Zainab Masood
Encyclopedia
Zainab Masood is a fictional character
from the BBC
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by comedienne Nina Wadia
. She made her first appearance on 16 July 2007.
(Nitin Ganatra
) while married to Yusef Khan
(Ace Bhatti
). As punishment, Zainab was set on fire by Yusef's family. Masood rescued her and she divorced her husband to marry Masood, joining him in the UK, where they had three children, Syed
(Marc Elliott
), Shabnam
(Zahra Ahmadi
), and Tamwar
(Himesh Patel
). Family members still treated Zainab with contempt however, particularly her brother-in-law Inzamam Ahmed (Paul Bhattacharjee). Inzamam pestered her to sleep with him for years: he considered her a "fallen woman". The Masoods ran their own business until 2004, when Syed stole from the family, nearly bankrupting them. Masood initially took the blame and banished him from their lives to save Zainab's feelings. The Masoods decided on a career change, working in the postal service.
) immediately, though this later turns to friendship. The post office flounders in debt, and Zainab turns to Inzamam for a loan, but he wants sex in return for the money, which disgusts her. Despite the Masoods' best efforts, they are forced to close the post office; Zainab struggles to cope with the embarrassment and deceives the community, blaming the council for the post office's closure. The community demonstrates to keep it open on her behalf until Zainab reluctantly admits the truth. As well as this, daughter Shabnam decides to leave Walford in October 2008 to travel in Pakistan. The Masoods attempt to turn their fortunes around, starting a catering business. Ian Beale
(Adam Woodyatt
) invests £2000 and the company merges with Ian and Christian Clarke
's (John Partridge
) catering company, becoming "Masala Queen", and Zainab is elected as manager. Problems emerge when money goes missing and Zainab suspects her husband, thinking he has done this before. Tamwar admits taking the money – lending it to his older brother, Syed. Masood reveals that Syed's actions are why he left the family; he had stolen money from the family business and is continuing to do so. Despite this, Zainab contacts Syed and meets him away from Walford, making Masood think she is having an affair. However, the truth is revealed, and Syed moves to Albert Square. Zainab becomes pregnant, and starts planning Syed's wedding to his fiancée, Amira Shah
(Preeya Kalidas
). As the family are short of money, Masood seeks a loan from Inzamam. He visits, bringing the money and his family, but Zainab is unhappy about them being there. Masood confronts her in the kitchen, and she reveals that he has been pestering her to sleep with him for years. Disgusted, Masood gives Inzamam his money back and throws him out, telling him never to return.
Christian pulls out from organising the wedding with the family. Zainab wants to know what is wrong with him, and confronts him, thinking he is infatuated with her son. Christian tells her that Syed is gay and they have been seeing each other. Zainab then confronts her son, and orders him to marry Amira anyway, which he does. After Syed and Amira return from their honeymoon, Syed tells Zainab he cannot pretend for the rest of his life as it is not fair on Amira. However, Zainab forcefully persuades her son to continue his marriage. Zainab gives birth to her son, Kamil, but the family's joy is short-lived as Amira discovers Syed's affair with Christian, and Syed comes out to his friends and family. Amira leaves, and Chrisitan's sister, Jane (Laurie Brett
) reveals to Masood that Zainab knew about the affair since before the wedding. Masood and Zainab argue, and he packs her belongings and physically throws her out. The couple reconcile, however, and Syed moves back into the family home. However he eventually reunites with Christian, and Masood and Zainab cut off their son again. However, when a fire breaks out at The Queen Victoria
public house, Zainab helps Syed to get out safely. Tamwar starts seeing Afia Khan (Meryl Fernandes
) and her father, Yusef, turns up and shocks Zainab as he is her ex-husband whose family set her on fire. He reveals he tried to save her life and he came to make peace, but Masood attacks him and throws him out. Masood discovers that Zainab is planning to buy the Argee Bhajee restaurant against his wishes. She continues to defy Masood, and proceeds with her bid for the restaurant. She is successful, but only after paying an inflated price for it. After his initial anger at the purchase, Masood forgives Zainab.
Tamwar invites Afia to the opening of the Argee Bhajee, leaving Zainab shocked. However, she and Masood agree to let Tamwar see Afia in the hope it will fizzle out. When Tamwar and Afia says they are in love, Yusef blesses them to marry, which Zainab and Masood are very displeased about. Zainab is then forced to accept Afia including Yusef to the family. Zainab is annoyed to learn that Yusef is the new Walford GP, and that he and Denise are seeing each other. Following an argument, Tamwar and Afia marry in secret, and at their mangni (engagement party), Syed attends and Zainab and Masood say he is not welcome. The roof then collapses, after a warning from Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth
) that the building is unsafe, and Syed is hit by a falling beam and knocked unconscious. Yusef offers Zainab money to pay off their debts with Phil Mitchell
(Steve McFadden
), with whom Masood took out a loan. Patrick Trueman
(Rudolph Walker
) offers Zainab a job in his shop, which she accepts. When Zainab confronts Masood over the loan with Phil, he says he is working for Phil by gambling in poker games. This angers Zainab as Masood had previously sworn that he would never gamble again, as lost family money to gambling many years ago. Yusef urges Zainab to talk to Syed, and she starts visiting him. Masood finds out, and Zainab and Masood argue about trust and Yusef. She then accepts Yusef's offer of a loan. Masood finds the cheque from Yusef and asks Zainab to destroy it, saying he will find the money, so she does. When bailiffs arrive, Masood and Zainab hide from them. Masood and Zainab reconcile, realising they love each other. Syed then falls out with his parents again because they refuse to accept Christian as his partner. Zainab laters meets her imam
, Ali (Emilio Doorgasingh) and says that she feels guilty for leaving Yusef when they were married because her tried to save her from the fire. She says that if he was not guilty of that, then it means she has been cheating on him and she is the one in the wrong.
Zainab and Masood hand total control of the restaurant to Tamwar, and it is a success. Zainab later learns from Ian that Masood and Jane had an affair. Masood says he turned Jane down, and Zainab believes it but realises he wanted it to happen. She tells him that as soon as Tamwar and Afia are married, he will move out. Zainab then meets Syed and tells him about Masood and Jane. Yusef later tells Masood that Syed is looking after Kamil, and Masood demands to know why Syed and Zainab have reconciled. At Tamwar and Afia's mehndi ceremony, it is revealed that they are already married. After this, Afia's aunt Shameem tells everyone that Yusef and Zainab are having an affair, having misunderstood a conversation she overheard. Yusef's cousin Tariq arrives and tells Yusef he is surprised that Zainab has forgiven him for setting her on fire. Yusef then says that she thinks he was not there and does not know he lit the match. Zainab panicks when the sleeping pills that Yusef has been giving her go missing, and is not happy when Syed reveals he and Christian are engaged. She attends an event with Yusef where she does not correct people when they assume she is Yusef's wife. Afterwards, Yusef admits he has feelings for Zainab but says they should maintain their distance as she is married to Masood. Yusef continues to manipulate Zainab and ply her with pills, but she says she wishes to stop taking the medication, so Yusef crushes up a bottle of pills and conceals them in Zainab's food. Zainab passes out and is hospitalised, with her family believing she took a deliberate overdose. Concerned that he is causing Zainab's worries, Masood divorces Zainab by saying the triple talaq. Yusef learns that Amira gave birth to Syed's daughter, Yasmin, so persuades Zainab to take a holiday with him and Kamil in Pakistan. While there, he suggests that they move to Pakistan permanently as a family. However, on their return to Walford, Zainab learns about Yasmin, and informs Yusef that she cannot leave Walford after becoming a grandmother. Zainab then tries to encourage Syed to spend more time with Amira and his daughter. Zainab is devastated when it emerges that Yusef falsified the results of a paternity test on Yasmin to fool the Masood family and isolate Amira. Later, Yusef tells Zainab that he told the lies to protect her. She is sceptical, but when Yusef revives Amy Mitchell who has almost drowned, Zainab is impressed with Yusef's caring attitude. Yusef wins Zainab over, and lies that the family is not safe, as Christian has been falsely accused of sexually assaulting a minor, and the whole family could be a target, so Yusef moves in, and later tells her he loves her. Yusef continues to manipulate Zainab, to the point of becoming violent with her. Zainab and Masood's divorce is finalised,and Yusef suggests to Zainab that the whole family should move to Pakistan. After rumours circulate about Masood having a flick with Jane Beale, Zainab gets upset but soon gets over it when Yusef proposing to her and she accepts the day after her divorce with Masood was finalised.
. In episode 1 of series 1, Zsa Zsa Carter
(Emer Kenny
) runs past her, then Andy (Steve North
), who is chasing Zsa Zsa, runs into her. In episode 3 of series 2, she attends a dance class run by a man named Roger (Eddie Elliott), but assumes Asher Levi
(Heshima Thompson
) is Roger as Roger is late. When Roger arrives, Asher runs off with the money and Zainab finds him, telling him to keep the money but advising him to stick to dancing rather than stealing. She will also appear in series 3.
characters introduced in 2007 by the executive producer of EastEnders, Diederick Santer
. She made her first appearance in July 2007 as "a strong-willed woman in her early 40s who owns a string of post offices". Zainab was the first member of the Masood family introduced. The rest of her family, including Masood Ahmed
, Shabnam Masood
, Syed Masood
and Tamwar Masood
(Zainab's husband, daughter and two sons), have since joined the programme. The Masoods (without Syed) moved to a property on Albert Square
in October 2007, and became regular characters. The Masoods were the first Muslim
family to join the show since the Karims
, who appeared between 1987 and 1990, and they were the first Asian family to be introduced since the unsuccessful Ferreira family in 2003. Panned by critics and viewers, the Ferreiras were dismissed as unrealistic by the Asian community in the UK, and were eventually axed in 2005.
The introduction of more ethnic minority characters is part of producer Diederick Santer's plan to "diversify", to make EastEnders "feel more 21st century". Prior to 2007, EastEnders was heavily criticised by the Commission for Racial Equality
(CRE), for not representing the East End's real "ethnic make-up". It was suggested that the average proportion of visible minority faces on EastEnders was substantially lower than the actual ethnic minority population in East London boroughs, and it therefore reflected the East End in the 1960s, not the East End of the 2000s. Furthermore, it was suggested that an element of "tokenism
" and stereotyping
surrounded many of the minority characters in EastEnders. The expansion of minority representation in EastEnders provides "more opportunities for audience identification with its characters, hence a wider appeal." Trevor Phillips, CRE chair, has said: "balanced representation of ethnic minority communities in the media matters. The industry has a key part to play in this, it is a powerful tool and can go a long way towards helping to build an integrated society."
—best known for starring in the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me—was approached and subsequently cast in the role of Zainab. This was Wadia's second role in EastEnders. She had previously played a nurse, who tended to Michelle Fowler
after she was shot in 1994. Wadia has commented: "I'm thrilled to join the show and I can't wait for Zainab to come to the Square and cause some trouble… Zainab Masood is very rude. It’s nice to be a bit of a bitch as you don’t normally get the chance in real life… It's so nice to come to work and have some adult conversation, as at home I spend most of my day chatting to a three-year-old or my three-and-a-half-month-old baby." EastEnders executive producer, Diederick Santer, added: "I'm enormously excited to welcome Nina Wadia to EastEnders. She's a brilliant comedy actress and I'm sure her character Zainab will showcase all her comic and dramatic talents."
). An EastEnders spokesperson has commented: "[Zainab's] not there to make friends".
Despite her "fierce manner", Zainab is a "devoted mother", and she is also described as "great fun" with a "wicked sense of humour." Wadia has said that Zainab's relationship with her husband, Masood (Nitin Ganatra
), allows for her character to show a "softer side". She adds "with him, you will get to see her smile!". Santer also said that she will be the new battle-axe on the show (replacing Pauline Fowler
) — the "Asian" matriarch of the Square. Wadia later described Zainab as someone she would not want to meet in real life: "I constantly say on set, 'I annoy myself' when I play Zainab. She's really irritating — the kind of woman that I'd never want to meet. I was on holiday last week, I went up to the Lake District, and every place that I stopped, people came up to me and said, 'Oh, you made me laugh last night'. One woman said to me, 'My husband screams at the television screen when you come on!' and I know then that I'm doing my job." Wadia later said "Zainab is quite the bitch, isn't she? I certainly wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley at night, but she is such good fun to play."
Wadia has also said that Zainab is the more traditional of the Masood family but is also conflicted: "She's the more devout Muslim, even though she was married when she was younger to another man before falling in love with Masood. [...] Being in this country at the age she's at, she has her traditional values but she fights terribly to be modern and to fit into Western society. Look at the way she dresses for a start. She only wears the traditional clothes when it's to her advantage, like if she has to meet the imam
. So she does play the game, but deep down, Zainab's someone who'll come across as traditional but inside, she's a free spirit. That's what makes her so angry and conflicted, because she's constantly fighting herself."
: "Zainab's in her mid-40s and was looking forward to spending some quality time with Masood, but the news certainly throws a spanner in the works. Their plans to see the world instantly fall apart and she faces a dilemma as to what to do." Wadia said she cried on hearing about the storyline, saying that she was not looking forward to wearing a pregnancy suit: "From a purely aesthetic point of view, the thought of having to come in early to put on foam and then sweat while filming... I get very hot on set and we have to pretend that it's winter before it is, so we have to wear extra clothing. Just the thought of it made me cry! Because I'm quite a new mum in real life, to have to have kids at work as well also made me tear up!" The storyline also includes EastEnders first scenes filmed in a mosque, which Wadia said was "huge" and "stunning". She said that Zainab is terrified due to her age and the fact it will interfere with her career, and she feels trapped because she does not want the baby but abortion is forbidden by her faith, adding "At this point, though, she's questioning whether she should go against her faith and abort. That's a huge thing for her." Finally Wadia said that she feels Zainab will be a "very funny mother".
, who played Sanjay Kapoor
between 1993 and 1998. He said that EastEnders had failed to portray Asian families in a realistic manner, branding the family "two-dimensional and ill-conceived". A BBC spokesperson responded by saying ""It's a shame Deepak feels that way but that's clearly his personal opinion. The Masood family have proved to be hugely popular with EastEnders viewers."
EastEnders was criticised by Location, Location, Location
host Kirstie Allsopp
for a scene broadcast on 1 January 2010, in which Zainab told gay Christian Clarke, "Take your perverted obsession elsewhere. What you do makes me feel sick." Allsop said the scene was "totally unsuitable for 6.30pm" and added "I don't want kids watching that kind of rant – in time they'll know about bigots but please not yet." The BBC responded by saying "Since this storyline began, EastEnders has always shown a balance of opinions to ensure that we capture the many different views of the characters involved. Zainab has always been an extremely opinionated character but her views do not go unchallenged and it is within these conflicts that the drama unfolds. We have taken great care in portraying this sensitive storyline and we always ensure that our episodes are suitable for the timeslot in which they are shown"
In March 2011, Wadia was nominated for the second year running in the 'Best Actress' category at the British Soap Awards
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, played by comedienne Nina Wadia
Nina Wadia
-Television and film:Wadia first came to prominence in BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, playing characters such as Mrs "I can make it at home for nothing!" and one half of The Competitive Mothers...
. She made her first appearance on 16 July 2007.
Backstory
Born and raised in Pakistan, Zainab brought shame upon her family after she had an affair with Masood AhmedMasood Ahmed
Masood Ahmed is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nitin Ganatra.- Storylines :Masood moves to 41 Albert Square with Zainab, Shabnam and Tamwar in October 2007. Masood and Zainab are both active in the postal industry: Masood is a postman and Zainab the owner of a...
(Nitin Ganatra
Nitin Ganatra
Nitin Ganatra is a Kenyan born British actor. He is known internationally as Prince Pondicherry in the Tim Burton film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also appears in the Gurinder Chada film Bride and Prejudice as Kholi Saab and The Mistress of Spices as Haroun...
) while married to Yusef Khan
Yusef Khan
Doctor Yusef Khan is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Ace Bhatti. Yusef is the father of Afia Khan and former husband of Zainab Masood . He appears from 23 November 2010. Described as strong-willed, he arrives as Walford's new general practitioner....
(Ace Bhatti
Ace Bhatti
Ahsen Rafiq "Ace" Bhatti is a British actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He has starred in numerous television series, including New Street Law, Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee, The Sarah Jane Adventures as Haresh Chandra and in EastEnders playing Yusef...
). As punishment, Zainab was set on fire by Yusef's family. Masood rescued her and she divorced her husband to marry Masood, joining him in the UK, where they had three children, Syed
Syed Masood
Syed Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Marc Elliott, and first appeared on screen on 21 April 2009. Syed is the eldest son of Masood Ahmed and Zainab Masood , and brother of Tamwar and Shabnam and Kamil Masood...
(Marc Elliott
Marc Elliott
Marc Elliott is a British actor from Stratford-upon-Avon, who is best known for his role as Syed Masood in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Personal life:...
), Shabnam
Shabnam Masood
Shabnam Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Zahra Ahmadi. She made her first appearance on 17 July 2007. On 8 September 2008, it was reported that Zahra Ahmadi had quit the soap, as her character was not given enough "meaty storylines"...
(Zahra Ahmadi
Zahra Ahmadi
Zahra Ahmadi is a British actress of Iranian descent.She is best known for her role as Shabnam Masood in the British television series EastEnders from 2007–2008, but soon quit as she thought that her character was not given enough good storylines...
), and Tamwar
Tamwar Masood
Tamwar Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Himesh Patel. He made his first appearance on 1 October 2007.- Storylines :...
(Himesh Patel
Himesh Patel
Himesh Jitendra Patel is a British actor who began his career in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, playing Tamwar Masood. His first appearance on the programme was on 1 October 2007. Patel is also a member of the National Youth Theatre. He also appears in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20.-...
). Family members still treated Zainab with contempt however, particularly her brother-in-law Inzamam Ahmed (Paul Bhattacharjee). Inzamam pestered her to sleep with him for years: he considered her a "fallen woman". The Masoods ran their own business until 2004, when Syed stole from the family, nearly bankrupting them. Masood initially took the blame and banished him from their lives to save Zainab's feelings. The Masoods decided on a career change, working in the postal service.
2007—
Zainab arrives as the owner of Walford's Post Office, clashing with employee Denise Wicks (Diane ParishDiane Parish
Diane Parish is a British actress best known for her role as Denise Johnson in the BBC Soap EastEnders and DC Eva Sharpe in The Bill.-Career:...
) immediately, though this later turns to friendship. The post office flounders in debt, and Zainab turns to Inzamam for a loan, but he wants sex in return for the money, which disgusts her. Despite the Masoods' best efforts, they are forced to close the post office; Zainab struggles to cope with the embarrassment and deceives the community, blaming the council for the post office's closure. The community demonstrates to keep it open on her behalf until Zainab reluctantly admits the truth. As well as this, daughter Shabnam decides to leave Walford in October 2008 to travel in Pakistan. The Masoods attempt to turn their fortunes around, starting a catering business. Ian Beale
Ian Beale
Ian Albert Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Adam Woodyatt. He is the longest-serving character and the only remaining original character to have appeared continuously since the first episode on 19 February 1985...
(Adam Woodyatt
Adam Woodyatt
Adam Brinley Woodyatt is an English actor and media personality, best known for his role as Ian Beale in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders...
) invests £2000 and the company merges with Ian and Christian Clarke
Christian Clarke
Christian Clarke is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by John Partridge. He made his first appearance on 17 January 2008.-Storylines:...
's (John Partridge
John Partridge (performer)
John Partridge is an English actor, singer, dancer, panelist and television presenter, who is probably best known for the role of Christian Clarke in the long-running BBC television soap opera EastEnders, having joined the cast in January 2008...
) catering company, becoming "Masala Queen", and Zainab is elected as manager. Problems emerge when money goes missing and Zainab suspects her husband, thinking he has done this before. Tamwar admits taking the money – lending it to his older brother, Syed. Masood reveals that Syed's actions are why he left the family; he had stolen money from the family business and is continuing to do so. Despite this, Zainab contacts Syed and meets him away from Walford, making Masood think she is having an affair. However, the truth is revealed, and Syed moves to Albert Square. Zainab becomes pregnant, and starts planning Syed's wedding to his fiancée, Amira Shah
Amira Shah
Amira Shah is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Preeya Kalidas. The girlfriend, and later wife, of Syed Masood , she first appeared on screen in the episode broadcast on 7 May 2009. She returned on 10 October 2011.The character was described as high maintenance,...
(Preeya Kalidas
Preeya Kalidas
Preeya Kalidas is a British singer and actress of Indian descent. She plays Amira Masood in the soap opera EastEnders. She returned to a career in singing, with her single "Shimmy" being released in July 2010 taken from her debut album Constant Craving, was supposed to be released in September...
). As the family are short of money, Masood seeks a loan from Inzamam. He visits, bringing the money and his family, but Zainab is unhappy about them being there. Masood confronts her in the kitchen, and she reveals that he has been pestering her to sleep with him for years. Disgusted, Masood gives Inzamam his money back and throws him out, telling him never to return.
Christian pulls out from organising the wedding with the family. Zainab wants to know what is wrong with him, and confronts him, thinking he is infatuated with her son. Christian tells her that Syed is gay and they have been seeing each other. Zainab then confronts her son, and orders him to marry Amira anyway, which he does. After Syed and Amira return from their honeymoon, Syed tells Zainab he cannot pretend for the rest of his life as it is not fair on Amira. However, Zainab forcefully persuades her son to continue his marriage. Zainab gives birth to her son, Kamil, but the family's joy is short-lived as Amira discovers Syed's affair with Christian, and Syed comes out to his friends and family. Amira leaves, and Chrisitan's sister, Jane (Laurie Brett
Laurie Brett
Laurie Brett is a Scottish actress, currently known for her role as Jane Beale in EastEnders, in which she has starred since 2004.-Personal life:...
) reveals to Masood that Zainab knew about the affair since before the wedding. Masood and Zainab argue, and he packs her belongings and physically throws her out. The couple reconcile, however, and Syed moves back into the family home. However he eventually reunites with Christian, and Masood and Zainab cut off their son again. However, when a fire breaks out at The Queen Victoria
The Queen Victoria
The Queen Victoria is a fictional Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20.-Appearance and development:...
public house, Zainab helps Syed to get out safely. Tamwar starts seeing Afia Khan (Meryl Fernandes
Meryl Fernandes
Meryl Glynis Fernandes is an English actress. Her best known role is playing Afia Khan, a love interest for Tamwar Masood in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, originally making a guest appearance between the 29 December 2009 and 5 January 2010...
) and her father, Yusef, turns up and shocks Zainab as he is her ex-husband whose family set her on fire. He reveals he tried to save her life and he came to make peace, but Masood attacks him and throws him out. Masood discovers that Zainab is planning to buy the Argee Bhajee restaurant against his wishes. She continues to defy Masood, and proceeds with her bid for the restaurant. She is successful, but only after paying an inflated price for it. After his initial anger at the purchase, Masood forgives Zainab.
Tamwar invites Afia to the opening of the Argee Bhajee, leaving Zainab shocked. However, she and Masood agree to let Tamwar see Afia in the hope it will fizzle out. When Tamwar and Afia says they are in love, Yusef blesses them to marry, which Zainab and Masood are very displeased about. Zainab is then forced to accept Afia including Yusef to the family. Zainab is annoyed to learn that Yusef is the new Walford GP, and that he and Denise are seeing each other. Following an argument, Tamwar and Afia marry in secret, and at their mangni (engagement party), Syed attends and Zainab and Masood say he is not welcome. The roof then collapses, after a warning from Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth is an English actor and singer currently starring in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Greg Jessop. He left the series in August 2011 and will return to the show.-Background:...
) that the building is unsafe, and Syed is hit by a falling beam and knocked unconscious. Yusef offers Zainab money to pay off their debts with Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden is an English actor, known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since1990.-Early life:...
), with whom Masood took out a loan. Patrick Trueman
Patrick Trueman
Patrick Neville Loftus Alfonso Trueman is a fictional character from the popular British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rudolph Walker. He made his first appearance on 13 September 2001.-Backstory:...
(Rudolph Walker
Rudolph Walker
Rudolph Walker, OBE is a British character actor. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Walker came to the United Kingdom in 1960....
) offers Zainab a job in his shop, which she accepts. When Zainab confronts Masood over the loan with Phil, he says he is working for Phil by gambling in poker games. This angers Zainab as Masood had previously sworn that he would never gamble again, as lost family money to gambling many years ago. Yusef urges Zainab to talk to Syed, and she starts visiting him. Masood finds out, and Zainab and Masood argue about trust and Yusef. She then accepts Yusef's offer of a loan. Masood finds the cheque from Yusef and asks Zainab to destroy it, saying he will find the money, so she does. When bailiffs arrive, Masood and Zainab hide from them. Masood and Zainab reconcile, realising they love each other. Syed then falls out with his parents again because they refuse to accept Christian as his partner. Zainab laters meets her imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
, Ali (Emilio Doorgasingh) and says that she feels guilty for leaving Yusef when they were married because her tried to save her from the fire. She says that if he was not guilty of that, then it means she has been cheating on him and she is the one in the wrong.
Zainab and Masood hand total control of the restaurant to Tamwar, and it is a success. Zainab later learns from Ian that Masood and Jane had an affair. Masood says he turned Jane down, and Zainab believes it but realises he wanted it to happen. She tells him that as soon as Tamwar and Afia are married, he will move out. Zainab then meets Syed and tells him about Masood and Jane. Yusef later tells Masood that Syed is looking after Kamil, and Masood demands to know why Syed and Zainab have reconciled. At Tamwar and Afia's mehndi ceremony, it is revealed that they are already married. After this, Afia's aunt Shameem tells everyone that Yusef and Zainab are having an affair, having misunderstood a conversation she overheard. Yusef's cousin Tariq arrives and tells Yusef he is surprised that Zainab has forgiven him for setting her on fire. Yusef then says that she thinks he was not there and does not know he lit the match. Zainab panicks when the sleeping pills that Yusef has been giving her go missing, and is not happy when Syed reveals he and Christian are engaged. She attends an event with Yusef where she does not correct people when they assume she is Yusef's wife. Afterwards, Yusef admits he has feelings for Zainab but says they should maintain their distance as she is married to Masood. Yusef continues to manipulate Zainab and ply her with pills, but she says she wishes to stop taking the medication, so Yusef crushes up a bottle of pills and conceals them in Zainab's food. Zainab passes out and is hospitalised, with her family believing she took a deliberate overdose. Concerned that he is causing Zainab's worries, Masood divorces Zainab by saying the triple talaq. Yusef learns that Amira gave birth to Syed's daughter, Yasmin, so persuades Zainab to take a holiday with him and Kamil in Pakistan. While there, he suggests that they move to Pakistan permanently as a family. However, on their return to Walford, Zainab learns about Yasmin, and informs Yusef that she cannot leave Walford after becoming a grandmother. Zainab then tries to encourage Syed to spend more time with Amira and his daughter. Zainab is devastated when it emerges that Yusef falsified the results of a paternity test on Yasmin to fool the Masood family and isolate Amira. Later, Yusef tells Zainab that he told the lies to protect her. She is sceptical, but when Yusef revives Amy Mitchell who has almost drowned, Zainab is impressed with Yusef's caring attitude. Yusef wins Zainab over, and lies that the family is not safe, as Christian has been falsely accused of sexually assaulting a minor, and the whole family could be a target, so Yusef moves in, and later tells her he loves her. Yusef continues to manipulate Zainab, to the point of becoming violent with her. Zainab and Masood's divorce is finalised,and Yusef suggests to Zainab that the whole family should move to Pakistan. After rumours circulate about Masood having a flick with Jane Beale, Zainab gets upset but soon gets over it when Yusef proposing to her and she accepts the day after her divorce with Masood was finalised.
Other appearances
Zainab also makes cameo appearances in the Internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20EastEnders: E20
EastEnders: E20 is a British Internet soap opera, which began airing on 8 January 2010. A spin-off from the established BBC soap EastEnders, it is set in EastEnders regular setting of Albert Square, a Victorian square in the fictional borough of Walford, in the East End of London...
. In episode 1 of series 1, Zsa Zsa Carter
Zsa Zsa Carter
Zsa Zsa Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders and its Internet spin-off EastEnders: E20, played by Emer Kenny. She made her first appearance in EastEnders on 5 January 2010 and appears in all twelve episodes of the first series of EastEnders: E20...
(Emer Kenny
Emer Kenny
Emer Gwynne Morganna Kenny is an English actress from Haringey, London, best known for her role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and its online spin-off EastEnders: E20, as Zsa Zsa Carter.-Career:...
) runs past her, then Andy (Steve North
Stephen North
Stephen North , sometimes credited as Steve North, is an English actor. He had his first major role playing fireman Colin Parrish in four series of the ITV drama London's Burning...
), who is chasing Zsa Zsa, runs into her. In episode 3 of series 2, she attends a dance class run by a man named Roger (Eddie Elliott), but assumes Asher Levi
Asher Levi
Asher Levi is a fictional character from EastEnders: E20, an Internet spin-off of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Played by Heshima Thompson, Asher is a main character in series two. He is a charismatic street dancer, who uses his talent to escape from his criminal past...
(Heshima Thompson
Heshima Thompson
Heshima Salim Thompson is a British actor and singer.Thompson was born in the London Borough of Brent. He has appeared on television in Spooks: Code 9 as Jez, Prime Suspect, Casualty, City Lights, Judge John Deed and Babyfather. In theatre he has appeared at The Young Vic in Generations and at The...
) is Roger as Roger is late. When Roger arrives, Asher runs off with the money and Zainab finds him, telling him to keep the money but advising him to stick to dancing rather than stealing. She will also appear in series 3.
Background
Zainab Masood was one of several AsianBritish Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
characters introduced in 2007 by the executive producer of EastEnders, Diederick Santer
Diederick Santer
Diederick Santer is a British television producer and is best known for his work on the popular BBC television soap opera EastEnders, a post which he assumed on 23 October 2006 and left on 1 March 2010...
. She made her first appearance in July 2007 as "a strong-willed woman in her early 40s who owns a string of post offices". Zainab was the first member of the Masood family introduced. The rest of her family, including Masood Ahmed
Masood Ahmed
Masood Ahmed is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nitin Ganatra.- Storylines :Masood moves to 41 Albert Square with Zainab, Shabnam and Tamwar in October 2007. Masood and Zainab are both active in the postal industry: Masood is a postman and Zainab the owner of a...
, Shabnam Masood
Shabnam Masood
Shabnam Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Zahra Ahmadi. She made her first appearance on 17 July 2007. On 8 September 2008, it was reported that Zahra Ahmadi had quit the soap, as her character was not given enough "meaty storylines"...
, Syed Masood
Syed Masood
Syed Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Marc Elliott, and first appeared on screen on 21 April 2009. Syed is the eldest son of Masood Ahmed and Zainab Masood , and brother of Tamwar and Shabnam and Kamil Masood...
and Tamwar Masood
Tamwar Masood
Tamwar Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Himesh Patel. He made his first appearance on 1 October 2007.- Storylines :...
(Zainab's husband, daughter and two sons), have since joined the programme. The Masoods (without Syed) moved to a property on Albert Square
Albert Square
Albert Square is the fictional location of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. It is ostensibly located in the equally fictional London borough of Walford in London's East End. The square's design was based on the real life Fassett Square in Hackney, and was given the name Albert Square after the real...
in October 2007, and became regular characters. The Masoods were the first Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
family to join the show since the Karims
Ashraf Karim
The Karims are a fictional family that appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders between 1987 and 1990.-Creation and development:The Muslim Karim family were introduced as the owners of the soap's grocery store, the First til Last, following the departure of the character Naima Jeffery in 1987,...
, who appeared between 1987 and 1990, and they were the first Asian family to be introduced since the unsuccessful Ferreira family in 2003. Panned by critics and viewers, the Ferreiras were dismissed as unrealistic by the Asian community in the UK, and were eventually axed in 2005.
The introduction of more ethnic minority characters is part of producer Diederick Santer's plan to "diversify", to make EastEnders "feel more 21st century". Prior to 2007, EastEnders was heavily criticised by the Commission for Racial Equality
Commission for Racial Equality
The Commission for Racial Equality was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which aimed to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality. Its work has been merged into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission.-History:...
(CRE), for not representing the East End's real "ethnic make-up". It was suggested that the average proportion of visible minority faces on EastEnders was substantially lower than the actual ethnic minority population in East London boroughs, and it therefore reflected the East End in the 1960s, not the East End of the 2000s. Furthermore, it was suggested that an element of "tokenism
Tokenism
In the arts, employment, and politics, tokenism is a policy or practice of limited inclusion or artistic and/or political representation of members of a traditionally marginalized group, usually creating a false appearance of inclusive practices rather than discrimination, intentional or not...
" and stereotyping
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
surrounded many of the minority characters in EastEnders. The expansion of minority representation in EastEnders provides "more opportunities for audience identification with its characters, hence a wider appeal." Trevor Phillips, CRE chair, has said: "balanced representation of ethnic minority communities in the media matters. The industry has a key part to play in this, it is a powerful tool and can go a long way towards helping to build an integrated society."
Casting
Actress and comedienne, Nina WadiaNina Wadia
-Television and film:Wadia first came to prominence in BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, playing characters such as Mrs "I can make it at home for nothing!" and one half of The Competitive Mothers...
—best known for starring in the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me—was approached and subsequently cast in the role of Zainab. This was Wadia's second role in EastEnders. She had previously played a nurse, who tended to Michelle Fowler
Michelle Fowler
Michelle Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actress Susan Tully.Although she was one of the brighter people in Walford, that didn't stop Michelle making some huge mistakes during her time in Albert Square...
after she was shot in 1994. Wadia has commented: "I'm thrilled to join the show and I can't wait for Zainab to come to the Square and cause some trouble… Zainab Masood is very rude. It’s nice to be a bit of a bitch as you don’t normally get the chance in real life… It's so nice to come to work and have some adult conversation, as at home I spend most of my day chatting to a three-year-old or my three-and-a-half-month-old baby." EastEnders executive producer, Diederick Santer, added: "I'm enormously excited to welcome Nina Wadia to EastEnders. She's a brilliant comedy actress and I'm sure her character Zainab will showcase all her comic and dramatic talents."
Personality
Zainab is portrayed as a "tough-talking businesswoman". Described as "Walford's answer to Sir Alan Sugar", Zainab has a "direct manner" with a "a tongue that could cut glass", which can be "hugely intimidating". This became evident shortly after the character's introduction, when Zainab become embroiled in an ongoing feud with her employee Denise Wicks (Diane ParishDiane Parish
Diane Parish is a British actress best known for her role as Denise Johnson in the BBC Soap EastEnders and DC Eva Sharpe in The Bill.-Career:...
). An EastEnders spokesperson has commented: "[Zainab's] not there to make friends".
Despite her "fierce manner", Zainab is a "devoted mother", and she is also described as "great fun" with a "wicked sense of humour." Wadia has said that Zainab's relationship with her husband, Masood (Nitin Ganatra
Nitin Ganatra
Nitin Ganatra is a Kenyan born British actor. He is known internationally as Prince Pondicherry in the Tim Burton film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also appears in the Gurinder Chada film Bride and Prejudice as Kholi Saab and The Mistress of Spices as Haroun...
), allows for her character to show a "softer side". She adds "with him, you will get to see her smile!". Santer also said that she will be the new battle-axe on the show (replacing Pauline Fowler
Pauline Fowler
Pauline Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional London borough of Walford. She was played by actress Wendy Richard between 1985 and 2006. Pauline was created by scriptwriter Tony Holland and producer...
) — the "Asian" matriarch of the Square. Wadia later described Zainab as someone she would not want to meet in real life: "I constantly say on set, 'I annoy myself' when I play Zainab. She's really irritating — the kind of woman that I'd never want to meet. I was on holiday last week, I went up to the Lake District, and every place that I stopped, people came up to me and said, 'Oh, you made me laugh last night'. One woman said to me, 'My husband screams at the television screen when you come on!' and I know then that I'm doing my job." Wadia later said "Zainab is quite the bitch, isn't she? I certainly wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley at night, but she is such good fun to play."
Wadia has also said that Zainab is the more traditional of the Masood family but is also conflicted: "She's the more devout Muslim, even though she was married when she was younger to another man before falling in love with Masood. [...] Being in this country at the age she's at, she has her traditional values but she fights terribly to be modern and to fit into Western society. Look at the way she dresses for a start. She only wears the traditional clothes when it's to her advantage, like if she has to meet the imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
. So she does play the game, but deep down, Zainab's someone who'll come across as traditional but inside, she's a free spirit. That's what makes her so angry and conflicted, because she's constantly fighting herself."
Pregnancy
In August 2009, Zainab is forced come to terms with the fact that she is 15 weeks pregnant in her mid-40s. Zainab and Masood are ready to settle down as Shabnam has left home, Tamwar is going to university and Syed is preparing for marriage. An EastEnders source told entertainment website Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
: "Zainab's in her mid-40s and was looking forward to spending some quality time with Masood, but the news certainly throws a spanner in the works. Their plans to see the world instantly fall apart and she faces a dilemma as to what to do." Wadia said she cried on hearing about the storyline, saying that she was not looking forward to wearing a pregnancy suit: "From a purely aesthetic point of view, the thought of having to come in early to put on foam and then sweat while filming... I get very hot on set and we have to pretend that it's winter before it is, so we have to wear extra clothing. Just the thought of it made me cry! Because I'm quite a new mum in real life, to have to have kids at work as well also made me tear up!" The storyline also includes EastEnders first scenes filmed in a mosque, which Wadia said was "huge" and "stunning". She said that Zainab is terrified due to her age and the fact it will interfere with her career, and she feels trapped because she does not want the baby but abortion is forbidden by her faith, adding "At this point, though, she's questioning whether she should go against her faith and abort. That's a huge thing for her." Finally Wadia said that she feels Zainab will be a "very funny mother".
Reception
Zainab, along with the rest of the Masood family, was criticised by actor Deepak VermaDeepak Verma
Deepak Verma, is a British Asian actor, writer and television/film producer.- Career :Verma trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama for three years . He made his television debut in the Scottish detective series, Taggart in 1992...
, who played Sanjay Kapoor
Sanjay Kapoor (EastEnders)
Sanjay Kapoor is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Deepak Verma.Sanjay the market trader had an eye for the ladies and a weakness for gambling...
between 1993 and 1998. He said that EastEnders had failed to portray Asian families in a realistic manner, branding the family "two-dimensional and ill-conceived". A BBC spokesperson responded by saying ""It's a shame Deepak feels that way but that's clearly his personal opinion. The Masood family have proved to be hugely popular with EastEnders viewers."
EastEnders was criticised by Location, Location, Location
Location, Location, Location
Location, Location, Location is a Channel 4 property programme, presented by Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer and produced by IWC Media, part of the RDF Media Group. The reality show follows Kirstie and Phil as they try to find the perfect home for a different set of buyers each week. It first...
host Kirstie Allsopp
Kirstie Allsopp
Kirstie Mary Allsopp is a British TV presenter known for the Channel 4 property programmes: Location, Location, Location; Relocation, Relocation; Location Revisited; The Property Chain; Kirstie's Homemade Home and Kirstie's Handmade Britain...
for a scene broadcast on 1 January 2010, in which Zainab told gay Christian Clarke, "Take your perverted obsession elsewhere. What you do makes me feel sick." Allsop said the scene was "totally unsuitable for 6.30pm" and added "I don't want kids watching that kind of rant – in time they'll know about bigots but please not yet." The BBC responded by saying "Since this storyline began, EastEnders has always shown a balance of opinions to ensure that we capture the many different views of the characters involved. Zainab has always been an extremely opinionated character but her views do not go unchallenged and it is within these conflicts that the drama unfolds. We have taken great care in portraying this sensitive storyline and we always ensure that our episodes are suitable for the timeslot in which they are shown"
In March 2011, Wadia was nominated for the second year running in the 'Best Actress' category at the British Soap Awards
British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
.