Rose Ayling-Ellis has squashed any rumours she is about to become Ncuti Gatwa’s companion in the new season of Doctor Who.

The former Eastenders actress, who has profound hearing loss, addressed the news which was posted on social media.

She told Sky News at the Edinburgh TV Festival: "I think it was a rumour which started on Twitter, and it just got bigger and bigger and now it's everywhere.”

Mind you, Rose admitted she wouldn’t turn the role down as "It sounds like a great job!"

Ayling-Ellis, 27, recently quit the BBC soap Eastenders and won Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 with a moving performance with dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

The actress admitted it was "so hard to remember the steps and not mess up the routine", but she walked away with the trophy.

Ayling-Ellis has been given the honour to be this years’ alternative MacTaggart lecture speaker at the three-day annual event.

She will take the opportunity to discuss the prejudice she has been up against working in television as a deaf person, offering advice on how the entertainment sector can make the business more inclusive for staff and actors with hearing loss.

Ayling-Ellis, who was born deaf, grew up in a hearing family where she kept a daily diary, which she has recently found.

 "I knew it would be a challenge, and difficult, whatever career I went into. I'd written in my old diary that I'd love to be on TV and work for the BBC, but because I was deaf, I knew it would be hard. But I knew even at 16, I wanted to be on TV,” she told Sky News.

Despite her time in Albert Square and winning Strictly, Ayling-Ellis says people don’t always recognise her in public by sight, but she has come to realise she has a distinctive voice.

"When I talk loudly - that's when people realise it's me!"

Rose Ayling-Ellis recently unveiled the first Barbie doll fitted with hearing devices.