CODE OF SILENCE - TALKING TO STAR ROSE AYLING-ELLIS

The Closer You Look, The More You See - Get ready for the BritBox Original series CODE OF SILENCE

Code of Silence is told through the point of view of Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis), a Deaf canteen worker. Alison is struggling to make ends meet, juggling two jobs, one in a police canteen and another in a local bar, while also doing her best to support her Deaf mum, Julie (Fifi Garfield). It’s not long before Alison is pulled into a high-stakes police investigation when DS Ashleigh Francis (Charlotte Ritchie) asks that she use her lip-reading skills to monitor a dangerous criminal gang.

As her interpretation of their covert conversations becomes central to the investigation, Alison is plunged into an exhilarating new world. Her role quickly becomes key to unlocking the police case, but her feelings become complicated when she finds herself drawn to one of the suspects, Liam Barlow (Kieron Moore). Despite knowing the risks and the growing threat to her personal life, Alison can’t let go.

The edgy crime drama praised for its authentic portrayal and gripping story will be available to stream in ASL.

Rose Ayling-Ellis is multi-award-winning actress, producer and author who has achieved an extraordinarynumber of accolades, across several artistic mediums. Rose played ‘Miri Mokhtar’ in the BBC revenge thriller Reunion, which was broadcast in April 2025 to critical acclaim. Straight after this, at the beginning of May, Rose guest starred in an episode of Russell T Davies’ Doctor Who in "The Well" opposite Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor for The BBC and Disney+. Rose became the first deaf contestant to dance on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and went on to win the competition. She was awarded the 2022 BAFTA Television Award for ‘Must-See Moment of the Year’, paving the way for radical on-screen representation. She also played ‘Frankie Lewis’ in EastEnders, also on BBC one, from 2020-2022.

She has produced two documentaries Old Hands, New Tricks and Signs For Change. Both explore the importance of British Sign Language and the significance of Deaf culture within our society. Signs For Change was nominated for a 2024 BAFTA Craft Award and Rose was shortlisted for ‘Best Documentary Presenter’ at the Grierson 2024 British Documentary Awards. In 2024, Rose became the first Deaf presenter of live sport at the Paralympic Games in Paris, winning the award for ‘Under 30 Gamechanger / Innovator of the Year’ at 2024 The Broadcast Sports Awards and a Royal Television Society Award for ‘Best Sports Presenter’ alongside Clare Balding in 2025.

Rose has a ten-book, multi-format deal with DK Children's and, in March, published her first book ‘Marvellous Messages’, which follows Rose, her cat ‘Halo’, and their guide ‘Perky the Pigeon’. 'Marvellous Messages’ will be published in the US in July and her four board books titled ‘Rose Signs’, which combines stories and sign language to teach British Sign Language to young children, will come out later this year.

Code of Silence Two-Episode Premiere Available Thursday, July 24th on BritBox

I spoke to the multi-talented Rose Ayling Ellis about the series and the ooportunities for deaf actors.