EastEnders confirms one of its best-loved characters is coming back

"It is with great pride that I will grow my Masood goatee once again."

There's good news for EastEnders fans as Masood Ahmed is set to return to the soap. The popular character, played by Nitin Ganatra, will be back on our screens later this year, the BBC has announced. Last seen leaving the square for Pakistan in November 2016 with son Camille, he'll be back to help settle some family members into Walford. These characters will be completely new to 'Enders viewers. "It was a lovely surprise to be asked back to EastEnders so soon after I left," said Nitin. "In fact I was bowled over. When I was told Masood has still much to give to the show and is missed by the audience, it was hard to refuse. "It is with great pride that I will grow my Masood goatee once again to help create and base an extended family around him. Exciting days to come Walford with Masood back on the Square.” His exit from the show after nine years was an emotional one, with friends tearing up as Camille and Masood climbed into a taxi. Nitin has hinted in the past that his character hadn't left the soap forever. "I'm still deeply in love with the character of Masood and find him really interesting to play," he told Digital Spy when he left the show. "I feel we have more to find in this character's journey, but I just need to go off and do other things for a while."