EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis has been announced as the 12th celebrity competing on this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Rose plays Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap, and will make history as the first deaf contestant to take part on Strictly.
Her involvement in the hit dance show was announced in a video posted on EastEnders’ official Twitter page, in which she was interviewed by co-star and former Strictly finalist Emma Barton.
Rose said: “To be the first deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing is sooooo exciting… and a little bit scary. It is the hardest secret I have ever had to keep so it feels amazing to finally have this out in the open!
“I hope I will do the deaf community proud and break down more barriers. But I am also very excited to learn an incredible new skill and even better I get to learn whilst wearing beautiful dresses made especially for me!”
