20 January 2024 , 19:47
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When Gladiators unleashed Fury no one cheered louder for the show’s first deaf combatant than actress and Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Deaf ex-EastEnder Rose, 29, sent congratulations to Fury, whose real name is Jodie Ounsley, after the first episode of the rebooted show went out last Saturday evening on the BBC.
Fury made a storming start as she and three other Gladiators took on brave contenders in the Gauntlet. Then she made short work of her competitor in Hang Tough and was interviewed by Barney Walsh, who co-hosts the all-action show with dad and The Chase star Bradley.
Rose and Exeter Chiefs rugby star Jodie, 23, who wears a cochlear implant, became pals after Rose appeared as Strictly’s first deaf contestant in 2021. Jodie said she is thrilled to be a role model for young people.
Gladiators Viper, Legend and Fury on This Morning (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)She said: “Rose has been so supportive, she sent me a message after the show saying she thought it was great, congratulating me on being the first deaf gladiator.
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“People like her, Tasha Ghouri (who appeared on Love Island ) and me – we’re all in the same boat, just trying to be good role models. I think Rose is amazing, I’m in awe of what she’s done.”
Rose on Strictly prompted a huge surge in applications for British Sign Language classes. She has since made a documentary about the language, and this newspaper joined her in calling for BSL to be on the NHS.
Jodie said: “It is bizarre that people have to pay to learn BSL. You can’t learn it from the bits and pieces on YouTube.
“My parents were told when I was a kid that I should focus on my speech, but I’ve learned some BSL as an adult, and I think everyone should.”
Jodie, who is a ju-jitsu champ, has been inundated with messages from youngsters since her debut.
She said: “I’m really lucky as I have incredibly supportive parents. But I did struggle with my confidence because it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I became aware of any deaf role models.
“Now for kids there are so many people, and it means such a lot to have someone to look up to. Now I get sent messages and videos all the time.
“One five-year-old with a cochlear impact was jumping up and down and screaming, ‘I want to be a gladiator.’ That really warmed my heart. It was a really easy decision to do Gladiators, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s been such an amazing experience.”