IT’S THE ENDER MASOOD: EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra quits his role as Masood Ahmed

EASTENDERS star Nitin Ganatra has quit his role as Masood Ahmed after nine years on the soap.

The actor, 49, will bid farewell to the postal-worker-turned-market-stall-holder later this year but the role has been left open for him should he wish to return.

Speaking to the Radio Times, he said it was time to explore other projects and added:  “When I trained as an actor, I set out to play many different characters and never did I know that I would be so fortunate to have found a character that I have loved playing for nine years.

"However, after thinking long and hard, I have decided that it is time to get back out there and take on some other roles. I will of course miss everyone at EastEnders - I have had a brilliant time there, and who knows, one day Masood may be back."

An EastEnders spokesperson added to RT: "We can confirm that Nitin will be leaving EastEnders. Nitin has been a wonderful addition to the cast for the past nine years and we wish him all the best for the future."

Taking to his Twitter page this evening, Nitrin retweeted the Radio Times story with his thanks and added in another post: "Genuinely touched by the response to the news of  my leaving #Eastenders. And thank you for the #masood love!"

Fans of the show soon reacted to the news of his departure and that of other recent Walford resignations as one wrote: "I'm not surprised, but I'm saddened that Nitin Ginatra is leaving Eastenders. He is so handsome and a fine actor."

Another added: "wait, Nitin is EastEnders, without him, it's all over."

Masood arrived in Walford in 2007, the character has been involved in no end of drama, including his divorce from wife to wife Zainab, coming to terms with son Syed's homosexuality and an affair with Jane Beale.

He won the 2009 British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership with co-star Nina Wadia, who played Zainab, and was nominated for Best Actor in both 2010 and 2011.

He is the only member of the Walford family left in the Square following the departure of daughter Shabnam (Rakhee Thakrar) and son Tamwar (Himesh Patel) and recently started a romance with Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford).

He is the fourth star to quit the soap in the last few weeks as he follows in the footsteps of Samantha Womack, Rita Simons and Danny-Boy Hatchard.

Womack quit as Ronnie Mitchell after almost a decade in the role after new boss Sean O’Connor offered her an exit storyline.

And sources told how the actress “jumped at the chance” to go out with a bang.

One insider revealed: “It was felt that with everything Ronnie has been through over the past nine years, it is now time to rest the character.

Days later, Simons, who stars as her sister Roxy, also quit and will exit the show in the same “big storyline” as Womack next year.

And a week later, Hatchard, who stars as Danny Dyer’s on-screen son Lee Carter also announced he had quit after two years on the show and will depart in the coming months.

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