Rose Ayling-Ellis wished her Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice a happy birthday – following the split from her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold. She shared a previously unseen clip of herself and her Strictly Come Dancing co-star as he celebrated his 32nd birthday.
“One of my favourite videos of us,” the 27-year-old penned next to the unearthed video which shows Giovanni sporting a black cape. He swipes it past the camera to reveal Rose wearing a sparkly top hat as the pair look into each other’s eyes before breaking into laughter.
The EastEnders actress paired the video with ‘Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen’ as she wrote “Happy birthday @giovannipernice” on top of the clip – followed by a celebration emoji. It comes after her reported split from her partner of seven years Sam, as reported by The Mirror.
The pair, who are both deaf, have reportedly gone their separate way after Sam grew close to one of Rose's friends. A friend explained: "It’s very amicable and they’ll remain close friends, but unfortunately, there is no future for them romantically.
"They spent a lot of time apart while Rose was away on tour, which has had an impact. It’s been difficult for them both, of course, but they’re certain it’s the right move — and Sam’s had a shoulder to cry on in their mutual friend."
It's been claimed Rose's boyfriend has confided in CBeebies host Aimee Campbell-Nottage, according to The Sun. Speculation was rife about their relationship in recent weeks as her career skyrocketed since her Strictly Come Dancing victory with Giovanni Pernice in 2021.
While on the show, the deaf star raised awareness for her community time and time again. Rose and Giovanni's friendship blossomed behind the scenes, which set tongues started wagging about if there was something more between the pair due to their on-screen chemistry.
The actress, who has played Frankie Lewis on EastEnders since 2020, has always kept her romance with Sam low-key and out of the spotlight. Rose was the first ever deaf contestant on the hit-BBC show and her presence on the series prompted fans to begin learning sign language. Earlier this month, the actress unveiled the first ever Barbie with hearing aids.
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