Rose Ayling-Ellis addresses Strictly journey with Giovanni Pernice and the thing she 'hated'
Rose Ayling-Ellis has opened up about her iconic Strictly Come Dancing performance with Giovanni Pernice, admitting she initially "hated" the concept. The EastEnders actress, who lifted the Glitterball Trophy in 2021 and made history as the competition's first deaf contestant, made an unforgettable impact when she and Giovanni performed a dance in complete silence, a moment that resonated deeply with audiences.
Despite the routine's success, Rose confessed she was against it at first, fearing it might be seen as seeking a "pity" vote. Speaking to the Guardian, she expressed her concerns: "I hated it. I watched this prerecorded video by external choreographers and immediately didn't like what they'd come up with. I was up for the idea, as long as it wasn't a patronising stunt."
She continued, "An attempt to get the pity vote, all sad, dreary and 'poor me'," highlighting how the original concept didn't align with her identity. Rose elaborated on her stance: "It was what hearing people think deaf people experience. Very insular, cut-off, small. It was so sad. And that's not me."
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She insisted on authenticity, admitting that she told the broadcaster they would need to 'agree to certain things' to get her on board with the show. The production team exceeded her expectations, and Rose recalled the warm welcome she received: "They went further than I'd asked... so I said yes. On my first day, everyone finger spelt their name to me. It was a special gesture.", reports Birmingham Live.
Claudia Winkleman also weighed in, telling the paper: "I need to make such a bold statement because I know her well enough to know she never would."
"And to be clear, Rose isn't astonishing because she won a dance contest while not hearing the music. She's utterly brilliant because she's genuinely hilarious, because she's ridiculously humble, and because she's bonkers talented."
Rose added that Strictly - which returns on Saturday (14 September) - opened up a myriad of opportunities for her, which comes with a sense of responsibility. During her time on the show, Rose struck up a close bond with partner Giovanni and has remained friends with him since.
However, her former dance partner has found himself at the centre of a Strictly scandal. His 2023 partner Amanda Abbington, dramatically exited the competition after five weeks and hurled accusations of "cruel" and "abusive" behaviour at the 33-year-old dancer. Giovanni will not appear on the upcoming series of Strictly following the allegations and an internal investigation.
