
Former EastEnders star slams soap over ‘ridiculous storylines' and reveals why she really left the show
A FORMER EastEnders star has slammed the soap's 'ridiculous storylines' and revealed why she really left the show.
EastEnders viewers know
Advertisement
4
Nina Wadia played EastEnders' Zainab Masood for six years
Credit: BBC
4
The star addressed her reasons for leaving the soap
Credit: YouTube
4
Nina addressed her character's abuse by Yusef Khan
Credit: Handout
Zainab arrived in 2007 before eventually leaving Walford behind in 2013.
Over a decade on, Nina has addressed the reasons behind her decision to leave.
During an appearance on Channel 5's Vanessa, she explained to host Vanessa Feltz: "When the storylines get so ridiculous and so difficult, you kind of think 'I'm out'".
The actress continued: "The reason I left was because the storylines were getting ridiculous.
Advertisement
Read more on EastEnders
"That was one of the reasons I left. There were several, but that was one of the main reasons.
"My husband Masood was going to have yet another affair.
"And I was like, 'How can I react any differently [to the] way I reacted before when he told me he was having an affair?"
Nina revealed Zainab's initial brief had been "Pauline Fowler, but funny."
Advertisement
Most read in Soaps
Exclusive
Exclusive
Exclusive
Having provided levity and
comic relief
for two years, she was confused to receive a domestic violence storyline.
The star continued: "You thought, 'How can I be funny with that storyline? I don't understand.'
Celeb Millionaire contestant forced to use lifeline on tricky Shakespeare question - but could you get it right-
"I think that's what happens when you have a change at the top, with the execs, they bring in their vision.
"Someone who hasn't really been paying attention to what your character's been doing - all of a sudden, you're asked to do something absolutely ridiculous."
Advertisement
Nina later added: "That's why I wanted to come out of it for a while.
"Hopefully, at some point, they invite me back, it'll be for something more interesting to do."
Vanessa pointed out Zainab hadn't been killed off - meaning Nina could potentially return to the soap one day.
The actress replied by saying: "They wouldn't kill her off.
Advertisement
"I did ask to be killed off because I thought, 'Yay, I'll get a big storyline if I get killed off'.
"But they were like, 'No, we want her back someday.' So, who knows?"
Among Zainab's most notable storylines was discovering oldest son Syed (Marc Elliot)
EastEnders' 40th anniversary cameos so far
With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford's past. But who have we had so far?
Tracy-Ann Oberman
- Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.
Paul Bradley
- Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.
Micheal French
- French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.
Patsy Palmer
- Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.
Ricky Groves
- Groves returned as Garry Hobbs, a character who has not been seen since 2009.
Cliff Parisi
- Parisi returned as Minty Peterson, a character who was last seen on the square in 2010.
Ross Kemp
- Kemp has returned to play Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp's storyline as "explosive". Kemp said it was an "absolute honour" to return to the show.
Other aspects of the
Viewers also watched her relationship and family life with Masood Ahmed (
), their
marriage
breakdown, and her abusive relationship with Yusef Khan (
).
Advertisement
Last year, Nina
She shared with us: 'I loved that show. I loved my time on it. I know they've got a big anniversary coming up, and I'm waiting for the call.'
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
4
Nina reflected on the BBC soap's "ridiculous storylines"
Credit: Tiktok
Advertisement
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Stacey Solomon soaks up the sun in orange bikini on holiday – despite admitting she felt ‘self-conscious' stripping off
STACEY Solomon looked great as she soaked up the sun on a luxury holiday in Lake Como, Italy. The TV star, 35, slipped into an orange bikini and sunglasses as she relaxed at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. 6 Stacey Solomon wore a stylish orange bikini by the pool in Italy Credit: BackGrid 6 The hard-working TV star had some me time Credit: BackGrid 6 She's staying beside picturesque Lake Como Credit: BackGrid She was pictured unwinding and enjoying some me time poolside in the sunshine. The five-star hotel, which costs more than £2,000-a-night, boasts incredible views of the picturesque lake and surrounding hills. She wrote on Instagram: "I haven't committed to the gym this year the way I was able to last year. I don't know why but for some reason I was conscious about it before coming away. I Worried people would notice (so silly I know as I usually don't even think about those things, but I felt a weird pressure). READ MORE ON STACEY SOLOMON "However looking back on pics from the beach yesterday I can see I'm still so beautiful. I look a little different from my last holiday but just as beautiful." Just days ago her husband, Joe Swash, The 43-year-old former EastEnders star said they always have a crafts box to keep their young children entertained, and flotation devices to keep them safe in the water. Joe said: "Stacey likes to travel with a craft box so the kids can stick out things together and do a bit of drawing. Most read in News TV "But we also like to do things with the younger ones, Belle and Rose. Rex not so much now as he's a bit older and he can swim really well, but we make sure we get the armbands for swimming properly. "You can go on holiday and then it's a nightmare if you can't get the right ones. " We always want to make sure they have the right swimming equipment so they're safe before we go, so we know that box is ticked." Joe revealed the family are weighing up where to go – but that decision is out of his hands and will be down to the kids. Joe said: 'We do like to go away with a lot of family as well so I'm sure there's going to be more than just us lot. 'We like to go to Turkey as that's where the kids love. We're not 100 per cent sure where it'll be, but there's going to be a lot of us. 'We are driven by what the kids love – wherever they want to go, we do.' He added: 'Our kids have never loved kids club, but they love water parks, swimming, playing sports, football and tennis. 'They've got huge amounts of energy to burn off and because we've got so many of them, there's never a dull moment. " I always say to Stacey that we need a holiday after the holiday.' 6 Stacey matched her swimwear with an orange flower in her hair Credit: BackGrid 6 She waved Credit: BackGrid 6 Joe and Stacey are planning to jet off to sunnier climates in the coming months Credit: Instagram / @staceysolomon


Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
To teenage me, caring about exams felt like conforming. My kids are different
It's not really exam weather, which is a minuscule mercy for all the young people sitting down at desks in school halls across the country. I don't remember much about the Junior Cert which in my day was called the Inter Cert, but I'm nearly sure it was exam-season sunny back then. In contrast, my daughters set off last week for their first exam under gloomy skies, clutching Leap cards and small plastic bags of pens and stationery. One daughter left her phone at home – 'too distracting' – but rang me from a friend's mobile minutes before the English exam so that I could read her some quotes from the battered flashcards she had left scattered across the kitchen table. She was hoping for a question that allowed exploration of her views on the character of Portia in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. 'Her ingenious, immovable and intelligent self enables her to find a way around all obstacles,' my daughter had written on a bright yellow card in blue pen. 'Because she is a woman, her father is still controlling her even from the grave.' [ Broadcaster Andrea Gilligan on the Leaving: 'I think the A-level system in Northern Ireland is far superior' Opens in new window ] 'I have a whole feminist thing about Portia, Mum,' J told me as she went off to get the bus to her first State exam. 'Examiners totally eat that stuff up.' We had marked the auspicious occasion earlier by blasting out the song Drive It Like You Stole It from John Carney's film Sing Street, which is part of the curriculum. 'This is your life, you can go anywhere/You gotta grab the wheel and own it/You gotta put the pedal down/And drive it like you stole it.' My other daughter P danced about in the kitchen, energised by the message, and I thought about this wonderful world we live in where English in the Junior Cert now includes studying Carney as well as Heaney . READ MORE I watched the two of them leave and felt a bit emotional. I wasn't sure why but hearing Heaney's Mid-Term Break read out as part of a last-minute cram over breakfast definitely didn't help. The exams marked another milestone for the girls, I suppose. I rang a friend with daughters also doing the Junior Cert. She was teary too. We talked about how proud we were of them but also about the privilege of even being able to do exams when there are a 1½ million girls and young women being subjected to gender-persecution in Afghanistan, banned from attending secondary school or university, who would give anything to be in their position. We marvelled about how prepared our daughters seem to be, how invested in the challenge. I had been neither prepared nor invested in the lead-up to the Inter. I didn't care. My not caring was the bluntest form of rebellion. Caring about exams, according to teenage me, was too much like conforming. In fairness to her, she was a mixed-up kid. In yet another contrast, my daughters have spent much of the past couple of months in their local Starbucks or the library studying their heads off. Self-motivated, I think you'd call it. All I know is that I can take no credit for their industry. And while Starbucks might seem like an odd study hall, I'm assured the coffee chain is conducive to academic preparation. At various libraries across the city, from Kevin Street to Raheny, they've been congregating in groups with friends, going through their topics in studious solidarity. The wonderful innovation that is transition year will wipe the slate clean The relief that I was not having to nag them to hit the books was immense. I just didn't have it in me to nag. Whatever about the Leaving Cert , the Junior Cert really doesn't matter except as a practice run for that more significant and consequential exam and I was never going to pretend otherwise. Anyway, the wonderful innovation that is transition year will wipe the slate clean and then, in fifth year, all the people who flailed or foundered in the Junior Cert can find fresh motivation. Or not. And in the end, they won't be defined by exams or points or CAO options or by how much history or Shakespeare they could regurgitate as a teenager but by who they are as people. By how they made other people feel. There are no State exams to measure that. However it goes when those exam results envelopes are opened, all over the country, thousands of variously prepared or motivated young people have presented themselves to be examined. No matter what the outcome, they deserve our praise and admiration. These ingenious, immovable and intelligent boys and girls have been putting their best feet forward whatever that 'best' looks like, and we know 'best' is different for everyone depending on their personal circumstances. Some of them have parents who can afford maths grinds and Starbucks coffees, some know what it's like to go to school hungry or to have to study quadratic equations in a noisy hostel for the homeless. Watch them all now, on the final lap of this gruelling exam course. Grabbing the wheel. Driving it like they stole it. Legends, every single one of them.


The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
EastEnders favourite kicked out by partner in fiery argument as ‘cheating' exposed
AN EastEnders favourite has been kicked out in a fiery row after his 'cheating' was exposed. The BBC soap is no stranger to showing dramatic love lives in Albert Square. 4 Elaine Knight was furious - as a secret husband George kept came to light Credit: BBC 4 George tried to explain himself - but Elaine wasn't having it Credit: BBC 4 Elaine kicked George out - and was left in tears afterwards Credit: BBC George Knight (Colin Salmon) faced the wrath of wife Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) after a secret came to light. Up until now, Elaine believed George had been at a boxing match on Christmas Day - which explained blood being on him. The pub landlord had actually visited Junior's mother Sabrina - and kept it from Elaine. Read more on EastEnders He'd hoped to uncover the reasons behind Junior's behaviour - such as It particularly stung for Elaine, having gotten past George hiding that he was helping Cindy with new venture The Albert. Behind closed doors, he tried to explain himself - but Elaine wasn't having any of it. "You expect me to believe she just threw herself at you?" Elaine said, before adding: "You must think I came down in the last rainfall." Most read in Soaps George insisted he'd only visited to talk, but Sabrina misread the situation and tried to kiss him. He claimed the bleeding came when he pulled away and Sabrina slapped him - catching his nose. Watch the moment bitter EastEnders rivals come to blows after months of tension Elaine was furious at George not only for lying, but also roping Gina (Francesca Henry) and Kojo (Dayo Koleosho). George reiterated that he loved Elaine, but she said: "But you don't trust me. "Because if you trusted me, you would've come home that night and told me everything. You would've trusted that I would've believed you. "You would've trusted that I'd have been by your side - like I have every single time." Best soap affair love triangles LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic? EASTENDERS Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning's dad Max in 2007. Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year. Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell. Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler - not realising it was caught on tape - and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic. Syed/Amira/Christian : Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day. A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira. CORONATION STREET Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street - extending it to bigamy. He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon. But it didn't stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him. Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband's nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later. When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled. Maria/Aidan/Eva : In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price's best friend, Maria Connor. Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day. But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy. EMMERDALE Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale. She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride's betrayal via a recording played at the wedding. Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well - until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle. Robert's ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair - but fell to her death before she had the chance. However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair - after which she announced it to the whole pub. Elaine ultimately asked George to leave - saying she didn't think he loved her enough. When he continued to try and smooth things over, Elaine threw a glass at the wall and screamed: "Get out!" After a pep talk from Linda (Kellie Bright) and Johnny (Charlie Suff), Elaine went to find George - only to be left heartbroken by seeing him comforting an upset Cindy. EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer. 4 Will Elaine forgive her husband? Credit: BBC