Departing EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis has said she is developing a comedy-drama series about deaf women dating in London and will also star in the show.
Speaking to Deadline at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion said the series will be based on her own experiences and those of the disabled writers who will also be working on the show with her.
"This is something that hasn't been spoken about," Ayling-Ellis said of the series.
"We hear a lot about being female and how women appear in the dating scene, but as a deaf woman, it's a very different experience. It will be nice to share that story."
Ayling-Ellis said the Michaela Coel sitcom Chewing Gum and Dolly Alderton's book Everything I Know About Love are inspirations for the show.
She stressed that she will not be the sole writer and is "engaging with some exciting writers".
"There are so many different people in the show, and I can't speak on behalf of their experiences, so I wanted a team that could put it all together," she added.
"I won't exactly be going to the countryside to spend months writing this."
It was announced earlier this month that Ayling-Ellis will be leaving her EastEnders role of Frankie Lewis.
"It's been incredibly special to be EastEnders' first regular deaf actor," she said in a statement.
"I have loved my time on the show and Frankie has been such an awesome character to play. However, now feels like the right time for me to move on, and I am excited and ready for new challenges.
"I will always treasure my time on the show and all the incredible people I have worked with who have supported my growth as an actor these last two years and given me so many amazing memories.
"I am excited for viewers to see Frankie's exit storyline; I think it's a really important one that will hit home for lots of people."
EastEnders airs on RTÉ One and BBC One Monday to Thursday.
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