Former BBC Strictly Come Dancing winner to star in Doctor Who's 'most frightening episodes'

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Rose Ayling-Ellis has landed an exciting new role in the iconic BBC series, Doctor Who.

The actress, celebrated for her stint on EastEnders and her triumphant victory on Strictly in 2021 with dance partner Giovanni Pernice, is set to appear in the long-running sci-fi drama.

She will be joining forces with the incoming 15th Doctor, portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa, as well as esteemed actors Lenny James, Jonathan Groff, and Anita Dobson.

Russell T Davies, the showrunner, has been vocal in his admiration for Rose's talents, remarking that she brings a fresh dynamic to the show. He said: "We always want guest actors on Doctor Who to have fun, but Rose takes it to a whole new level." Davies also commended her compelling 'performance of terror', noting: "She storms in with an astonishing performance of terror, anger and bravery in one of the most frightening episodes we've ever made."

Rose shared her excitement about collaborating with Sex Education actor Ncuti, telling the Mirror: "Ncuti is a wonderful Doctor, and I can't wait for audiences to see what we have created together."

Reflecting on her childhood fondness for Doctor Who, Rose described her casting as "a dream come true". "My inner child is ecstatic with excitement!" she began. "Working with Russell and filming alongside the talented cast and crew has been an incredible experience."

Rose is widely known for her portrayal of Frankie Lewis on EastEnders from 2020 to 2022, reports the Manchester Evening News. After her departure from the soap opera, she took on a role in Ludwig as Freya Chordwell. More recently, it was revealed that she will appear in Reunion, an upcoming BBC thriller series.

Reunion is billed as an 'emotional thriller of revenge and redemption', with a significant number of the cast and crew being either deaf or users of British Sign Language (BSL). It tells the story of Daniel Brennan (played by Matthew Gurney), a deaf man struggling to reintegrate into the hearing world after his release from prison.

The plot summary discloses that Daniel faces ostracism from his closest friends and the broader deaf community due to his past crimes. He is determined to seek forgiveness and discover the truth behind the circumstances that led to his incarceration.

His relationship with his daughter Carly (portrayed by Lara Peake) remains his sole source of solace. Anne-Marie Duff, recognized for her performance in Bad Sisters, takes on the role of Christine, a woman intent on learning the reality of Daniel's past deeds.

Eddie Marsan features as her partner Stephen Renworth, while Strictly champion Rose portrays Miri, Christine's daughter. The series also stars Stephen Collins, Ace Mahbaz, Sophie Stone, and Olive Gray among others.