"it?s long-awaited recognition that disabled people can be parents ? and beautiful."

Marc Quinn?s 15ft statue of a pregnant Alison Lapper, an artist affected by the drug Thalidomide, has been chosen to stand on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square from next spring until 2006. The great and good of the art world ? and the not-so-great-or-good of the tabloid press - are up in arms. She can?t be, because she hasn?t any. It has by turns been labelled ?Vulgar? and ?Politically Correct?. It?s neither ? it?s long-awaited recognition that disabled people can be parents ? and beautiful. How many of these same critics, I wonder, have gazed in awe at the beauty of the Venus de Milo, herself portrayed without arms. Or the nakedness of Michaelangelo?s David who, it could be argued, is somewhat disadvantaged ?south of the border?.

Are these people outraged that we should have a public representation of a disabled person in 2004, and can they have failed to notice the irony of complaining about it being situated in a square commemorating perhaps Britain?s foremost symbol of working round your disability: Lord Nelson?

What?s Up, Doc? Don?t You Want Me To Live?

Leslie Burke is a man on a life-or-death mission ? literally. He has Cerebellar Ataxia, a degenerative condition. In the High Court, he?s taken on the monolithic General Medical Council - that bastion of self-protection for doctors ? over guidelines that allow them to withdraw artificial feeding and allow patients to die. As it stands, patients or those representing them can opt to refuse or allow life-ending treatment ? but not insist on life-prolonging treatment. In 2002, guidelines were introduced that allow doctors to withdraw artificial feeding without having to bother with getting a Court Order ? when in 1993 it took a House of Lords judgement to determine that Tony Bland, a victim of the Hillsborough Tragedy, could be allowed to die naturally by withdrawing treatment ? the exact opposite position. Over the years, my views on the subject of the right to die have changed ? I used to be ?Anti?, but having followed Diane Pretty?s fight to be allowed to depart with dignity at the time of her choosing, I now find myself in the ?Pro? camp. However, that doesn?t stop me being squarely behind Leslie Burke ? because they both share the same objective ? to have the legal right to exercise choice. To do as they wish with their lives. We all know that there are doctors out there - including the late, unlamented Harold Shipman ? who routinely abuse the oaths they took to ?First, do no harm? . If this challenge stops doctors in our budget-obsessed NHS helping to cut costs by committing such acts, then surely we would all be in favour?

Keep Taking The Tabloids

Most of you regulars are aware that for the last year or so, I?ve been trying to break into the media as a journalist and screenwriter. My first break came with being handed this column to amuse, enlighten and infuriate you, according to your views on my perspective of life. Phase two is well underway, with the launch of a production company headed by myself, actress Julie Frenandez and writer and TV presenter Mik Scarlet ? The Wheelie Good Company. I?m pleased to report that after months of feverish preparation, meetings, and midnight oil burning on all our parts, we sent out a press release last week, and put up the first page of our company website last night (15th). However, I?m already learning that publicity can be a double-edged sword.

Of all the dailies we sent the release to, The Daily Star was the first - and as far as I know, the only one - to pick it up. I was initially a bit irked with the vocabulary used in this little box article, complete with the most unflattering still picture from Julie?s time in The Office that I?ve ever seen, no doubt dredged up from the bottom of their picture archive. But what can you expect from those with the journalistic skills of one of the legendary infinite number of monkeys sat in front of the infinite number of typewriters? Shakespeare it wasn?t ? but a small success that we can build on is how I prefer to see it. And besides, as Julie helpfully pointed out to me, at least she got to be under Justin Timberlake ? even if it was only on the page of a newspaper! You can tell she?s easily pleased, can?t you! As you read this, we have many projects to work on ? a good mix of drama, comedy and documentaries just waiting to be commissioned. Hopefully there?s something for everybody. We?re also recruiting and setting up a database of people who?ve either worked in the media, or have skills we can use. One of our guiding principles is to have an integrated company, because we?re all aware how difficult it is - even for skilled disabled people - to get work. I?ll keep you posted from time to time ? but I?ve no intention of going all ?Luvvie? on you ? because I still have to pinch myself every day to convince myself that this is real.