EastEnders fans 'filled with joy' as Rose Ayling-Ellis makes huge announcement

Former EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis has announced huge career news after bowing out of the BBC soap in September 2022.

The 29-year-old played Walford's Frankie Lewis for two years and was introduced as a friend of Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden). It soon transpired that she was unknown daughter of Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) in a sickening plot twist.

Alongside her role on the long-running BBC soap, Rose went on to win Strictly Come Dancing alongside Giovanni Pernice in 2021, having been the show’s first deaf contestant. But the actress is returning to screens after being cast in an exciting new BBC drama.

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Taking to Instagram on Friday (May 17), Rose announced she's been cast in a new revenge thriller called Reunion. The exciting four-part series has already beginning in Yorkshire and Rose is starring alongside Matthew Gurney, Lara Peake, Anne-Marie Duff and Eddie Marsan in the new drama.

Written by Sheffield-born deaf writer William Mager, the project follows a deaf character, Daniel Brennan, who is determined to right his wrongs and unravel the events which led to his imprisonment. Notably, Reunion marks a milestone by the majority of the cast and crew being deaf or using British Sign Language.

Rose wrote on Instagram: "I'm so excited to be joining William Mager’s Reunion and to be working alongside such a talented cast, whose work I have long admired. It is a very special project and an important moment for the deaf community's representation on TV @wlmager @warpfilms @bbc."

Fans of the TV star wasted no time in sharing their congratulations, with one person writing: "Soooo excited for this one!!", followed by a love-struck emoji.

A second added: "Rose can’t wait to watch it you won the hearts of the nation and we all still love you just keep following that heart girl you are such a inspiration to the deaf community and a beautiful actress to xx."

A third stated: "Omg!!! Yes, literally filled with joy for you right now!", while another: "So excited to see this! Congrats - and what a fantastic cast!"

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