EastEnders legend confirms he’s not been asked back for 40th anniversary

Nitin Ganatra has revealed helium is yet to beryllium asked to instrumentality to EastEnders.

The histrion is beloved for his relation arsenic Walford’s Masood Ahmed, who was past seen connected surface successful 2019. 

With the soap presently gearing up for its 40th day successful February, Nitin suggested fans should not expect to spot him backmost arsenic Masood for the celebrations. 

Speaking connected BBC Radio London, Nitin said: ‘I get asked this each day, but arsenic acold arsenic I know, but not arsenic acold arsenic I know. I haven’t had that telephone telephone yet.’

He past delivered the classical soap prima line: ‘But – ne'er accidental never…’

The soap has precocious welcomed backmost a big of classical characters successful the build-up to the 40th, including David Wicks (Michael French), Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) and Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton).

Bosses person besides revealed that a unrecorded occurrence volition signifier portion of the February celebrations, which volition see a spectator ballot enabling the assemblage to determine connected the result of a storyline.

Masood was introduced to EastEnders backmost successful 2007, on with woman Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia), girl Shabnam Masood (Zahra Ahmadi and Rakhee Thakrar), and sons Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) and Syed Masood (Marc Elliott). 

Masood was the past of his on-screen household to depart successful the amusement successful 2019, with the quality moving to Australia. 

However, determination was a large update connected Masood earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile it was revealed he had reunited off-screen with ex Jane Beale. 

Laurie Brett concisely reprised her relation arsenic Jane successful the lead-up to stepson Bobby Beale’s (Clay Milner Russell) exit from the show. 

Jane, who was present surviving successful the Cotswolds, was seen making a telephone to Masood that confirmed they were backmost together, prompting EastEnders fans to speculate if helium would besides beryllium making a cameo appearance. 

As the occurrence aired successful July, Nitin posted connected X (formerly Twitter): ‘Somebody archer maine immoderate heard?

‘Is Jane missing Masood?? Or is it @LauriebrettX making my ears burn??? Xxx [sic].’

Nitin and co-star Nina Wadia, who played his woman Zainab, aboriginal sent fans chaotic arsenic they posted a video of them reuniting for a catch-up.

The couple’s on-screen lad Himesh Patel – who played Tamwar – recently opened up astir his determination to permission the show, having since gone connected to motorboat a movie career. 

The actor, who has appeared successful the likes of Danny Boyle’s Beatles philharmonic Yesterday and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, told The Independent: ‘I didn’t needfully permission EastEnders with immoderate benignant of volition to get to immoderate definite level. I conscionable hoped I would person a vocation wherever I’d get to leap from 1 absorbing happening to the next, and not person 9 years of EastEnders seen arsenic thing detrimental. 

‘But I was alert that determination was, and possibly inactive is, a definite cognition of soap and the benignant of actors who bash soap, particularly the benignant of actors who bash soap for a agelong play of time. So I didn’t truly person precocious expectations.’

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday astatine 7.30pm connected BBC One oregon watercourse archetypal from 6am connected iPlayer.

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