Amy Clarke
I’m Amy Clarke, Digital Assistant at Mencap.
I have a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. , and I will be following Ellie Goldstein’s journey on Strictly Come Dancing each week.
Ellie is a talented model, actress, and a Mencap Mythbuster, and now she’s swapping the catwalk and camera for glitter and dance shoes on one of the biggest shows on TV.
You may already know Ellie from her amazing work as a model, breaking down barriers in the industry. She’s also an actress, and you might remember her from Malory Towers, where she played one of the school pupils.
Now, she’s back on our screens, this time, just being herself - and showing the world what she can do on the dancefloor.
Ellie has been paired with professional dancer Vito Coppola, and from what we saw during Strictly’s launch week, they already make a brilliant team. Vito is known for being fun, kind, and supportive, and he looks genuinely happy to be dancing with Ellie. It’s great to see them getting along so well - I think they’ll bring out the best in each other.
This year’s Strictly line-up is packed with familiar faces – like Alex Kingston from Doctor Who, Dani Dyer from Love Island, and Balvinder Sopal, who plays Suki in EastEnders. With so many big names. I think it is amazing to see Ellie right there with them, holding her own and shining just as bright.
I think it is so important to see people with a learning disability and other disabilities included on big TV shows like this. It helps everyone become more familiar and comfortable seeing diverse people on screen.
Last year, Chris Causland, who is blind, won the hearts of viewers with his humour and charm. And Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is deaf, won the whole show in 2021.
Ellie brings her own unique energy, confidence. Whether she makes it to the final or not, her being on Strictly Come Dancing is already a huge win for representation and visibility.
We got a short glimpse of Ellie’s moves during the launch show, and I think she looked full of energy and excitement. With Vito by her side, I think she’s going to surprise a lot of people, and hopefully go far.
I think Ellie is brave, talented, and an inspiration to so many people. Watching her dance each week is going to be a real treat – so let’s cheer her on,
vote
People vote in an election. In elections for councillors or MPs, you vote by putting a cross next to the name of the person you want to choose. In less formal elections, like in a small group, you might vote by putting your hand up. The person with the most votes wins.
when the time comes, and show the world how amazing inclusion can be.
Each week, I’ll be posting updates, thoughts, and highlights from her performances. So make sure to come back and follow along with Ellie Goldstein’s Strictly journey.
By Mencap
Thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for their generous grant, funding this work.