A quick chat with 'Enders actress Nina Wadia

Ahead of next week's arrival of EastEnders' Missing Masood, Syed (Marc Elliott), I caught up with comedy legend Nina Wadia - who plays Zainab - to see what she thinks about the new family dynamic, how she laughs too much on set and how she's jealous of Himesh Patel's one-liners.

How's Marc settled in?
"It's like he's been there longer than we have – it's like we've worked with him for years. He's slotted in really, really well. He's a really lovely guy. We laugh on set all the time and we get told off for laughing too much!"

How has Syed fitted in?
"What I like about the way they've introduced him is that you get to see the gentle side of him first – the repentant side. Then you see what he's really like over the subsequent weeks. He's a dark horse this one.

What's the dynamic like between father and son?
"It's very explosive. The truth came out on screen a few weeks ago on screen that Masood was protecting Syed because Zainab loves him so much. Masood even accused Zainab of loving Syed more than him… He might be right.

"Syed was Zainab's first born and she can't really get over the fact that Masood sent him away after cheating money out of the family business. There are a lot of issues between father and son that need to be sorted out. It's explosive. Zainab will no doubt end up being the arbitrator between them."

It'll be great to see Himesh [Patel] have his screen brother back, too…
"Talk about one-liners! He gets the best lines in all the scenes. I'm so jealous! He's come along no end. He's a different person from when he started. His confidence as an actor has grown such much and his performance level has gone through the roof."

It's such a shame about Zahra Ahmadi not being there to complete the family, isn't it?
"It is, but you never know in this business, she may return some day. I hope she does because we miss her."

> Click here to read my recent interview with Marc Elliott

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