The corporation's director of television, Jana Bennett, has set out targets to increase the number of people with disabilities on screen.

For example, all dramas on BBC One should feature two disabled extras in every 100 by the end of the year.

"Although we have been making progress, we still have further to go and we can't lag behind," Ms Bennett said.

"One in four of the population is either disabled themselves or knows somebody with a disability and independent research last summer showed that audiences were overwhelmingly in favour of seeing more disabled people on screen."

As well as the target for extras, the BBC's other aims include:

• At least one regular disabled character in a returning drama series on BBC One by the end of this year.

• Three factual and leisure shows - such as Changing Rooms or Bargain Hunt - to feature at least one disabled contributor in each series.

• Three entertainment shows - such as Mastermind, National Lottery Jet Set or The Weakest Link - to feature at least one disabled contestant in every 50.

BBC Three and BBC Four have also been set separate targets.

The BBC is also planning to mount a national audit of disabled actors in the UK, while workshops for disabled actors will also be held.

"We recognise that the widest possible range of voices, people and characters should be seen on our screens, and disabled people need to be shown less as minorities with issues, and more as people with lives as rich or as complex as the rest of society," Ms Bennett said.