Strictly Come Dancing winner lands major role in iconic BBC series

Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis has secured a significant part in the popular BBC series, Doctor Who.

The EastEnders star, who triumphed in Strictly alongside Giovanni Pernice in 2021, will feature in the renowned series with the incoming 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, joined by Lenny James, Jonathan Groff and Anita Dobson. In his comments about Rose coming aboard, showrunner Russell T Davies praised her impactful contribution to the show.

Davies remarked: "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."

Expressing her enthusiasm for her collaboration with Sex Education's Ncuti, Rose mentioned: "Ncuti is a wonderful Doctor, and I can't wait for audiences to see what we have created together," reports the Mirror.

She also spoke of her childhood love for Doctor Who and noted that being a part of it had been "a dream come true".

"My inner child is ecstatic with excitement! Working with Russell and filming alongside the talented cast and crew has been an incredible experience," she said.

Rose is primarily recognised for portraying Frankie Lewis from 2020 to 2022. After leaving the soap opera, she then took up the role of Freya Chordwell in the production of Ludwig.

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 who has recently been released from prison and finds it difficult to "fully integrate into the hearing world".

The synopsis reveals that Daniel is ostracised by his closest friends and the wider deaf community due to his appalling crimes. He strives to rectify his wrongs while uncovering the truth about the events 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 Sister, portrays Christine, a character desperate to uncover the truth about Daniel's actions.

Eddie Marsan plays her boyfriend Stephen Renworth, while Strictly winner Rose takes on the role of Miri, Christine's daughter. Other stars appearing in the show include Stephen Collins, Ace Mahbaz, Sophie Stone and Olive Gray.