Shabnam Masood

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Rakhee Thakrar has revealed that an upcoming storyline for her character will be the taming of Shabnam Masood.

Viewers have seen sparks fly between Shabnam and market trader Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) ever since he arrived in Walford last autumn.

As Shabnam continues to fight her attraction to Kush over the next few weeks, Thakrar has admitted that the story is partly based on a film.

Speaking to Inside Soap, she said: "Shabnam doesn't want to want Kush because he is not the type of guy she would go for.

"She wants a good Muslim boy and Kush seems a bit cheeky and frivolous. But there is something about him that she is really drawn to.

"This story was sold to me like 'the taming of Shabnam' - it's sort of based on the film 10 Things I Hate About You. That movie is brilliant so I am really chuffed with the way they have done this."

Kush lift his T-shirt to clean a drop of curry that has just fallen onto it, when Shabnam comes into the kitchen
© BBC
Shabnam and Kush in EastEnders

Thakrar also revealed that she is more eager than ever to know the culprit behind Lucy Beale's murder, as the cast are currently filming scenes that will air after the live episode.

She said: "We are filming scenes now that happen after the live episode so the scripts are heavily censored - they are not giving anything away.

"I'm like a detective, looking at everything in the scripts and trying to piece it all together. But I don't want to say who I think it is just in case I'm right."

Thakrar previously predicted that viewers will be shocked when they finally discover the secret that Shabnam has been harbouring since arriving in Walford.

[lizann]

some are speculating she has a secret husband and child

[Dazzle]

some are speculating she has a secret husband and child

I just wrote that I think her secret's about a child on the episode discussion thread. It seems likely after her conversation about single mothers with Stacey.

[tammyy2j]

I just wrote that I think her secret's about a child on the episode discussion thread. It seems likely after her conversation about single mothers with Stacey.

I think she may have sold her child, that is why she has a lot of money or maybe was a surrogate but yes I do think her secret involves a child too

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Rakhee Thakrar has explained why her character Shabnam Masood finally opens up about her secret past this week.

Tomorrow night's episode will see Shabnam confide in new friend Stacey Branning about a secret she has been harbouring ever since she returned to the square.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain with co-star Davood Ghadami today, Thakrar said: "At the minute, Shabnam is holding on by a thread - everything is coming apart. This week she is hanging on by nothing and Stacey is there to catch her."

Thakrar also discussed the change in Shabnam's character following her return last year. The part was originally played by actress Zahra Ahmadi until she left in 2008.

Speaking about playing a recast role, Thakrar said: "Yes, it is [strange] and especially with a show with such a big fan base because they are very loyal."

She added: "Shabnam came back so different and it was hard for people to adjust. The reason she has come back so different will be revealed this week.

"She was confused about her culture and being in Britain with such a strong faith. She was extreme and thought it had to be one or the other.

"She would go out drinking and do all the things girls of 18 here do. She was a lot more carefree and she came back very different."

EastEnders will air Shabnam's confession on Thursday, January 29 at 7.30pm on BBC One.

[Kim]

Definitely think Shabnam has a secret child. Shabnam's been so extreme that I would have expected her to disapprove of Stacey having Lily, as I'm sure she'd have heard/worked out that Lily is not Bradley's.

Shabnam tells Stacey her secret while they are looking after Kat's kids. They must be there as the catalyst because it is doing Kat no favours as a character to be leaving her kids with Stacey and Mo so often lately, especially as she ditched Tommy on Alfie and Jean so much when he wasn't much older than they are now - and so much of her character was about the fact that she was never allowed to be a mother, either to Tommy courtesy of Ronnie or Zoe due to her parents. She agreed to sort something out for Alfie to see them regularly so if she's working, it makes me think there has to be a reason why they're not with him.

[Perdita]

EastEnders finally revealed Shabnam Masood's secret in the show's latest episode.

The truth was disclosed on screen as Shabnam confessed all to her friend Stacey Branning in an emotional heart-to-heart.

The troubled character let the secret slip to Stacey (Lacey Turner) while opening up over her romantic history, admitting that her recent passionate encounter with Kush Kazemi wasn't her first one-night stand.

Revealed in full for the first time tonight, the newspaper cutting that Shabnam has been carrying around has the headline "Doorstep baby". Shabnam has kept the article as a memory of the child she left behind.

Viewers can expect to learn the full story behind Shabnam's secret in Friday night's episode, which sees her confide further in Stacey.

Show bosses have promised that Stacey will be "stunned" when Shabnam explains exactly what happened.

[lizann]

so shabham left her daughter on a doorstep i wonder if baby is still alive hope so

[Perdita]

I am sure the baby is still alive and will find its way to Albert Square ....

[tammyy2j]

Rakhee Thakrar, who plays Shabnam Masood, told Inside Soap: "Shabnam's secret is life and death. Since she came back home, Shabnam has become really good at hiding things, because she knows that everything would come apart if it ever got out.

"I've been carrying this secret around for the past year, and it's really weighing heavily on me!"

Is it?

I like Shabham's friendship with Stacey and her potential romance with Kush