Geordie actor Kim Tserkezie has been named one of the most influential disabled people in the UK.
Kim, from High Heaton, shot to fame as Penny Pocket on the much-loved children's TV show Balamory which first started airing 20 years ago.
Now, the 49-year-old has been named number seven in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 which honours disabled people who are at the top of their game.
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Writing on Twitter, she said: "Shocked and thrilled" Made Top 10 in Powerlist 100 and also winner of the media and publishing category! Thank you so much @ShawTrust and all who nominated me."
In the two decades since Balamory, which started airing on CBeebies in 2002, Kim has worked as an actor, writer and presenter.
In 2020, she won a Royal Television Society Award for best drama performance for her role in Obsession.
The mum-of-two set up her own production company, Scattered Pictures, in Newcastle to develop under-represented talent and is deputy chair of the BFI's Disability Screen Advisory Group.
The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list includes people from different areas of life including sport, business, the arts, science, politics, law and entertainment.
Strictly Come Dancing winner for 2021 Rose Ayling-Ellis was named number one after her dance with Giovanni Pernice made history when they danced part of the routine silently.
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