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A FORMER EastEnders star has slammed the soap’s ‘ridiculous storylines’ and revealed why she really left the show.

EastEnders viewers know Nina Wadia for playing Zainab Masood in the BBC soap for six years.

BBC

Nina Wadia played EastEnders’ Zainab Masood for six years[/caption]

YouTube

The star addressed her reasons for leaving the soap[/caption]

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Nina addressed her character’s abuse by Yusef Khan[/caption]

Zainab arrived in 2007 before eventually leaving Walford behind in 2013.

Over a decade on, Nina has addressed the reasons behind her decision to leave.

During an appearance on Channel 5‘s Vanessa, she explained to host Vanessa Feltz: “When the storylines get so ridiculous and so difficult, you kind of think ‘I’m out'”.

The actress continued: “The reason I left was because the storylines were getting ridiculous.

“That was one of the reasons I left. There were several, but that was one of the main reasons.

“My husband Masood was going to have yet another affair.

“And I was like, ‘How can I react any differently [to the] way I reacted before when he told me he was having an affair?”

Nina revealed Zainab’s initial brief had been “Pauline Fowler, but funny.”

Having provided levity and comic relief for two years, she was confused to receive a domestic violence storyline.

The star continued: “You thought, ‘How can I be funny with that storyline? I don’t understand.’

“I think that’s what happens when you have a change at the top, with the execs, they bring in their vision.

“Someone who hasn’t really been paying attention to what your character’s been doing – all of a sudden, you’re asked to do something absolutely ridiculous.”

Nina later added: “That’s why I wanted to come out of it for a while.

“Hopefully, at some point, they invite me back, it’ll be for something more interesting to do.”

Vanessa pointed out Zainab hadn’t been killed off – meaning Nina could potentially return to the soap one day.

The actress replied by saying: “They wouldn’t kill her off.

“I did ask to be killed off because I thought, ‘Yay, I’ll get a big storyline if I get killed off’.

“But they were like, ‘No, we want her back someday.’ So, who knows?”

Among Zainab’s most notable storylines was discovering oldest son Syed (Marc Elliot) was secretly gay.

Viewers also watched her relationship and family life with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra), their marriage breakdown, and her abusive relationship with Yusef Khan (Ace Bhatti). 

Last year, Nina told The Sun about her hopes for Zainab to return for the soap’s 40th annviersary.

She shared with us: “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.”

EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Nina reflected on the BBC soap’s “ridiculous storylines”[/caption]

VISITENGLAND has revealed the best holiday parks as well as hotels and pubs across the UK for 2025.

Polmanter Holiday Park in St Ives has won ‘Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year’.

Polmanter Touring Park

Polmanter Holiday Park won Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year[/caption]

Polmanter Touring Park

Inside is soft play, games room, and kids’ areas[/caption]

Run by the Osbornes for over fifty years, the campsite in Halsetown is just a three-minute drive to the middle of St Ives and six minutes from the beach.

One of the reasons for its popularity is the many on-site activities, from golf on the putting green to tennis on the all-weather tennis courts, a football pitch and plenty of walking routes.

For any keen walkers, you can pick up the famous Salt Path (South West Coast Path) from St Ives, or towards Zennor.

There’s also a heated outdoor swimming pool open from May until mid-September.

The 20m long pool has the room for serious swimmers, as well as a shallow end to splash about. On the banks are plenty of sun loungers to laze about on when the sun shines.

Outside are also two playgrounds, one designed for younger children with a wooden camper van and tractor. The second for slightly older kids with a zip wire and wooden pods.

And recently added to the site is an outdoor playground and indoor soft play area.

There’s areas dedicated to kids of all ages from toddler area to a teenage hangout in the games room.

When it comes to food and drink, there’s The Stable Bar is open from 9am, with food available until 9pm (8pm on Sundays).

During the week, there’s entertainment in the bar from bingo and quiz nights to live music sessions from local musicians.

Polmanter Touring Park

There’s plenty to do for kids outside like have a go on the climbing frames[/caption]

Polmanter Touring Park

The award-winning holiday park is minutes away from the coast[/caption]

Pitches welcome tents, caravans, campers and motorhomes with all pitches are self-catered with views across the Atlantic.

Anyone who doesn’t fancy pitching up, but wants to stay on the site, can also stay in the two luxury self-catered apartments that sleep up to four people.

Or there’s the two country cottages that each sleep up to six, and each has its own hot tub.

Hippersons Boatyard

Hippersons Boatyard was the holiday park in third place[/caption]

The holiday park that came in second place was Mendip Basecamp, Somerset.

The site has glamping safari tents, nomandic bell tents and an activity centre with over 20 activities to book from archery to snowsports.

In third place was the Hippersons Boatyard, Suffolk which is a unique holiday park with floating pods.

The self-catering, holiday destination in Beccles, is known for its houseboats and pods that sit on the river.

Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa in Warwickshire, bagged top spot for Large Hotel of the Year.

It boasts luxurious accommodation and is set in 10 acres of grounds.

While Summer Lodge Country House Hotel in the village of Evershot in Dorset got gold for Small Hotel of the Year.

Visitors can stay in the main hotel, or in the private cottages – and use the on-site spa.

The Farmers Arms in Devon scooped up Gold for ‘Pub of the Year’.

Here are more UK campsites that have 10/10 reviews with honesty shops and resident deer.

And more of Britain’s best family-friendly campsites – with free-roaming wallabies, farm parks and tractor rides.

WE can’t get enough of the green stuff right now – in fact, Caffe Nero stores sell 19 cups of matcha a minute, and Google searches for “matcha near me” have sky-rocketed by over 5000% in the past year!

Once the preserve of the wellness world and “clean girls”, matcha has made it into the mainstream, thanks to a slew of celebs getting their daily fix, social media feeds filling up with picture-perfect matcha lattes – and, of course, the much-talked-about health benefits from the high level of antioxidants.

From Black Sheep to Caffe Nero, the high street’s matcha game is on point, with a flavour combo for everyone.

Strawberry and vanilla is the perfect drink to watch the tennis at Wimbledon with, while a new peaches and cream twist is a game-changer.

Instagram/Hailey Bieber, Instagram/Dua Lipa

But the RTD supermarket options are rapidly expanding, too, and you can now make your matcha iced lattes at home with a few key ingredients.

So, if you can’t be bothered to wait in the queue every time the green craving hits, we have just the thing…

Grab and go

First up, taking to the shelves recently in Sainsbury’s are Oat Shaker’s gut-friendly oat and fruit shakes – including a Matcha & Pineapple flavour. A tropical twist on the classic, this 100% natural drink is packed with nutrients and fibre and costs only £4 for a 750ml bottle (three servings).

Ueshima Coffee Company’s Iced Matcha Lattes are also back for summer in a slick on-point can design. Less than 90 cals and low in sugar, these are great for picnics and festivals at £3 a can, just hitting the shelves of a Waitrose near you.

Also new out, Califia Farms Matcha Almond Latte is an eye-popping splash of green on the shelves of Sainsbury’s at £2.95 for 750ml – just shake and pour over ice, no whisking required.

Black Sheep

Join the queue

In a new flavour that really grabbed our attention, Leon is smashing summer with its Watermelon Matcha Iced Tea – sweet watermelon green tea topped with matcha and served over ice. Yum!

Black Sheep Coffee is clear that it’s on a mission to make matcha inclusive, with drinks for everyone from “clean girls” to hairy biker guys and city workers – and we’re here for it!

Matcha-spiked lemonade is a new offering from Black Sheep and is set to become a cult fave, available in lychee, lavender, passionfruit and peach flavourways, and made with Japanese ceremonial-grade matcha and still lemonade as the ultimate refresher.

The Black Sheep Peaches & Cream Matcha Latte is one for the creamy quaffers and tastes just like summer should – best paired with the cafe’s Norwegian Matcha Waffles, made with all-new matcha dough and smothered in Nutella and fresh fruit.

Caffe Nero

Caffe Nero just added its first-ever matcha drinks to the menu – Vanilla Iced Matcha Latte and Strawberry & Vanilla Iced Matcha Latte – and fans have gone crazy for them.

Made with PerfectTed matcha and available hot or iced, the peeps at Nero reckon the rise in matcha love is because: “People are choosing drinks that align with a lifestyle focused on wellness, mindfulness and everyday rituals.”

Monin

Get in the kitchen

If you’re looking to save some £££s, but can’t quite quit your matcha habit, Monin is coming to the rescue with a range of new concentrates – simply add 25ml to a glass of ice and milk for a delish DIY drink.

Choose a straight Matcha Green Tea Concentrate or the Blueberry Matcha Green Tea version for a fiver a bottle in Tesco – delivering a budget-friendly 10 shots of matcha!

bird & blend tea co

And if you’re really looking to elevate the at-home experience, check out this latest, first-of-its-kind launch.

Bird & Blend Tea Co Matcha Latte Magic Whisk, £99, enables matcha fans to achieve a perfectly silky smooth latte at the press of a button.

Who needs a barista when this little gadget will pay for itself if you’re a regular cafe queen, plus it will show everyone how serious you are about getting your caffeine fix.

LOVE Island stars Whitney Adabyo has put the final nail in the coffin after her split with Lochan Nowacki – she has unfollowed him online.

Whitney, 27, has cut off social media contact with Lochan, also 27, after their two-year relationship came to an end last month.

Getty

Getty

Lochan has since been caught cosying up to influencer Nguyen Yeats-Brown, which has sparked rumours he has already moved on.

And that appears to have been the last straw for Whitney.

Whitney has now unfollowed Lochan on Instagram, while he has also reciprocated the snub.

All photographic trace of their relationship has also been removed from their grids, proving they are well and truly over.

Love Island alumni Whitney and Lochan announced their break-up in April.

The confirmation came weeks after fans began speculating that the reality stars had broken up.

Admitting the rumours were true, Lochan said: “Hey guys, unfortunately Whitney and I’s relationship has come to an end.

“Thank you for all the love and support that you’ve show us through our journey, we’re forever grateful.”

Whitney shared the identical message, only swapping out her name for Lochan’s.

The couple had met on the 2023 series of Love Island after Whitney entered the villa as a bombshell.

Whitney coupled up with Lochan and they made it to the final.

Although they were the bookies’ favourite to win, they finished in second place.

Prior to their split announcement, Whitney had dropped a huge clue that she was no longer in a relationship with Lochan.

In a rather shady TikTok video, she appeared to hint at cheating. 

Whitney was seen miming along to the Mariah the Scientist song All For Me and the lyrics, “What does she have on me?”.

As she continued looking confused, the words, “She doesn’t wear wigs’ popped up onscreen.

Whitney captioned the post, “Oh yikes”, which further added to concern from her fans.

Weeks later, Lochan was caught on camera looking close to influencer Nguyen Yeats-Brown.

The pair had taken part in a celebrity tennis tournament and seemed to be getting on VERY well.

In the short video, they appeared to have great chemistry and at one point Nguyen put her head on the former Islander’s shoulder.

Whitney, meanwhile, said she was “bamboozled” by her relationship break-up.

Speaking on her podcast, Whitney recalled how Lochan said: “I’ve seen how much you’ve changed, and you’re becoming like the woman that we always spoke about you becoming.

“And I’m just not willing to do that.”

She added: “I was bamboozled. This is the person that you told me you wanted.”

Rex

Instagram/@whitbrownsx

They were in a relationship for two years after the show[/caption]

Instagram @lochan_nowacki

Lochan has been pictured with influencer Nguyen Yeats-Brown[/caption]

The boss of one of Australia’s premium retail clothing brands is leaving the company after four years.

French nationals Damien Guerot and Silas Despreaux have been recognised by the Macron government for their courage trying to stop a knife-wielding attacker.

Detectives are investigating the death of an 18-year-old woman after she was found unresponsive at a home in the Wheatbelt.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon and media commentator Kane Cornes have apologised to the four umpires caught in the Lachie Schultz concussion saga.

Posties will soon carry protection spray to use against dangerous dogs after new data revealed alarming escalation of incidents.

More than 100 knives have been seized and 70,000 West Australians scanned for hidden weapons since tough new blade laws came into effect almost six months ago.