EastEnders star QUITS soap – and has already filmed her final scenes
MICK Carter's long-lost daughter Frankie Lewis is facing a dramatic exit from Albert Square.
EastEnders actress and Strictly star Rose Ayling-Ellis is set to depart her role later this year after joining the show back in 2020.
The Stricly 2021 winner is the first deaf actor to play a regular deaf character on the BBC One soap.
She has been part of a number of big storylines including the discovery that she is Mick’s daughter after he was abused as a child by his care worker Katy Lewis.
Speaking of leaving, Rose said: “It’s been incredibly special to be EastEnders’ first regular deaf actor.
"I have loved my time on the show and Frankie has been such an awesome character to play, however now feels like the right time for me to move on and I am excited and ready for new challenges.
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"I will always treasure my time on the show and all the incredible people I have worked with, who have supported my growth as an actor these last two years and given me so many amazing memories.
"I am excited for viewers to see Frankie’s exit storyline; I think it’s a really important one that will hit home for lots of people.”
New executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: “I have only had the pleasure to work with Rose for a short time but she has always been an incredible asset to EastEnders; not just as a phenomenal actor, but as an amazing company member too.
"As part of the Carter family, Rose has shone in important narratives such as discovering she’s Mick Carter’s daughter as a result of child abuse; and she will soon tackle the important issue highlighting women’s safety on the streets.
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"We at EastEnders are incredibly proud of everything Rose has achieved – she’s a real trailblazer, and we wish her every success.”
Rose will bow out this autumn and has already filmed her final scenes.
Could she follow her on-screen father Danny Dyer, who is also set to leave Walford behind?
Rose won last year's series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.
She was the first ever deaf contestant and they won the must-see moment at the Bafta TV awards for their silent dance.
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Their routine - during which they paused the music and danced in silence as a tribute to the deaf community - won praise from the public.
Speaking about the win, a delighted Rose said: "It is a very special moment for us because hopefully it showed how powerful TV can be, where it has actually introduced changes. It has even helped the BSL (British Sign Language) law be passed recently.
“It made people stand up more for sign language, and just a better deaf awareness and positiveness towards people. We have still got a long way to go but it is such a great start. We are so, so, so proud of it."
Giovanni added: "When we first thought of the idea to put silence into the dance, we knew it was going to give an impact, but this went bigger than what we thought."
What's in store for Frankie Lewis?
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Could she also be killed off?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.
