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-great-grandmother Agnes Chilton owned her own pub.
Rose met with a local historian in Birmingham who provided her with more information about Agnes, who in the late 19th century ran a pub called the Sandy Hill Tavern with her husband.
Rose discovered that Agnes was in charge of most things in the pub, to which Rose replied: “The wife does everything. I love that.”
The historian then showed Rose a clipping from the time when Alfred and Agnes were accused of slapping a customer at 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-great-grandmother Agnes Chilton owned her own pub.
Agnes had stepped in to defend Alfred during the incident at his establishment.
Rose, who played a barman at the Queen Vic in EastEnders, joked: “It’s a bit like EastEnders, in the Queen Victoria pub.”
‘Everyone was slapping each other all the time in that pub! I threw a drink in someone’s face. I feel like it’s in my blood!’
Rose added of Agnese: “I feel very privileged to have learned so much about this woman. I have enormous respect for her.”
Viewers loved the episode and during it they called Rose a “delight” and called the episode the best of the series.
They said: ‘I really enjoyed @RoseAylingEllis’ episode of Who Do You Think You Are? – a very interesting story about a Birmingham pub landlady and someone else’s connection from Italy. I must say it’s the best of the series.’
“Rose Ayling-Ellis is so sweet and beautiful that 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 total delight in #WDYTYA.’,
Rose met with a local historian in Birmingham who provided her with more information about Agnes, who in the late 19th century ran a pub called the Sandy Hill Tavern with her husband.
Rose discovered that Agnes was in charge of most things in the pub, to which Rose replied: “The wife does everything. I love that.”
Rose, who played a barman at the Queen Vic in EastEnders, joked: “It’s a bit like EastEnders, in the Queen Victoria pub.”
Viewers loved the episode and during episode X said that Rose was a “delight” and called it the best of the series.
Rose added about Agnese: “I feel so privileged to learn so much about this woman. I have enormous respect for her” (seen in 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’s such a joy #wdytya.”
‘Rose Ayling-Ellis on Who Do You Think You Are?: I loved her expressiveness in the face of every fact.’,
“I think she’s fantastic. She has an amazing personality and is a great role model.”
‘Very interesting ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ tonight with Rose Ayling-Ellis. Started in Hythe (Kent)… via 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 taken on groundbreaking roles in the soap opera, a dance show and, most recently, as part of the presenting team for Channel 4’s Paralympic Games 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 with her in 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.
Rose is currently said to be single and concentrating intensely on her career, with her new role at the Paralympics providing her with a focus.
But a year after the show, Rose was said to have amicably ended her eight-year relationship with Sam.
At the time, this was largely attributed to the time they spent apart during their Strictly tour commitments, which came after they won the show in late 2021.
According to The Sun, the couple decided to split up and Sam turned to Rose’s friend and CBeebies presenter Aimee Campbell-Nottage for support.
The source added that Rose had thrown herself into her work because she had received a host of offers after Strictly.