BREAKING: Rose Ayling-Ellis WINS Strictly Come Dancing 2021!

Posted on December 18, 2021 by



Rose Ayling-Ellis has been crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2021, beating baker John Waite in the public vote.

From the start, Rose, a deaf actor best known for appearing in Eastenders, said that she was competing for the deaf community, and her appearances on the show led to far greater recognition of deaf people and British Sign Language.

As the series progressed, enquiries about sign language rocketed, while viewers saw people from across the deaf community appearing on our screens every week.

The ‘Rose effect’ has led to deaf people everywhere feeling that people are more aware of deafness in everyday life. On the show, we saw the audience shaking their hands in ‘deaf applause’ and many of the contestants signing ‘thank you’.

Rose was the bookies favourite from the start, but began on relatively low scores, getting just 22 in her first week and 26 in week two, as she got into her stride.

But soon, Rose and Giovanni started to improve, scoring 36 in the third week, which had a movie theme, with a dance to ‘My Heart Will Go On’ from Titanic. Here it is…

Then in week six, we saw Rose’s full potential for the first time, when, dancing as the Ice Queen, Rose scored the first 40 of the series. Watch that halloween-themed dance below…

It was clear that not only had Rose adapted to dancing on the show, but Giovanni had too.

Our writer Rebecca-Anne Withey wrote this viral article about how Giovanni has adapted to teaching her – it was endorsed and shared by Rose herself.

The moment that really put Rose on the map, and made the deaf community – and possibly the whole nation – fall in love with her was the ‘silent moment’ in week 8.

For a few seconds, the music stopped, and the audience were sent into Rose’s deaf world.

She followed the dance by saying ‘It’s a joy to be deaf.’ Sharing a positive message for deaf people across the nation, and changing attitudes.

Watch the dance below, and read this blog from Rebecca-Anne Withey about why it was so powerful.

Not long after, in a sign of how the media have seen how the nation has taken them to their hearts, Rose and Giovanni appeared on the cover of Radio Times.

They powered on through the rest of the competition, only dipping below 37 once, in week 10. In the quarter finals Rose scored 39, followed by 39 and 40 in the semi finals.

There have been so many amazing moments that Rebecca-Anne Withey wrote a top ten, which you can read here.

But the best moment of all was still to come.

In the final, Rose scored 39, then 40, then 40 again. But so did John. The judges couldn’t divide them. So the public had to.

Then it was announced, with Rose the winner. Here’s the moment when she won:

It was a victory not just for Rose, but for the deaf community she has represented, and shown the very best side of, during her time on the show.

As usual, we covered the show on our live blog, with two Deaf Dance Judges, who gave their responses straight after the result.

Rebecca-Anne Withey said: “I feel like I’m joining countless deaf people around the world squealing and clapping in joy as I see Rose crowned the champion of Strictly 2021. Immensely proud and elated for them both. Well done Rose!!!! We knew you could do it!”

Donna Mullings said: “It was the BEST news ever to watch Rose WON! I jumped for joy and shout my heart out from the roof top!!!! Very very proud indeed!!!!!”

From everyone at Limping Chicken, a huge congratulations to Rose, and to Giovanni for all they’ve achieved in the last 13 weeks! 

We’ve covered every week since the start, and we’re not sure what we’re going to do on Saturdays now. It’s been amazing, and we could never have guessed the impact Rose would have.

Watch Rose’s dances from the final below, and tell us what you think in the comments.

Dance three – showdance

Dance two – silent moment

Dance one – quickstep

By Charlie Swinbourne, Editor

 

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