His problematic marriage to Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia), who he had previously starred alongside, served as a key storyline for the character throughout his tenure.

Early storylines for the character include bankruptcy and struggling to accept his son Syed Masood's (Marc Elliott) homosexuality.

In 2011, the character had an affair with Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), which led to end of his and Zainab's marriage, before embarking on a feud with Yusef Khan (Ace Bhatti).

The character has since entered into relationships with Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford), Belinda Peacock (Carli Norris) and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

Masood's line manager David Hensler (Jonty Stephens) arrives with a colleague, saying there has been an allegation of stolen post and they must search the house.

Masood believes that he is no longer part of the family and doesn't even want to hear his name, unlike Zainab who misses him dearly.

Tamwar starts seeing Afia Khan (Meryl Fernandes) and her father, Yusef (Ace Bhatti), turns up and shocks Zainab as he is her former husband whose family set her on fire.

Masood is delighted to learn that he is a grandfather, and vows to reunite and repair his family, especially when it emerges that Yusef has falsified a paternity test to show that Syed is not Yasmin's father.

Masood takes the breakup badly and loses Tamwar's university fund in a poker game to Alfie Moon (Shane Richie).

Fatboy then calls Shabnam (now played by Rakhee Thakrar) and reveals that Masood punched Tamwar, so she returns to Albert Square permanently.

Shabnam leaves Walford, and later, Masood learns that Zainab is getting married in Pakistan and she wants Tamwar and Kamil to attend, sending him money for plane tickets.

Masood returns a few weeks later with Kamil, and is shocked to find that Carmel and her youngest son Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) have moved into his house.

Masood later grows close to Belinda Peacock (Carli Norris) when attempting to help her salon business, "Elysium", out of financial difficulty.

Denise is against him leaving and they have a falling out, but Carmel warns her not to let things end badly, so they make amends and he explains that all he sees in Walford is ghosts of the past.

Several months later, he moves in his uncle Arshad (Madhav Sharma) and aunt Mariam Ahmed (Indira Joshi), to give them more space for fostering.

When Masood returns to the square, he speaks to Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) about renting a flat and borrows money from Arshad to pay the deposit.

Mariam and Arshad's foster daughter, Daisy (Amelie Smith), moves in and Masood is left to look after her but she goes missing when he leaves the room.

The police are contacted, and in the search for Daisy, Masood's ice cream van is found and he is forced to reveal his lack of success to his family.

Ian finds Daisy and returns her to the Ahmeds, but delays taking her back because Masood joked to him that Arshad and Mariam religiously brainwash children.

Masood then plans to sell street food but his old van has been vandalised and he asks Mo Harris (Laila Morse) to set up an online fundraiser.

They tell Ian about their relationship, and Masood asks Kathy to be his guest at Tamwar and Nancy's wedding and then says he wants them both to live in Australia.

However, Kathy says she needs to stay in Walford because Ian's son, Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell), is due to be released for prison and her family need her.

[5] Prior to 2007, EastEnders was heavily criticised by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), for not representing the East End's real "ethnic make-up".

"[10] In December 2009, Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) attempt to con Masood and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), but they realise and double bluff them.

"[11] The character was indirectly involved in a storyline about Muslim homosexuality in 2010, when he discovered that his eldest son Syed was having an adulterous relationship with a man, Christian Clarke (John Partridge).

"[10] Masood begins a relationship with Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson) which is later troubled by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend David Wicks (Michael French).

The actor concluded that Masood had left a thirty-year relationship and wanted him to develop unlikable traits and be bad enough to stop David from winning Carol.

Of his return, Ganatra said that it was a "lovely surprise" to be asked back and explained that he had been told that Masood "has still much to give to the show and is missed by the audience", saying he found it "hard to refuse".

The actor said: "When I was asked to return to EastEnders, it was always with the intention of helping set up new Asian characters that continue the Masood family adventures," he explained.

In episode 2 of series 2, Masood is on the tube clutching his rucksack and Stevie Dickinson (Amanda Fairbank-Hynes) suspects he is a terrorist, and tells him that love can heal his pain but Naz Mehmet (Emaa Hussen) pulls her away.