History LESSONS

ROSE AYLING-ELLIS finds out about her amazing ancestors, including a Walford-worthy landlady!

- CAREN CLARK

Rose Ayling-Ellis witnessed plenty of fiery scraps in The Queen Vic during her time on EastEnders as spirited barmaid and teacher Frankie Carter.

So when the actor explored her family tree for BBC1’s genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?, she was thrilled to uncover a formidable landlady who could also have held her own in Albert Square!

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

At the start of her journey, Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose, who is a campaigner for better deaf rights and representation, was keen to find out about her maternal three-times greatgrandmother Agnes Chilton, who ran several pubs in the Birmingham area of Aston during the late 19th and early 20th century.

‘I remember my grandad showing me a picture of this woman who looked strong and used to run a pub. I was fascinated,’ says Rose, 29, who learnt that Agnes had a nononsense attitude towards raucous customers and even defended her first husband Alfred in court when he was accused of drunkenly slapping one of them.

‘Agnes admitted she slapped the man, too – it was like EastEnders! I had to chuck someone’s drink in their face in The Vic, so it’s in my blood! But I love that she supported her husband.’