Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis is set to become the first deaf presenter to host live sports on British television. She has signed up to host the Paralympic Games on Channel 4.
The 29-year-old former EastEnders star will report from the matches in Paris alongside Clare Balding.
Ayling-Ellis, who is already rehearsing for her role as presenter, is set to become the first deaf person ever to present a live sports event.
It is the first time that the actress, who won Strictly in 2021 with Giovanni Pernice, has presented live.
Lenny Rush, 15, who won a BAFTA in 2023 for his role in the BBC comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, will also report on Channel 4’s coverage of the first weekend of the Games.
Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis is set to become the first deaf presenter to cover live sports on British television after signing up to work on Channel 4’s Paralympics, it was announced on Thursday.
The 29-year-old former EastEnders star will join Clare Balding to report on the matches in Paris
But it is known that the young star, who suffers from a form of dwarfism, will only be on air for this short period, as he has to go back to school.
Channel 4 says it will broadcast 1,300 hours of live sport from the Games, with Paralympic swimming champion and BAFTA winner Ellie Simmonds making her presenting debut for the broadcaster.
Other well-known faces providing coverage include Ade Adepitan, former racing driver and commentator Billy Monger, presenter JJ Chalmers and radio presenter Vick Hope.
The team of experts includes multiple Paralympic medallists Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Dame Sarah Storey.
An insider told the Daily Mirror: ‘Channel 4 is very excited about this unique combination of Clare and Rose. It’s a first for the channel and will take the live broadcasting further than ever before.
‘Rose has already had some rehearsals while Clare has been busy covering Wimbledon for the BBC, but we’re excited to see them on screen together and we’re sure viewers will enjoy their collaboration too.’
The opening ceremony for the Games will take place on August 28, and the closing ceremony of the 12-day event will take place on September 8.
The coverage will be shown on Channel 4, More4, the broadcaster’s streaming service and on the Channel 4 Sports YouTube channel. The coverage will start during breakfast and will run throughout the day.
It’s the first time the actress, who won Strictly in 2021 with Giovanni Pernice (pictured), has presented live
An insider told the Daily Mirror: ‘Channel 4 are very excited about this unique combination of Clare (pictured) and Rose’
Lenny Rush, 15, who won a BAFTA in 2023 for his performance in the BBC comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, will also take on a reporting role for Channel 4’s coverage of the first weekend of the Games
Channel 4 says it will broadcast 1,300 hours of live sport from the Games, with Paralympic swimming champion and BAFTA winner Ellie Simmonds making her presenting debut as a broadcaster
The YouTube channel will broadcast every television moment of the matches, with up to 18 ‘simultaneous streams’.
Balding, 53, who previously presented the games, is joined by Ayling-Ellis, who became the first deaf contestant to win Strictly.
They will co-present ‘from a new position in the athletes’ village’, Channel 4 said.
Rush, who also starred in Doctor Who, Enola Holmes 2 and A Christmas Carol, combines live reporting with pre-recorded interviews he conducted for the report.
Netflix’s Sex Education star George Robinson will also appear as a reporter for the games, as will Jodie Ounsley, better known as Fury from the BBC series Gladiators.
After the day ends on Channel 4, the long-running programme The Last Leg will take over, starring Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe.
Netflix’s Sex Education star George Robinson will also serve as a reporter for the games
Jodie Ounsley, known as Fury from the BBC show Gladiators, will also appear as a reporter
Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, said: ‘Every Paralympic Games shows us the transformative power of sport. At Channel 4 we are delighted to be bringing the Paralympic Games back, bigger and better than ever before.
‘We are incredibly proud that these will be the most accessible Games yet and that we will be making the sport available on even more platforms. It means that everyone can witness the rising success and drama of these elite sports.
‘I can guarantee that our groundbreaking presentation team will deliver unprecedented fun, insights and perspectives.
“We have seen how previous Games have tested people’s attitudes, and in 2024 we will do even more to showcase sports stars at their best.”