Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis has won the Strictly Come Dancing final.

The EastEnders star has won over the hearts of millions of viewers through her stunning dancing over the last 12 weeks.

Tonight, her and partner Giovanni Pernice will take to the floor for the last time in the final performing three routines – a quickstep, a show dance and their couple's choice routine.

The Ashford school girl, who has been praised for raising awareness of the deaf community, went head to head against John Whaite and his partner Johannes Radebe after AJ Odudu and partner Kai Widdrington had to pull out at the last minute due to an injury.

The judges praised Rose and Giovanni's opening dance which kicked off the final as Anton DuBeke described it as "just beautiful" as she received a score of 39 – but the winner was decided purely by the public vote.

Craig Revell-Horwood said her second dance was "stunning" while Motsi Mabuse said it was "sensational" and Anton was almost brought to tears saying it was "just perfect" as she scored a maximum 40.

Judge Shirley Ballas said Rose is an "inspiration" to everyone around the world.

The two couples were tied on judges scores with 119 points each.

Rose and Giovanni scored 39 in the Waltz and 40 for their Argentine Tango in the semi final last week.

This put them joint top of the leader board.

Tonight, they will be doing an epic show dance and have chosen to redo their couple's choice. This included a poignant moment when they danced without music to show viewers what dancing every week was like for her.

They will also do the judges' favourite from the series - a Quickstep they performed during musicals week.

Rose is known for playing Frankie Lewis, the daughter of Danny Dyer's character Mick Carter, in TV soap EastEnders.

The 27-year-old was first cast in 2020 and her character was originally written by the deaf journalist and scriptwriter Charlie Swinbourne.

Rose went to Christ Church secondary school in Ashford, which later became the John Wallis Academy before attending the Deafinitely Youth Theatre.

As a child, she took part in a filming weekend run by the National Deaf Children's Society where she met deaf film director Ted Evans, who then cast her in his short film The End.

She also appeared in the music video for Middle of the Night by The Vamps in 2017.

Before her role in EastEnders, Rose performed in several stage productions, including Mother Courage at the Royal Exchange, Faith, Hope And Charity R&D at the National Theatre and Herons Workshop at the Lyric in Hammersmith.

Head judge, Shirley Ballas, will be there - but back in her role as the Wicked Queen in panto at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, the following night.