Shazia Mirza stated it was “an honour” to be in EastEnders – 37 years after she wrote a letter to the cleaning soap’s bosses asking for a task.
Within the episode that aired on Thursday night time (10.07.25), the 50-year-old comic-and-actress performed Dr. Ayub, who was concerned in child Jimmy’s heart-breaking storyline as she informed his mother and father Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale (Thomas Regulation), that his blindness is brought on by a genetic mutation.
And Shazia’s look comes nearly 40 years since she wrote a letter as a 13-year-old woman asking if she may very well be in Albert Sq..
Captioning a photograph of the letter Shazia acquired from EastEnders, dated January 19, 1988, and a shot of her taking part in Dr. Ayub on Instagram, the comedian wrote: “37 years in the past I wrote to @bbceastenders asking for a component and 37 years later I acquired one.
“EastEnders is working with recommendation from the Royal Nationwide Institute of Blind Individuals (RNIB) on a storyline the place Lauren and Peter’s son is identified as severely sight-impaired.
“Having struggled to settle child Jimmy in latest weeks, Lauren turns into involved by his lack of capability to focus as he struggles to latch throughout breastfeeding.
“Decided to observe her mom’s intuition, Lauren takes Jimmy to the hospital for additional checks, the place the docs verify that Jimmy is severely sight-impaired.
“The storyline follows Lauren and Peter as they try to navigate life with a new child, the signs that Lauren picks up on which leads her to hunt a analysis, and the way the analysis will affect Jimmy and their household as an entire.
“It has been an honour to be a part of such an vital storyline.”
Thomas, 32, praised Shazia’s appearing in her submit’s feedback part.
He wrote: “And also you legitimately performed your half so so nicely. We thought it. (sic).”
In the meantime, Shazia’s good friend Shaparak Khorsandi additionally joined Thomas in congratulating her on being forged within the cleaning soap.
The 52-year-old comedienne- who additionally has a dream of being in EastEnders – penned: “Oh my! I LOVE that you just wrote asking for a component!!! That is stunning! Congratulations (and in addition, a component on Eastenders has all the time been my dream however fortunately I’m hiding my jealousy-to-the-point-of-insanity fairly nicely) (sic).”
Additionally commenting on Shazia’s submit was a RNIB spokesperson, who stated the charity appreciated everybody concerned for creating the “highly effective” storyline
They added: “We have liked advising the EastEnders crew on this and are so grateful to you all for creating such a strong story. Thanks.”
