Strictly Come Dancing winner and former EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis has landed a role in a groundbreaking new BBC One series.
The actor will appear in Reunion, described as "an emotional thriller of revenge and redemption" that features a majority of the cast and many crew members who are Deaf or use British Sign Language (BSL).
The story focuses on Daniel Brennan (played by Coffee Morning Club's Matthew Gurney), a Deaf man who has just been released from prison and is caught between trying to integrate himself in the hearing world and being shunned by his friends and the Deaf community over his crime.
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His only meaningful relationship is with estranged daughter Carly (How to Have Sex's Lara Peake), who has not seen him in over a decade.
Ayling-Ellis will play Miri, the daughter of Christine (Bad Sisters' Anne-Marie Duff) – the latter of whom is searching for Daniel and trying to get to the truth about what he did.
Back to Black's Eddie Marsan plays Christine's protective boyfriend Stephen, while other cast members include Dune's Stephen Collins, Small World's Ace Mahbaz, Doctor Who's Sophie Stone, Halo's Olive Gray and Broadchurch's Joe Sims.
Also on board are See Hear's Julian Peedle-Calloo, Boat Story's Cherie Gordon, You Don’t Know Me's Rinkoo Barpaga, Small World's Brian Duffy, Signs of an Affair's David Hirshman, James Joseph Boyle and Joanne Harrison.
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Reunion comes from writer William Mager and is directed by One Day's Luke Snellin, with filming beginning this week.
“William’s scripts are electrifying and it’s a privilege to bring Brennan to life in this gripping tale of revenge, redemption and reconciliation,” Gurney said.
The director of BBC Drama, Lindsay Salt, added: “It’s no surprise that William Mager’s layered, intelligent and utterly compelling scripts have attracted a cast and crew of such exceptional calibre to bring this story to the BBC.
"A thriller like no other, this is a reunion you won’t want to miss.”
Reunion will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.
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