EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis has become the 12th celebrity to be confirmed as taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
She will be the first ever deaf contestant to appear in the BBC One dancing competition.
We're unbelievably excited to announce that our very own @RoseAylingEllis will be joining the cast of @bbcstrictly 2021! Take a look at our exclusive interview with @EmmaBarton and Rose. Good luck from all of us at #EastEnders, Rose! pic.twitter.com/510JzRBVmE
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) August 12, 2021
Ayling-Ellis described being the first ever deaf contestant on the show as "exciting" and "a little bit scary".
She added: "It is the hardest secret I have ever had to keep so it feels amazing to finally have this out in the open.
Making #Strictly 2021 her next big role. @BBCEastEnders actor Rose Ayling-Ellis joins our all-star cast! ✨
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 12, 2021
👉 https://t.co/FiHunPgsU8 @RoseAylingEllis pic.twitter.com/KlC9MVMC44
"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."
The actress has played Frankie Lewis in EastEnders since 2020.
Ayling-Ellis has also starred in TV programmes Summer Of Rockets and Casualty.
Earlier on Thursday, actress Nina Wadia, who also stars in EastEnders as Zainab Masood, was revealed as a contestant in the upcoming series of the programme.
She joined the previously announced line-up of TV presenter AJ Odudu, Peep Show's Robert Webb, McFly star Tom Fletcher, Dragons’ Den investor Sara Davies, Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, TV presenter Tilly Ramsay and actor Greg Wise.
CBBC host Rhys Stephenson and former Bake Off winner John Whaite will also take to the dance floor in the BBC One show, with Whaite set to compete as part of the show’s first all-male pairing.
