Strictly Come Dancing star Rose Ayling-Ellis has reportedly turned down several six-figure hearing aid deals, including one from Specsavers.
The EastEnders actress, who became the first ever deaf Strictly contestant when she appeared on this year’s series, allegedly refuses to promote non-NHS hearing aids to her fans.
The lucrative offers have come following the 27-year-old’s stunning performances on the BBC dance show, which have made her and her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice the favourites to win it.
A source has now told The Sun that Rose is passionate about the NHS, adding that she gets her hearing aids from the NHS and doesn’t want to “mislead” fans.
(Image: BBC)
The source said: “Rose has already done so much to raise awareness of the plight deaf people face on a daily basis. She is a total inspiration.
“High street franchises like Specsavers sell hearing aids and several firms have been in touch to see if she wanted any freebies, or wanted to get on board for campaigns.
“Although it means turning down vast sums of money, Rose doesn’t feel right accepting. She gets her hearing aids from the NHS and doesn’t want to mislead her fans.”
The source also said that her friends have been joking that she “should have gone to Specsavers”, but that Rose firmly believes profiting from her condition is wrong.
(Image: PA)
Last month many Strictly fans were deeply moved when Rose and Giovanni danced in silence to raise awareness of deafness.
Strictly host Claudia Winkleman revealed recently that she is learning sign language to better communicate with the actress.
Claudia, 49, said: “We have all done awareness courses, I’m trying to learn as much sign language as possible – not necessarily to do on screen, but for when I’m communicating with her off air.
“The first thing I wanted to learn – although I haven’t needed to use it yet – was how to say ‘The judges are horrid’.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
