to represent them. Winnie Coutinho, the charity's head of campaigns said, "We believe that television can play a big role in changing attitudes and breaking down prejudices. Changing Faces is keen to learn whether the public would really accept someone with a disfigurement in this role once they see James Partridge reading the news next week." David Kermode who is the news editor for Channel Five News said, "James makes a welcome addition to our presenting line-up for the week that he is with us. We are all looking forward to working with him and, at the same time, creating some debate around an important issue in society."

Victoria Wright who campaigns on behalf of the charity and has a rare facial disfigurement called Cherubism said that the fact James Partridge was presenting the news was ground breaking and shouldn't be considered a publicity stunt. She added, "I like to think of it as a kind of pilot, to see whether if it works maybe broadcasters can perhaps have a newsreader with a facial disfigurement or a disability in the near future."