EastEnders actor and Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis is set to become the first deaf presenter of live sports on British television next month

EastEnders actor and Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis will become the first deaf live sports presenter on British TV as part of a groundbreaking new Paralympics coverage on Channel 4.

Rose, 29, will break new ground fronting coverage of the Paralympics alongside Clare Balding from the Athletes village in Paris next month.

Insiders at Channel 4 say Rose has already begun rehearsing and TV bosses are looking at any changes in the studio that might be needed for her to work on a live show. One source told the Mirror: “Channel 4 are really excited about this unique pairing of Clare and Rose. It’s a first for the Channel and takes its live broadcasting accessibility further than ever before.

“Rose has already done some rehearsals whilst Clare has been busy covering Wimbledon for the BBC, but we are excited by seeing them work together on screen and we are confident viewers will love them together too.”

Rose and Clare will be joined on screen by the likes of five-time Paralympic swimming champion and BAFTA-winner Ellie Simmonds, who makes her Channel 4 presentation debut and regular presenter Ade Adepitan, a former wheelchair basketball player.

Coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will also feature multiple studios and locations across the city – including at the Stade De France, La Défense Arena, the Athletes’ Village, Paralympics GB House and the Pont Alexandre III – capturing both the majesty of Paris and the elite sporting action.

Actor Rose’s part in the line up will be confirmed by Channel 4 at a launch event in East London tonight which she is expected to attend. In 2022 after winning Strictly the previous year, Rose gave a speech at the Edinburgh TV Festival calling for the industry to do more when it comes to deaf and disabled representation.

At the time she said: “I have to break through countless barriers… It’s been a lonely, upsetting journey, and whilst winning Strictly was an amazing experience, it shouldn’t be allowed to conceal the hardships I have been through to get here.”

“To hold the responsibility of being ‘the first deaf person’ can be a blessing, but it can also be a curse. I feel the whole weight of my community resting on my shoulders and trust me, it is heavy.”

Deaf celebrity chef Yvonne Cobb has been working on BBC Morning Live as a regular TV chef, signing in British Sign Language on mainstream live TV. She was also the first Deaf