The first deaf person to host live British sports coverage

Technology · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Rose Ayling-Ellis is breaking barriers in mainstream media, from winning a national dancing competition to starring in major dramas. Beyond the spotlight, she is using her platform to pioneer inclusive representation, including launching the first deaf Barbie doll and becoming a trailblazer for deaf accessibility in live television.

Rose Ayling-Ellis has achieved significant milestones in British entertainment, notably becoming the first deaf contestant on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2021. During that series, she and partner Giovanni Pernice made history by scoring a perfect 40 for their tango in week six—the earliest perfect score in the show's history. A British Academy Television Award for Must-See Moment was granted in 2022 for their week eight act, featuring a silent tribute to the deaf community. She first appeared on the soap opera EastEnders in May 2020. Her character was created by a journalist who is also deaf. She also won a debut award for her role in As You Like It.

Her influence extends into product design and education. In August 2022, she collaborated with Mattel to unveil the first deaf Barbie doll, which features behind-the-ear hearing aids as part of the Barbie Fashionistas line. She also signed a 10-book deal with DK Children's in June 2024, beginning with a 2025 release about the history of communication. These projects highlight her role in making deaf identity visible to a global audience. She was the first celebrity to sign a bedtime story for CBeebies. This occurred in May 2022. She also appeared in a 2017 music video for The Vamps.

Ayling-Ellis's career is marked by a commitment to authentic representation. She often performs using Sign-supported English (SSE) to reflect her personal communication style. For her voluntary work with the deaf community, she received an MBE during the 2024 Birthday Honours, marking formal recognition of her local influence. In 2024, she also became the first deaf person to host live sports coverage on British television for the Summer Paralympics in Paris. She graduated from the University for the Creative Arts in 2016. Her genealogy research revealed an ancestor who likely moved to the UK during the Napoleonic Wars.

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