'EastEnders' have announced a new disabled character is to arrive on Albert Square, played by former 'Grange Hill' star Lisa Hammond.
She will be playing no-nonsense Donna Yates on the soap, and it won't take her character long to make enemies in the form of rival stallholders Kat and Bianca.
![](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5d024dcb250000a013e4c85d.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
Lisa Hammond on the set of 'EastEnders'
The actress said she was looking forward to playing such a feisty character, saying: "I'm really excited to join the cast of EastEnders. It's a great opportunity to be a part of such a big and popular show.
"Donna is a bit of a handful but they're always the most fun characters to play. It feels good to be bad."
The character was not originally written as being in a wheelchair, but producers were so impressed when they met with Lisa - who herself uses a wheelchair due to a restricted growth condition - that they decided to adapt Donna to accommodate her condition.
Soap boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins said: "Lisa is a brilliantly comic and sharp actress and we've been trying to get her into the EastEnders cast for a long time - so I'm delighted that it has finally happened.
"Donna's not an easy character to like at first. As we get to know her better, however, we will discover a funny, loyal but also fragile woman underneath."
As well as 'Grange Hill', Lisa's past acting credits include roles in 'Psychoville' and 'Bleak House'.