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Newcomer Frankie is heading to Walford as part of his new storyline…
Eastenders bosses are to introduce a new character, Frankie, as part of the on-going plot exploring the additional hearing loss that Ben suffered during the River Thames boat disaster.
Actress Rose Ayling-ellis – who is deaf in real life – has been cast in the role, with Frankie set to appear on screen in the coming weeks.
“I am so excited to be joining the cast of Eastenders, and I am equally proud to be one of the first deaf actresses to be part of this iconic soap,” beams the star, who has appeared in
Casualty and the TV mini-series Summer Of Rockets. “I can’t wait for everyone to meet Frankie!”
Viewers have already begun to see the effects of Ben’s hearing difficulties on screen, with sound techniques being used to illustrate Ben’s struggle when other characters try to communicate with him. As Ben comes to terms with his situation – and decides whether to undergo an operation that can help improve his hearing – the introduction of Frankie will help to explore what it means to be deaf in the UK today. It will also shine a light on the experiences and challenges that deaf people go through.
“Creating a storyline and a character for Eastenders has been a lifelong dream, so it’s been incredible to work with the Eastenders team over the past few months,” explains writer Charlie Swinbourne, who pitched the idea of
Ben’s new story. “Being deaf myself, and a fan of the show from an early age, I’ve always looked out for Ben’s character, as he was the one who wore hearing aids!
“I wanted to explore how losing more of his hearing affects Ben, as well as how it makes him see the world – and his deaf identity – a bit differently as time goes on,” he adds. “I wanted to see deaf characters and sign language become a part of Albert Square too, as we see little representation of deafness in mainstream media.”
Eastenders is working closely with the National Deaf Children’s Society, as well as experts in the field, to ensure the plot is portrayed as accurately as possible.