Masood Ahmed

Nitin Ganatra has said he is to close Paul Sharma, who plays his younger sibling on the show, that they are almost like brothers in real life.

The actor, who plays Masood, has been joined in Albert Square by his tearaway younger brother AJ Ahmed (Paul) - and he told Inside Soap magazine the pair have been having great fun on and off screen

"Paul and I know each other's style as we've worked together loads in the past," Nitin said, "so well, in fact, that we have all these shortcuts. It's like having a real brother."

Another tabloid report has emerged for the fire due to take place in Kimberley's Palace B&B this Christmas.

The Mirror claims that Yusef Khan, played by Ace Bhatti, will perish in the blaze, with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) and Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) all suffering injuries.

An EastEnders insider told the paper: “This is the biggest fire EastEnders has ever seen and there will be casualties. It is such a huge disaster that it will affect most of the families on the show in one way or another.

Laurie Brett has confirmed that the door will be left open for her character Jane Beale at the end of her current short-term stint.

Jane recently returned to Albert Square following Brett's maternity leave, but it was revealed last month that she will only be back for a few months.

Brett revealed in an interview with This Morning: "It's such a hamster wheel to run on, EastEnders - it's such a massive machine and the hours are so long. So I've decided just to go back for a few months and give myself a bit of flexibility after that.