December 22nd 2024.
Rose Ayling-Ellis made history in 2021 when she and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice took home the coveted Glitterball Trophy on Strictly Come Dancing. As the first-ever deaf contestant on the show, Rose's journey was an inspiration to many. However, fans were left puzzled when she did not make an appearance on the show's 20th anniversary special.
While other past contestants and professionals gathered to reminisce about their time on the show, Rose was notably absent. Reports claim that she chose not to participate in order to avoid detracting from the joyous celebrations with her involvement in past controversies.
Earlier this year, Giovanni was at the center of an internal investigation after former celebrities accused him of bullying. However, he was cleared of most of the accusations, including the most serious ones. Rose has not publicly commented on the situation, and it seems she prefers to keep it that way.
During the anniversary special, the judges and fellow dancers praised Rose and Giovanni's memorable couple's choice routine. In a historic moment, they even cut the music mid-dance to represent Rose's experiences as a deaf person. Judge Motsi Mabuse described it as a dance that would stay in their minds forever, while professional dancer Gorka Marquez called it powerful.
Despite the scandals surrounding Strictly this year, Rose has chosen to remain silent and focus on the positive experiences she had with Giovanni on the show. A source close to her revealed that she is finding the situation tough, but she is trying not to get involved and will not be speaking about it publicly.
Meanwhile, Giovanni added another trophy to his collection this weekend by winning the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle, with his partner Bianca Guaccero. The pair confirmed their romantic relationship during the season, and Giovanni has even hinted at the possibility of marriage in the future.
Speaking earlier in the season, he expressed that Bianca is his priority and that it is a new feeling for him to have someone take care of him. Bianca, on the other hand, shared that it is a new feeling for her as well to have someone who is proud of her and happy for her happiness.
As for the UK version of Strictly, it concluded last weekend with Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell taking home the trophy. Comedian Chris also made history as the first-ever blind competitor on the show. And while Rose has not commented on her absence from the anniversary special, she did make a statement by sharing a clip of Giovanni and Bianca's win with the caption "la coppia vince" or "the couple wins."
Representatives for Rose Ayling-Ellis have been contacted for comment. It's clear that Rose's journey on Strictly Come Dancing will always be remembered and celebrated, and we can't wait to see what she does next. Watch the 20th anniversary special on BBC iPlayer for a trip down memory lane. And if you have a celebrity story to share, get in touch with us – we'd love to hear from you.
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