Zainab Masood

Nina Wadia has announced she is to leave EastEnders, after five years of playing matriach Zainab Masood. Unconfirmed reports suggest the rest of her family will be remaining on screen. She will play her final scenes in January 2013.

In a Twitter statement, Nina said, 'Playing Zainab has been a gift and a privilege. I'll always be hugely proud of the fantastically talented friends I've worked with.

'And I'm so grateful for the special bond with our audience who watch and care and talk to us everyday - we're a family of millions.

Villainous doctor Yusef Khan will reach a new low in his attempts to control Zainab Masood according to a report in the Daily Star.

The paper claims that Yusef, played by Ace Bhatti, will take Zainab's toddler son Kamil away from her, telling her she must follow his wishes if she ever wants to see her son again.

The paper also reports that Yusef will try to murder Zainab's ex-husband Masood in a Christmas showdown.

Nina Wadia has revealed that viewers are yet to see the worst of Yusef Khan's villainous ways.

Her character Zainab Masood has been influenced by Yusef for some months now while the scheming doctor has manipulated her and contributed to the break up of her marriage.

Wadia told Inside Soap: "I was filming out on location recently with Ace and a bunch of women came over to him and said, 'God, you're such a horrible man!' It's funny because Ace is such a sweet man - and you haven't even seen the worst of Yusef yet!"

Avid viewers will have noticed Walford GP Yusef Khan secretly drugging ex-wife Zainab in recent months, as the once formidable matriarch becomes more dependant on the scheming doctor—and more isolated from her oblivious family.

Now, the Daily Star reports that the twisted doctor will up his sinister mission of revenge on the Masoods when he increases the dose of medication, leaving Zainab in a drug-induced stupor.