Once again, the reunion of former EastEnders stars Nina Wadia and Nitin Ganatra has led fans to voice their fervent desire for their return to the show.
Arriving in 2007 as well, Nina’s character Zainab bid adieu to Walford life in 2013 after her marriage to Nitin’s 2007 arrival, Masood, broke down.
Masood was last observed in 2019.
After a two-year hiatus, the character returned in 2017 to greet his aunt and uncle at Albert Square and gave his business to his nieces Iqra (Priya Davdra) and Habiba (Rukku Nahar).
Because of how iconic Zainab and Masood were, fans of the BBC One soap are often talking about how much they’d like the two characters to head back to Albert Square.
And when Nitin and Nina reunite off-screen, it fuels their hope even more.
Over on Nitin’s Instagram, he shared an absolutely brilliant video alongside Nina as they enjoyed dinner.
‘You’re at this dinner as well?!’, Nina jokes.
‘Masood’s back!’, she adds.
The comments section on Nitin’s post is full of his followers asking for him and Nina to reprise their roles. Given the multiple character returns as of late, could these two be next on the list?
It was announced last month that Michael French is set to reprise his role as Carol’s ex-husband David Wicks, following the returns of characters such as Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).
The son of queen Pat Butcher (Pam St Clements) and Pete Beale (Peter Dean), David was involved in some of the BBC soap’s biggest storylines.
His return later in the year will coincide with Bianca making a spectacular reappearance after her earlier departure in June.
In the coming weeks, Tracy-Ann Oberman will also head back to the BBC One soap as Chrissie Watts.
In a statement announcing her return to the role, Tracy-Ann said earlier this year: ‘Chrissie Watts was such a great character to play – a victim or a villain. She is a real fan favourite so, when Chris Clenshaw asked me to come back and re-visit her and see what has happened in the last 19 years, I jumped at the chance.
‘The scripts are fantastic and I hope the viewers enjoy her as much as I am enjoying playing her again.’
Executive producer Chris Clenshaw added that he was ‘keeping tight-lipped on the exact circumstances relating to her return’, but said: ‘What I can promise is that it’s never quiet when Chrissie Watts is around…’
