Wadia: 'I was lined up as the new Pauline'

EastEnders actress Nina Wadia has revealed that her character was intended as Albert Square's new Pauline Fowler.

The 40-year-old, who joined the show as Walford's tough-talking Zainab Masood in May 2007, recently explained how her character was earmarked as the BBC soap's new matriarch from the outset.

She told the Daily Record: "That was in my brief on my first day: Zainab is the Pauline Fowler of the Square."

She added: "I felt they were big shoes to fill and I was very nervous of that description of her, but it's a huge compliment in a way."

In February, Wendy Richard, who played Pauline Fowler for 21 years, passed away after losing her battle with cancer.