Rose Ayling-Ellis discovers incredible family connection to EastEnders during Who Do You Think You Are after starring on the soap – as fans rave it was the ‘best episode of the series’
Rose Ayling-Ellis discovered an incredible family connection to EastEnders after starring in Thursday soap Who Do You Think You Are.
The 29-year-old actress, who played Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap, discovered on the show that her great-grandmother Agnes Chilton owned her own pub.
Rose met a local historian in Birmingham who gave her more information about Agnes, who ran a pub called the Sandy Hill Tavern with her husband in the late 1800s.
Rose discovered that Agnes was in charge of most things in the pub, to which Rose said, “The woman does everything. I think that’s great.”
The historian then showed Rose a clipping from the time when Alfred and Agnes were accused of punching a customer in their new pub, the Queen’s Arms.
Rose Ayling-Ellis discovered an incredible family connection to EastEnders after starring in the soap during Thursday’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are
The 29-year-old actress, who played Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap, discovered on the show that her great-grandmother Agnes Chilton had her own pub
Agnes had intervened to defend Alfred during the incident at their establishment.
Rose, who played a barmaid at the Queen Vic in EastEnders, joked at the time: ‘It’s a bit like EastEnders but in the Queen Victoria pub.
‘Everyone was hitting each other all the time in that bar! I threw someone’s drink in his face. I feel like it’s in my blood!’
Rose added of Agnese: ‘I just feel very privileged to learn so much about this woman. I have nothing but enormous respect for her.’
Viewers loved the episode, telling X that Rose was a “great episode” and calling it the best of the series.
They said: ‘I really enjoyed the @RoseAylingEllis episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, a really interesting story about a pub owner in Birmingham and the connection of another person from Italy. The best of the series I have to say.’,
‘Rose Ayling-Ellis is just so lovely and beautiful to match with and I’m so glad her Who Do You Think You Are wasn’t full of boring war stories and actually interesting people.’,
‘Rose Ayling-Ellis is utterly captivating and a delight on #WDYTYA.’,
Rose met a local historian in Birmingham who gave her more information about Agnes, who ran a pub called the Sandy Hill Tavern with her husband in the late 1800s
Rose discovered that Agnes was in charge of most things in the pub, to which Rose said, “The woman does everything. I think it’s great.”
Rose – who played a barman in the Queen Vic in EastEnders – joked at the time: ‘It’s a bit like EastEnders, in the Queen Victoria pub’
Viewers loved the episode, saying during X that Rose was a “delight” and calling the episode the best of the series
Rose added of Agnese: ‘I just feel very privileged to learn so much about this woman. I have nothing but enormous respect for her’ (as seen on EastEnders)
‘Great episode tonight with Rose Ayling-Ellis. Full of interesting different and varied stories in multiple locations. I also enjoyed Rose’s enthusiasm #WDYTYA.’,
‘Ah I love Rose Ayling Ellis. She is such a joy #wdytya.’,
‘Rose Ayling-Ellis on Who Do You Think You Are: I loved her expressiveness in every fact.’
‘I think she’s great! A great personality and role model’,
‘Very interesting ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ tonight with Rose Ayling-Ellis. Started in Hythe (Kent)….through Birmingham and Swindon to Exeter and then on to South Molton and Italy! Interesting stories @wdytyamagazine.’
The nation fell in love with Rose when she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and was paired with professional Giovanni Pernice.
The star was born deaf and has had groundbreaking roles in the soap opera, the dance programme and more recently as a presenter of Channel 4’s Paralympic coverage.
During her time on the BBC series Strictly she was supported by her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold, who was often seen at the live shows and rehearsals.
The nation fell in love with Rose when she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and was paired with Giovanni, who is no longer on the show
Currently, Rose is said to be single and focused on her career, with her new role at the Paralympics providing her with a focus
But a year after the show, Rose reportedly ended her eight-year relationship with Sam in an amicable manner.
At the time, this was largely attributed to the time they spent apart during her Strictly tour, which she embarked on after winning the show in late 2021.
According to The Sun, the couple have split and Sam is leaning on Rose’s girlfriend and CBeebies presenter Aimee Campbell-Nottage for support.
The source added that Rose threw herself into her work after being inundated with offers after Strictly.