Lizzie Lakely

Lizzie Lakely
Kitty McGeever as Lizzie Lakely (2010)
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Kitty McGeever
Duration	2009–2013
First appearance	28 April 2009
Last appearance	7 March 2013
Introduced by	Gavin Blyth
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Cleaner (2009) Call centre worker (2009–2010) Factory worker (2010–2013)
Home	Tall Trees Cottage
First cousins Lisa Dingle Other relatives Belle Dingle

Elizabeth Lakely is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Kitty McGeever. She is Emmerdale's first blind character, and is played by a blind actress. She made her first on-screen appearance on 28 April 2009. To date, Lizzie's last appearance was on 28 March 2013. McGeever has recently had health problems, but, in June 2013, producer Kate Oates stated there have been plans for her to return. McGeever died in August 2015 without returning to the series.

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. With Turner's departure Blyth began the show's rejuvenation and with that came his first signing, actress Kim Thomson as Faye Lamb. 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). 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. Lizzie spells trouble from the word go and will be causing all kinds of strife in the village." Of the casting, the show's series producer Blyth said, "Kitty is an extremely talented actress and I'm pleased that she will be joining the show, marking the arrival of such a fascinating character. Lizzie is forthright and fun and she'll soon prove that she isn’t afraid to manipulate circumstances to her advantage."

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. So I had some input. The producers came to see my standup show and Gavin [Blyth] the producer said: 'We want that woman on stage but toned down', because I'm quite outrageous on stage!" Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Front Row about filling a disabled quota McGeever said, "I’m not representing anyone, I’m Kitty McGeever and I’m just blind."