FAN-FAVOURITE EastEnders couple Zainab and Masood have publicly reunited off screen sparking rumours that the pair may be returning to the BBC soap.
Their real-life reunion is latest in a series of things that have led soap fans to believe Nina Wadia and Nitin Ganatra are reprising their roles.
The duo burst onto the soap together in 2007, but they had many ups and downs. Eventually, they divorced and pursued relationships with other people before Zainab left Albert Square for good in 2013.
Meanwhile, Masood stuck around Walford until 2016, before returning again from 2018 to 2019.
However, the former couple have sparked rumours that they will be returning to EastEnders ahead of the show’s 40th anniversary celebrations in a TikTok video.
Posting from a dinner event, the couple feign shock at running into each other.
“What? What? You’re at this dinner as well?” Nina asks her former scene partner.
Shocked, he responds, “look who it is!”
While Nina then gushes, “Masood’s back!”
Fans were quick to notice that Nina used Nitin’s character’s name when referring to him, sparking theories that they truly are returning.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan pleased: “Oh yes they would be amazing hope it’s true.”
“That would be great,” said another fan, while a third begged, “bring them back!”
Nina and Nitin’s fun video comes after Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) name-dropped Masood upon her return to the Square.
Additionally, Nina has also opened up about her desire to return to the soap.
She even said she wanted fans to start a petition to bring Zainab back to Walford.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Nina said she would love to come back to help EastEnders celebrate its 40th anniversary in February.
LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic?
EASTENDERS
Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning’s dad Max in 2007.
Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year.
Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell.
Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler – not realising it was caught on tape – and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic.
Syed/Amira/Christian: Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day.
A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira.
CORONATION STREET
Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street – extending it to bigamy.
He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon.
But it didn’t stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him.
Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband’s nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later.
When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled.
Maria/Aidan/Eva: In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price’s best friend, Maria Connor.
Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day.
But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy.
EMMERDALE
Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale.
She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride’s betrayal via a recording played at the wedding.
Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well – until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle.
Robert’s ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair – but fell to her death before she had the chance.
However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair – after which she announced it to the whole pub.
She gushed: “I loved that show. I loved my time on it. I know they’ve got a big anniversary coming up, and I’m waiting for the call.”
As BBC soap fans know, Jane made a shocking return to Walford earlier this summer and dropped the bombshell news that she is back together with Zainab’s ex, Masood.
And now that Jane is back in town, it certainly would give Masood a reason to return, too.
But could Zainab be close behind, and what kind of reunion would the pair have?
The TV couple do share four children and have remained on friendly terms off-screen.
Nina admitted she would love to see a proper Masood-Zainab reunion on the soap.
“I love Nitin. He’s played my husband more than my real husband. To me, it’s like someone I’ve known so well. So it just worked. The whole family worked really well. And I loved my time on it. So I would never say no,” she admitted.
Nina explained that her time away from EastEnders has given her a fresh outlook on the future – and she teased that she wants that future to include the soap.
“I need to be freshened up and come back in,” she revealed.
“And I want to come back in the way I did originally, which is with comedy. That’s what I loved about Zainab was I brought humour to the role,” she added, before pleading to fans to “petition to bring her back!”
