My comedy hero: Francesca Martinez on Bill Hicks

'He was fearless, original, thought-provoking and elevated stand-up comedy to an art'

Francesca Martinez interview

The British comedian Francesca Martinez talks to Jessica Salter about relationships with her family, getting cast in Grange Hill and being a hopeless romantic.

Video: Disabled comedian Francesca Martinez fears cuts

Actor Francesca Martinez took a swipe as Jeremy Clarkson as she claimed 500,000 people could lose disability benefits.

The comedian, who has cerebral palsy and appeared in Extras, warned "anyone could become disabled" and said public attitudes were hardening with increased hate crime against those with disabilities.

She then debated her film with Michael Portillo who claimed some people received disability benefits who were not entitled to them.

Francesca Martinez: "What the f*** is normal?"

Francesca Martinez is not afraid to tackle some serious issues with her comedy and before starting this year's Fringe run, she took some time out to tell Deviance a bit more about her latest show

Francesca Martinez interview

Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr are fans, but Francesca Martinez, who has cerebal palsy, still can't get a gig on TV.

David Walliams narrates a history of disability on TV. It's a slightly directionless tour around the archives from the Spastics Society appeal of the 1960s via Joey Deacon's appearance on Blue Peter to Roy's hysterical abuse of a disabled toilet in The IT Crowd. There are even segments on Heather Mills and Big Brother, although the one about Mills mercifully shows no actual footage of her. Interviewees trying not to say the wrong thing include Mat Fraser, Stephen Merchant, Dom Joly, Ash Atalla and Francesca Martinez.

David Walliams narrates a show about the nature of disability in comedy. He motors through from Benny in Crossroads to Francesca Martinez from Extras. If you think you know what it is going to be like from that description, you're exactly right.