Strictly star Rose Ayling-Ellis lands huge new BBC role alongside Sex Education and Bridgerton stars

EASTENDERS star and Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis has been given an early Christmas present in the form of a major new BBC role.

It has been announced that Rose will be joining the cast of Doctor Who as a guest star in one of their scariest episodes to date.

Ncuti Gatwa has already been joined by the likes of Lenny Rush, Jonathan Groff and Anita Dobson on his adventures and recently Coronation Street star Charlie Condou confirmed he was also going to appear in the Who universe.

But Showrunner Russell T Davies was particularly excited to have Rose on board. He said: “We always want guest actors on Doctor Who to have fun, but Rose takes it to a whole new level."

He also confirmed that Rose will have to tackle a gripping storyline: “She storms in with an astonishing performance of terror, anger and bravery in one of the most frightening episodes we’ve ever made.”

For Rose, working alongside Ncuti was a great experience, she said: “Ncuti is a wonderful Doctor, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have created together.”

Landing a role with the Doctor also helped Rose fulfil a childhood dream: “I loved Doctor Who when I was growing up, so being cast in the show was a dream come true.

“My inner child is ecstatic with excitement! Working with Russell and filming alongside the talented cast and crew has been an incredible experience.”

Rose’s role in Doctor Who is the latest achievement for the actor who featured in Casualty and at the National Theatre before landing her role as Frankie Lewis on EastEnders.

Rose was the first ever deaf actor to play a full time role on the soap when she appeared as Mick Carter’s daughter from 2018 to 2020.

She tackled some hard-hitting storylines during her time in the Square including being the victim of sexual harassment and discovering that her dad had been abused as a child.

In 2021 Rose won the hearts and minds of the nation when she triumphed on Strictly Come Dancing.

Her iconic silent performance with partner Giovanni Pernice earned the pair the BAFTA for ‘Must-See Moment’ in 2022.

The Doctor Who announcement tops off another great year for Rose after it was revealed in June that she was to be awarded an MBE for her services to the deaf community.

For those who can’t wait to see Rose and the Doctor next year, the Christmas special is just around the corner where more famous faces including Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan.

The Christmas special, Joy to the World, will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 5:10pm.