In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through Albert Square’s loyal fanbase, EastEnders

veteran Nina Wadia—known for her unforgettable portrayal of the formidable Zainab Masood—has

opened up about her dramatic departure from the long-running BBC soap, citing increasingly “ridiculous” storylines as a major reason for her exit.

Wadia, who brought Zainab to life from 2007 to 2013, was at the center of some of EastEnders’ most groundbreaking and emotionally resonant storylines. From navigating the cultural and emotional turmoil of discovering her son Syed’s sexuality to enduring a deeply harrowing domestic abuse arc with her husband Yusef, Zainab was never a background character—she was the fire at the heart of the Masood family’s storm. Her exit, however, was not the dramatic final act she had hoped for.

Appearing on Jeremy Vine, Wadia spoke candidly to host Vanessa Feltz, breaking the silence on why she turned her back on the show. “When the storylines get so ridiculous and so difficult,” she said, “you kind of think, ‘I’m out.’”

A Character Built on Comedy—and Conflict

Wadia’s Zainab was introduced to audiences as a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense matriarch. Described in her initial character brief as a “Pauline Fowler but funny,” Zainab was designed to bring a fresh comedic edge to the Square while embodying the intensity of a woman grappling with generational, cultural, and familial tensions.

For the first two years, Wadia relished the role. “I was able to flex my comedy chops,” she shared. “There was a great rhythm to Zainab—she had bite, but there was humor in her delivery.” But then the tone shifted.

Producers handed her a domestic violence storyline involving her character’s second husband, the sinister Yusef Khan. The storyline was undeniably powerful—raising awareness about abuse within conservative communities and bringing nuance to an often-taboo subject. But it was also, in Wadia’s view, a turning point.

“How can I be funny with that storyline?” she asked. “I don’t understand. The heart of my character was being compromised, and it felt like no one was paying attention to what Zainab had already been through.”

A Revolving Door of Infidelity

Another key factor that drove her decision to leave was the repetition of dramatic tropes—specifically, her on-screen husband Masood Ahmed’s repeated affairs. “Masood was going to have yet another affair,” Wadia explained, “and I thought, how can I react any differently than I did before?”

Zainab and Masood’s relationship was always tumultuous, brimming with fiery confrontations, deep-rooted love, and fierce loyalty. But for Wadia, the creative recycling of infidelity as a plot device made her question the character’s integrity—and her own as an actress.

“If you’re going to put Zainab through the same things again and again, what’s left for me to play?” she asked. “It felt like I was being asked to deliver emotional truth to stories that had become absurd.”

Behind the Curtain: Changing Leadership, Changing Vision

Wadia also offered insight into how behind-the-scenes shakeups at EastEnders influenced the storytelling—and, ultimately, her decision to walk away. “When you have a change at the top with the execs, they bring in their own vision,” she said. “Someone who hasn’t really been paying attention to what your character’s been doing suddenly asks you to do something absolutely ridiculous.”

Soap operas are famously vulnerable to changing creative leadership, and EastEnders is no exception. The revolving door of executive producers often results in dramatic tonal shifts. While new leadership can invigorate a show with fresh storylines, it can also disrupt carefully cultivated character arcs—something Wadia experienced firsthand.

The Unwritten Final Chapter

Zainab’s exit in 2013 was dramatic but not final. Despite Wadia’s plea to have the character killed off—hoping it would at least grant her a significant farewell—producers declined.

“I did ask to be killed off because I thought, ‘Yay, I’ll get a big storyline if I get killed off!’” Wadia joked. “But they said, ‘No, we want her back someday.’”

And they just might. The door has never fully closed on Zainab Masood’s return. Last year, EastEnders fans received an unexpected update when Jade Masood revealed plans to move to Pakistan with her mother Shabnam to care for Zainab, who had fallen ill. While the update was brief, it sparked speculation: Could the Masood family be preparing for a comeback?

For her part, Wadia isn’t ruling anything out. “Hopefully at some point, if they invite me back, it will be for something a bit more interesting to do,” she hinted.

Fan Reaction: A Mix of Sympathy and Frustration

News of Wadia’s behind-the-scenes frustrations has struck a chord with longtime fans, many of whom took to social media to express their admiration for her honesty—and their disappointment at how Zainab’s storyline unraveled.

“She carried the show for years,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s heartbreaking to hear she felt let down by the writing.”

Others voiced renewed hope for her return. “Zainab coming back to sort out the mess in Walford? Yes, please!”

The Legacy of Zainab Masood

Even in her absence, Zainab’s presence continues to loom large over Albert Square. A matriarch who was deeply flawed yet fiercely protective, Wadia’s portrayal was layered, bold, and unflinchingly real. She was a rare character who could make viewers laugh one moment and cry the next—often in the same scene.

Her storylines helped EastEnders push cultural boundaries, from challenging perceptions of homosexuality within a devout Muslim family to depicting the psychological complexities of abusive relationships. These were not easy arcs, but Wadia tackled them with gravitas and grace.

As the soap continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the Square is a little less fiery, a little less fierce, and a lot less fun without Zainab Masood.

Whether Wadia returns or not, her legacy remains indelible—etched in the annals of EastEnders history as one of its most iconic and compelling characters.

Could Zainab’s return be the shakeup Albert Square needs? Only time—and the writers—will tell.