Strictly’s Rose Ayling-Ellis hot favourite to win after tear-jerking dance tribute to the deaf community
DEAF actress Rose Ayling-Ellis is hot favourite to win Strictly after a part-silent performance heralded as the greatest in its history. Her spellbinding routine with Giovanni Pernice saw the music stop halfway through as the couple continued to dance. Viewers were reduced to tears as EastEnders star Rose, 26, the show’s first deaf contestant, gave […]
DEAF actress Rose Ayling-Ellis is hot favourite to win Strictly after a part-silent performance heralded as the greatest in its history.
Her spellbinding routine with Giovanni Pernice saw the music stop halfway through as the couple continued to dance.
Viewers were reduced to tears as EastEnders star Rose, 26, the show’s first deaf contestant, gave them a “beautiful” insight into hearing loss.
Giovanni, 31, yesterday posted a pic of the dance, adding: “A moment that will remain forever in my heart. You really are a role model.”
At the end of their routine on Saturday night, the Italian told Rose he “loved her” before they received a near-perfect 39 out of 40.
Rose beamed afterwards: “Being deaf, there’s nothing wrong — it’s such a joy to be deaf.”
Judge Anton du Beke fought back tears as he declared: “That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on the show. Congratulations.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas stood up and said it took her to a “much deeper place”, adding: “I’m sure the deaf community will be so proud of you. This is a number that will be etched in my heart for a long time, it was absolutely beautiful.”
It also led to floods of tears in homes around the country. One fan posted online: “No dance on Strictly has ever made me cry so many tears.”
Another wrote: “Rose and Giovanni’s dance has pretty much broken me.”
Before, Maidstone-born Rose took Giovanni to the theatre where she performed as a child, and told how she was dedicating their Couples’ Choice dance to the deaf community.
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She told actors at Deafinitely Theatre — the only deaf theatre in the UK: “Acting is changing and it will hopefully have more diversity.”
Rose’s mum Donna said: “To know that my daughter is inspiring others, that makes me emotional because I think that’s amazing.”
Read our Strictly Come Dancing live blog for the latest updates
Rose and Giovanni previously scored a perfect 40 for their Halloween-themed tango last month.
Betfair’s Sam Rosbottom told The Sun: “Rose Ayling-Ellis is the overwhelming odds-on favourite to win.
“Her closest competition is AJ Odudu, but she’s way back, suggesting punters think the actress has one hand on the Glitterball trophy.”
'The media is becoming more inclusive'
By Teri Devine, Associate Director of Inclusion at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (as told to Grant Rollings)
IF anyone doubted that deaf people can dance, they don’t anymore after watching Rose Ayling-Ellis on Strictly Come Dancing.
The media is becoming more inclusive, with a deaf character in the new Eternals superhero movie and TV adverts including British Sign Language.
But there are many improvements needed within the entertainment industry.
The need is there because one in five adults in this country have some form of hearing loss.
Terrestrial TV channels are required to provide subtitles under Ofcom rules.
But at the moment on-demand ones, such as Netflix, don’t and we’re asking people to sign a petition demanding the government to turn the law into action so all channels offer the option of subtitles.
We would also like there to be more subtitled viewings in cinemas, at more sociable times.
Everyone can do their bit.
When people learn to lip read it is crucial for them to see your face, so don’t cover your mouth or turn away from them.
But even the best lip readers only pick up 40 per cent of the conversation.
Sign language is more effective.
Deaf people can feel excluded from society and if more people can use sign language it helps.
If a shop assistant can sign “can I help you?” or know how to finger spell, that would make life easier.
There is a campaign we are backing to introduce the British Sign Language Act in England.
This would create more access and rights for deaf people and give BSL legal status.
Rosie Cooper MP is trying to get it through parliament as a private members bill.
In Scotland BSL is the fourth language and there is a free interpreting service deaf people can use when calling their GP.
There is a need to provide better access to important services, such as interpreters.
It can take seven years to become a qualified interpreter and we need more.
Better funding for teaching them is something the government could do.
The NHS is required to provide a BSL interpreter for medical appointments, but at the moment it doesn’t always happen.
Being able to communicate clearly with a medical professional could save someone’s life.
The level of attainment in schools isn’t as good among young deaf people as it is among the hearing community.
We need to help them reach their true potential.
There is a spectrum of hearing loss.
In Britain there are 87,000 profoundly deaf people who use BSL, then there are people who have experienced gradual hearing loss, there are the deafblind people and there are “deafened” people who lost their hearing overnight.
They all have different needs and approach those needs in different ways.
Not all deaf people have the confidence Rose has, but she is a role model for others because of the way she tackles life’s challenges.
Her appearance on this major BBC One Saturday night programme reveals the barriers that deaf people face, but also that those challenges can be overcome.
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