An actress who grew up on the Kent coast has made it to the Strictly Come Dancing final.

Rose Ayling-Ellis 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.

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

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.

The Strictly Come Dancing final is on at 7pm on BBC One.

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.