Rose Ayling-Ellis discovered an incredible family connection to EastEnders after starring on the soap during Thursday’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are.
The actress, 29, – who starred as Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera – found out on the show that her great-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 1800s ran a pub called the Sandy Hill Tavern with her husband.
Rose discovered that Agnes was in charge of most things at the pub to which Rose said: ‘The wife does everything. I love that.’
The historian then showed Rose a clipping from the time in which both 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 on the soap during Thursday’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are
The actress, 29, – who starred as Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera – found out on the show that her great-great-great-grandmother Agnes Chilton owned her own pub
Agnes had intervened to defend Alfred during the incident at their establishment.
Rose – who played a bartender at the Queen Vic in EastEnders – then joked: ‘It’s kind of like EastEnders, at the Queen Victoria pub.
‘Everyone slapped each other all the time in that pub! I chucked someone’s drink in their 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 massive respect for her.’
Viewers loved the episode and took to X during to say that Rose was a ‘delight’ and called the episode the best of the series.
They said: ‘Really enjoyed @RoseAylingEllis episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, very interesting story about a pub landlady in Birmingham and another person’s connection from Italy. Best of the series I must say.’,
‘rose ayling-ellis is just so sweet and beautiful to match and i’m so happy her ‘who do you think you are?’ wasn’t filled with boring war stories and actual interesting people.’,
‘Rose Ayling-Ellis hugely engaging and a total delight on #WDYTYA.’,
Rose met with a local historian in Birmingham who provided her with more information about Agnes who in the late 1800s ran a pub called the Sandy Hill Tavern with her husband
Rose discovered that Agnes was in charge of most things at the pub to which Rose said: ‘The wife does everything. I love that’
Rose – who played a bartender at the Queen Vic in EastEnders – then joked: ‘It’s kind of like EastEnders, at the Queen Victoria pub’
Viewers loved the episode and took to X during to say that Rose was a ‘delight’ and called 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 massive respect for her’ (seen on EastEnders)
‘Great episode tonight with Rose Ayling-Ellis tonight. Full of interesting different & 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: loved her expressiveness to every fact.’,
‘I think she’s mega! A terrific personality and role model’,
‘Very interesting ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ tonight with Rose Ayling-Ellis. Started off in Hythe (Kent)….via Birmingham and Swindon to Exeter and then 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 gone on to take on groundbreaking roles on the soap, dancing show and more recently as part of the presenting team for Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage.
During her time on BBC series Strictly she was supported by her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold who was often seen at the live shows and with her for 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 focusing intensely on her career, with her new role at the Paralympics providing her with a focus
But a year on from 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 spent apart during her Strictly tour engagements which came after winning the show at the end of 2021.
According to The Sun, the couple called it quits, with Sam leaning on Rose’s pal and CBeebies host Aimee Campbell-Nottage for support.
The source added that Rose had been throwing herself into her work as she had been inundated with offers after Strictly.
