Zahra Ahmadi Quits

[RitaLittlewood]

From the Sun:

Asian actress quits over snub

By SARA NATHAN and JEN BLACKBURN

Published: Today

The beauty, who played Shabnam Masood, told bosses she wanted out after barely featuring in new scripts.

A soap source told us: “Zahra was really disappointed with the way scriptwriters used her character. You hardly ever saw her on screen. If she had been given exciting scenes she would have stayed for a long time.

"Working on EastEnders is a dream come true for any aspiring star. But she began to feel she was wasting her time.”

The decision of Zahra to quit comes a month after the BBC1 soap was blasted by race equality chief Trevor Phillips.

He claimed EastEnders had so few ethnic characters it more accurately reflected the East London of the 1960s.

The Masood’s are the soap’s first Muslim family since the Karims, who moved out of Albert Square in 1990.

In July axed star Angela Wynter, who played Yolande Trueman, accused the soap of “operating a quota system” on the number of ethnic characters after her scenes dwindled ahead of her exit.

EastEnders denied her claim and yesterday execs insisted strong storylines are coming up for the Masoods.

Zahra, 28, is now looking at new roles — but hinted at a return to Albert Square.

She said: “I’ve made the tough decision to leave as I'm still young and I want to try other roles. But I’m really happy the door has been left open for me to return as it has been a great experience.”

[pearly queen]

It's a shame she's going, I like Shabnam.
Maybe she's being impatient and not given it a chance?
Perhaps she's bored but it seems an ideal opportunity to take a back seat, watch and learn, while earning money and making fans.
She could bide her time before they give her a biggie, I feel she may regret this rash decision to leave.

[CG Wendy]

I fear she may regret it too PQ.
But to be honest, there were hints in the show that Shabnam wanted to go to university, so that`s the best way to write her out.
On the plus side, Mr Massood isn`t leaving
;D

[RitaLittlewood]

I was surprised she read she was 28. I thought she was about 20.

Perhaps she thinks she's given them long enough to have a proper storyline. But isn't it better on soaps when the characters are ordinary doing everyday things rather than shagging anything that moves or beating someone to a pulp?

Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

Thought I'd put this here from Yahoo News:

EastEnders Masood clan to stay
Press Assoc. - 33 minutes ago

At last, there's good news for fans of EastEnders residents the Masood family. It's been announced they will be staying in Walford for the long haul.

The news was revealed by John Yorke, Controller of Drama at the BBC, and former EastEnders Executive Producer, at the Media Guardian ethnic media summit.

He said: "The Masood family are developing slowly in Albert Square and I'm proud of the way the audience has warmed to them."

The show's BBC website added: "Mouthy matriarch Zainab, her level-headed husband Masood, plus brainiac son Tamwar will all have key roles to play in the future of Walford.

"Yorke has hinted that their combined entrepreneurial talents could ring some extreme changes in the Square's delicate power balance."

Sadly, there's no room for actress Zahra Ahmadi, aka Shabnam, who announced she was leaving the soap earlier this year.

The news means there's going to be an interesting time ahead for the so-called 'dynasties' of Albert Square.

We've previously had the Fowlers ruling the roost, followed by the Beales and Mitchells.

But with the Masoods now in the mix, anything can happen.

Watch this space...

[pearly queen]

Good news, but I don't really like the 'dynasty' remark.
All this 'who's the top family' angle is crap anyway IMO, but the Masoods lack the ruthlessness and nastiness to be a match for Ian Beale or the Mitchells.

[RitaLittlewood]

Maybe they'll finally bring in the mysterious Syed and he'll be woese than the rest.

Patsy

[pearly queen]

Sept 19, 2008 15:14:37 GMT RitaLittlewood said:

Maybe they'll finally bring in the mysterious Syed and he'll be woese than the rest.

Patsy

I'd forgotten about him. And what about Uncle Temazepan and his cheerless bunch? Oh I do hope don't they ship that lot in, it would ruin the Masoods.

[RitaLittlewood]

LOL! I like that - Uncle Tamazepam. Much better than my Uncle Freaky. I think we need him at least to get to the bottom of her first husband, who I'm still sure is him and Syed their son.

Patsy