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EastEnders Fans Say Goodbye To Shabnam Masood As Actress Rakhee Thakrar Quits Show

EastEnders fans had to endure an emotional goodbye to Shabnam Masood last night, as actress Rakhee Thakrar decided to bow out of the show.

Viewers saw Shabnam finally divorce husband Kush on Friday, and move away to Ealing with her daughter Jade.

Copyright: [BBC]

Fan-favourite Shabs has had to endure her fair share of heartache and drama over the past year – falling in love with Kush and getting reunited with the daughter she abandoned when she was a teenager.

But it was the death of her baby boy Zaair last year which proved to be the toughest ordeal for her character – emotional scenes that actress Rakhee was highly praised for, and earned her a slew of award nominations.

Copyright: [BBC]

Over Christmas, Shabnam discovered that husband Kush had fathered a child with her best friend, Stacey Branning – and it proved to be the final undoing for the couple.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Rakee said that it felt like the right time for both her and her character to leave the show:

“It feels like the right time for both myself and Shabnam. My experience on this show has been really special, and I’m so grateful for having the chance to have played Shabs, she’s a real gift. A complicated character, who I’ve loved getting to know.

Copyright: [BBC]

"Now, I feel like it’s the time to try different projects and new people to play. It was a hard decision as I really love this character and this show. I can’t thank [the producers] enough for trusting me with Shabnam and particularly her story.”

But whilst we might have lost one Masood to the Walford Black Cab of Goodbyes, viewers might be treated to a return from another member of the family soon.

Appearing on Loose Women this week, actress Nina Wadia – who played matriarch Zainab on the show until recently – said that she was open to a return to the show.

She told the panel: “If they asked, I’d love to go back. "I’d love to go back into a funny storyline. But it’s not up to me, it’s up to them.”

MAKE THIS HAPPEN PLEASE.