EastEnders has dropped another huge bombshell by confirming Jane Beale’s (Laurie Brett) relationship with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra).
The twist comes just days after Jane made a huge return to the BBC One soap after 7 years away.
Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) became convinced that her partner Ian (Adam Woodyatt) was cheating on her, and employed her ex-husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) to drive her to a mystery address in the Cotswolds to track him down.
Arriving at the picturesque property, she admitted that she saw Ian as a sense of security and was dreading the moment she found him with another woman. Building up the courage, she burst through the door and came face to face with Jane, who was Ian’s ex-wife – and also complicit in the murder of her daughter Lucy ten years ago.
As long term viewers will remember, Lucy was killed with a jewellery box by Ian’s son Bobby (now Clay Milner Russell) and Jane helped to hide her body on Walford Common.
After a spectacular row between the family members, and with Jane explaining that she wasn’t having an affair – she just wanted to reconnect with Bobby – she’s actually hooked up with old flame Masood Ahmed.
But who is Masood, and when did we last see him in Albert Square?
Who is Masood Ahmed?
Postman Masood and his family; wife Zainab (Nina Wadia), daughter Shabnam (Rakhee Thakrar) and son Tamwar (Himesh Patel) were gradually introduced to the drama across 2007.
Early stories for the family saw them riddled with debt and later trying to improve their fortunes by launching their own catering company. After investment with Ian and his business partner Christian Clarke (John Patridge), the company merged and before long, Christian became entwined in the family…
The arrival of their eldest son Syed (Marc Elliott) in 2009 saw him embark on a gay affair with Christian, despite having a wife and a daughter, and he was cut off by his dad.
In a further twist, Jane revealed to Masood that Zainab was well aware of their son’s sexuality, and she threw him out.
Was Masood in a relationship with Jane?
In 2011, whilst going through a messy separation from Zainab, Masood fell deeply in love with Jane who was then divorced from Ian.
Unable to keep their feelings hidden, them embarked on a secret relationship but it didn’t last very long.
Zainab asked for his help when her new husband Yusef Khan (Ace Bhatti) kidnapped their youngest son Kamil, and they later reunited. After further monetary woes, they split again and she moved to Pakistan.
After their breakup, Masood had a brief romance with Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson), but the arrival of her own ex-husband David Wicks (Michael French) caused her head to turn and they soon went their separate ways.
Turning back to Jane, Shabnam tried to throw a spanner in the works and get her back with Ian. The pair were happily dating but after Lucy’s death, Jane found solace in Ian and they slept together.
The move prompted Masood to begin gambling once again.
When was Masood last in the show?
Nitin left the show in 2016, and Masood travelled to Pakistan with Kamil. However, less than a year later, it was announced that he would be returning.
Making a brief appearance to tell Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford) that he was evicting her from her house, and a few months later he moved his uncle Arshad (Madhav Sharma) and aunt Miriam (Indira Joshi) into the property.
His new stint saw him fall for Ian’s mum Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), but like the rest of his relationships, it wasn’t to be.
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Finding out that Tamwar was to marry Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) in Australia, he invited her to be his wedding guest with a view to moving there permanently. Unfortunately, with Bobby to be released from prison, she said she had to stay to support him.
After sharing one last kiss, he jetted off.
That was five years ago, but now it seems that he’s back in the country, and loved up with Jane once again.
Will he be another fan favourite to return this year?
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