24 Facts About Paul Darke

Paul Darke CF was born on 20 January 1962 and is a British academic, artist, disability rights activist and whistleblower.

Paul Darke left the Shaftesbury Society school with little to no qualifications.

Paul Darke met his future wife, Claire, who was working there as a nurse.

Paul Darke gained an MA in American Literature from Keele University.

Paul Darke has written about movies such as The Elephant Man and Whose Life is it Anyway, as well as television shows such as Family Guy calling Seth Macfalane's show a 'bold step forward in the canon of disability works'.

Paul Darke regularly contributes to broadcast media and features on a podcast on disability and film.

In 2023, Paul Darke curated an exhibition at the Museum of the Home displaying toys that represent disability including characters from Ironside, The Simpsons and the Barbie collection.

Paul Darke is currently producing on three documentaries on 'disabled activism' with Miro Griffiths funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

Paul Darke is the founder and director of Outside Centre, a disability arts organisation based in Wolverhampton.

Paul Darke published a book about the London Paralympic Games from a disability art perspective.

Paul Darke is a producer at the Invalid Carriage Museum.

In 2017, Paul Darke created and organised Wolves in Wolves, the largest public art exhibition which took place in Wolverhampton.

Paul Darke is a philatelist, holding the largest recorded collection of disability themed stamps in the world.

Paul Darke is a significant voice advocating for disabled people's rights.

Paul Darke was active member of the Labour Party and an active supporter of Momentum and has hosted events at The World Transformed and the Labour Party Conference.

Paul Darke has previously called Labour politician David Blunkett 'in denial of his impairment as an experience' and has criticised the outsourcing of work capability assessments to Atos alongside Disabled People Against Cuts.

In 2024, Paul Darke stood as parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Wolverhampton South East, gaining their highest-ever vote share in the constituency.

Paul Darke has worked with the European Network of Independent Living to support disabled people's human rights and submitted evidence to parliamentary committees.

Consequently, Paul Darke has been included on the list of the UKs most influential disabled people.

In 2001, Paul Darke ran a website criticising charity Leonard Cheshire to highlight their role in institutionalising those with disabilities and neglecting those in their care.

WIPO ruled that Paul Darke has no right or legitimate interest in the domain name; and that it has been registered and used by him in bad faith.

Since this incident Paul Darke has not been invited by the BBC to appear since.

Paul Darke is a wheelchair user who has spina bifida.

Paul Darke was a batonbearer in the 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay.