Making history in 2021 by becoming the first Deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, Rose Ayling-Ellis is to receive a prestigious royal honour for her services to the deaf community.
Credit: PA
Rose, who starred in the long-running soap, Eastenders from 2020 to 2022, will receive her royal honour at Windsor Castle alongside 60 other individuals.
In 2021, Rose captured the hearts of many across the United Kingdom, as she waltzed her way to the final of the nation’s favourite comfort show, Strictly Come Dancing, alongside her partner, Giovanni Pernice. Each week, Rose inspired those watching, however, one moment stood out for individuals across the UK. The pair took our breath away with their couple’s choice dance, in which one section was danced to in silence, a poignant moment which reflected her unique perspective on sound and connection through movement.
This moment, which celebrated the deaf community, evoked emotion, and opened the nations minds and started conversations about the experience of deafness. Their couple’s choice alongside their other dancing efforts helped the duo earn the star-studded glitter ball trophy- a truly ground-breaking moment for the Deaf community, as it brought widespread visibility to Deaf culture and challenged stereotypes.
Alongside becoming the first Deaf contestant on Strictly, Rose also completed a list of firsts. In May 2022, Rose performed a CBeebies bedtime story in British Sign Language and in 2024, became the first Deaf person to host the Paralympic Games in France, alongside the talented Clare Balding.
Here at Signature, we would like to offer our congratulations to Rose Ayling-Ellis in earning a royal honour. Through her work, Rose continues to break down barriers and inspire conversations centred on inclusivity and accessibility, encouraging more representation of Deaf people in mainstream media and entertainment. We look froward to what Rose does next and wish her all the best in her endeavours.
Lindsay Foster, Executive Director of Signature commented, “We would like to congratulate Rose on this outstanding achievement, something which reflects her dedication to champion inclusivity and raise deaf awareness”.
“Rose is a truly inspiring person and a role model to many individuals, both deaf and hearing. Her accomplishments, such as being the first Deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and the first Deaf host of the Paralympic Games on Channel 4, have made a lasting impact on the visibility and representation of the deaf community.
“Rose embodies all the right characteristics for such an achievement, and it is great to see her hard work being recognised with this prestigious award.”
