EastEnders' Shabnam Masood is set to end her marriage to Kush Kazemi and threaten to flee to Pakistan next week.
Rakhee Thakrar (left) as Shabnam / Credit: BBC
The heartbroken pharmacy worker - who is portrayed by Rakhee Thakrar - will see her world crumble before her eyes when she tells her beloved husband (Davood Ghadami) she has no choice but to leave Albert Square because she can't watch him build a bond with his baby son Arthur following his one-night stand with her best friend Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner).
Rakhee explained: "This is a classic Shabnam reflex. She's been pushed to the edge and she can only jump or run. And she wants to get as far away from this mess as she can. She knows too well that you can only avoid your child's existence for so long.
"She loves Kush and when you truly love someone, you do what's right for them, even if they don't know it at the time. Shabnam needs to make something right in her life."
However, it's not that simple for Shabnam as she won't only be turning her back on her handsome spouse and her family, but she'll also be abandoning her daughter Jade again - something the little one doesn't take too kindly to.
She told the RadioTimes: "She aches for Jade, but it's complicated. She's happy if Jade's happy and, from what she can see, Jade is being looked after.
"But she's concerned about what's best for Jade - it's like a quiet constant voice in the background of her daily routine."
And Rakhee isn't quite ready to wave goodbye to her miserable alter-ego just yet as she wants Shabnam to find the strength to persevere with her marriage.
She added: "I really want her to have an endless supply of strength and perseverance to stay in Walford."
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