Lizzie Lakely is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Kitty McGeever.

[4] In January 2009, it was announced that Anita Turner had stepped down from the position of series producer and that Gavin Blyth had taken over the role.

[5] With Turner's departure Blyth began the show's rejuvenation and with that came his first signing, actress Kim Thomson as Faye Lamb.

[6] On 2 March 2009, it was announced that Emmerdale had signed comedian Kitty McGeever, the first blind actress to be cast in a British soap, as Lizzie Lakely, the cousin of Lisa Dingle (Jane Cox).

[7] Speaking of her casting, McGeever said, "I'm thrilled to be joining Emmerdale as Lizzie and delighted that the show is challenging stereotypes in this way.

"[7] McGeever later revealed in an interview with This Morning that she helped to create her new alter ego Lizzie, of this input she explained, "The character was developed by me with the producers.

Over time, Lizzie makes more friends and gets a job at David's cleaning firm; however, she eventually starts work at the sweet factory owned by Jai (Chris Bisson) and Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem) instead.

In December 2011, Lizzie returns after going away for a while and when she goes into the pub, she confronts Marlon, telling him that she had tripped over a handbag that had been left on the floor, she asks who is his new woman, but Moira Barton (Natalie J. Robb) steps in and tells her that it is her handbag, Lizzie is confused and asks why Moira's bag is in the house, not knowing that Moira's husband John Barton (James Thornton) has thrown her out for cheating on him with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), so Marlon brushes it off.

Lizzie later feels left out when Marlon announces that he is moving Laurel, Sandy (Freddie Jones), Gabby (Annelise Manojlovic) and Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke) into Tall Trees Cottage, she tells Lisa that she would feel pushed out, Laurel overhears and tells Lizzie she won't be pushed out of the cottage.

Disabled charity Leonard Cheshire Disability praised the decision to sign the first blind actress to be cast in a UK soap, John Knight the charity's assistant director of policy and campaigns, said of the move, "We applaud the decision by Emmerdale to champion the country's first ever blind soap actress.