Special trailer: New Netflix series' lead character is gay and has cerebral palsy

Ryan O’Connell plays the leading character in the semi-autobiographical comedy

Netflix has released the trailer for Special, the first-ever TV series centred on a gay male character with cerebral palsy.

Ryan O’Connell, who created the series, plays the leading character in the semi-autobiographical 15-minute comedy.

“I never wanted to star in Special but — and this make shock you — the world is not exactly swimming with gay 20-something actors who have mild cerebral palsy,” the writer/actor told Queerty.

“I was considering waiting outside physical therapy places all across LA with a net and forcing people to audition, but my producers told me kidnapping was not the look, so I guess it had to be me!”

The series centres on a character named Ryan, who is hit by a car and then realises he can pass off being an accident victim.

Special was initially green-lit in March last year and is based on O’Connell’s 2015 memoir, also titled Special. It reaches the streaming service on the 12 April.