The actress, who won the BBC dancing competition in 2021, will star in the upcoming series of an iconic series
Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis is set to star in the beloved BBC series, Doctor Who.
The EastEnders star, who clinched the Strictly title with dance partner Giovanni Pernice in 2021, will join the acclaimed sci-fi programme alongside incoming 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, as well as Lenny James, Jonathan Groff and Anita Dobson.
Showrunner Russell T Davies has praised Rose’s addition to the cast, saying she elevates the show to new heights. Davies commented: “We always want guest actors on Doctor Who to have fun, but Rose takes it to a whole new level.”
“She storms in with an astonishing performance of terror, anger and bravery in one of the most frightening episodes we’ve ever made.”
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Rose expressed her thrill at working with Sex Education star Ncuti, remarking: “Ncuti is a wonderful Doctor, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have created together.”
She shared that being a lifelong Doctor Who enthusiast made joining the series “a dream come true”, reports the Mirror.
“My inner child is ecstatic with excitement! Working with Russell and filming alongside the talented cast and crew has been an incredible experience,” Rose added.
The actress is widely recognized for her role as Frankie Lewis from 2020 to 2022 on EastEnders. Post her departure, she featured in Ludwig playing Freya Chordwell. Earlier this year, it was announced that she will star in Reunion, a forthcoming BBC thriller. The series is described as an “emotional thriller of revenge and redemption”, with the majority of the cast and crew either deaf or using British Sign Language (BSL).
Reunion tells the tale of Daniel Brennan (portrayed by Matthew Gurney), a deaf man recently released from prison who struggles to fully integrate into the hearing world. The synopsis reveals that Daniel is “shunned by his closest friends and the wider deaf community following his heinous crimes.” He works to make amends while uncovering the truth about everything that led to his imprisonment.
His only close relationship is with his daughter Carly (played by Lara Peake). Anne-Marie Duff, known for her role in Bad Sisters, portrays Christine, a character desperate to uncover the truth about Daniel’s actions.
Eddie Marsan plays her boyfriend Stephen Renworth, while Strictly winner Rose portrays Miri, Christine’s daughter. Other stars appearing in the show include Stephen Collins, Ace Mahbaz, Sophie Stone and Olive Gray.