Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis says it was her mum’s battles to safeguard her education that set her on the path to ballroom glory.
The EastEnders star, 27, became the first deaf contestant ever on this year’s Strictly and, with partner Giovanni Pernice, lifted the glitterball trophy on Saturday night.
After her win, she was seen in a tearful embrace with mum Donna, who ensured note-takers and translators were always on hand throughout her school days.
Rose says: “I was proper sobbing and I think it is because, at primary school and nursery school – it goes way, way, way back – where my education was difficult...
“My mum had to fight a lot to make it accessible for my education right from the start. So I had that right from the beginning.
“Everything I do was constantly fighting, constantly a battle, to get what I needed. We just didn’t expect it would end up with me on Strictly... and end up with me winning. I can’t word how much that means.”
Showing off her trophy on a video call, Rose told fellow contestant Dan Walker that she hopes her win will inspire a change in how deaf people are perceived.
She added to the BBC breakfast presenter that employers could make the workplace accessible for deaf people, just as the Strictly team had done for her.
Giovanni, 31, said he took his trophy to bed on Saturday night and that Rose had helped him regain a “spark” on the show.
Rose added that she plans to return to EastEnders after performing on the Strictly live tour with Giovanni.
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