EastEnders’ Masood actor Nitin Ganatra teases ‘poignant’ exit from soap, and addresses ‘culling’ of major characters

EASTENDERS' Masood Ahmed actor Nitin Ganatra has teased his upcoming exit from the soap - insisting it will be "poignant and heartfelt".

And as more characters are either killed off or are leaving Albert Square - the star has admitted it feels like a "culling".

Nitin, who has starred on the soap for nine years, recently returned after a brief exit, which he has revealed was down to his holiday leave - but he's now ready to move on permanently.

In fact, his EastEnders character Masood has just two weeks left - with his final episode due to air on November 17.

Appearing on This Morning today, Nitin admitted: "I only joined for six months, and I didn’t expect to stay that long."

Asked why he chose to leave now, he replied: "I’m leaving because I just want to go and do some more characters, more films, other things.

"Also nine years is better than 10 years."

As Holly asked if the door would be left open, he responded: “They were very kind… They said the door is open, you’re welcome to come back.

While the actor previously described the exit as “soft and touching”, he added today: "It’s not high drama. I love this guy [Masood]. The response on Twitter about it has been phenomenal. I’ve been really touched by it."

Nitin revealed producers had told him: "Let’s keep it [his exit] warm and poignant and heartfelt," but he added: "Zainab is a catalyst to Masood rethinking his whole life."

Holly then pointed out that a few characters are leaving at once, including Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, and Nitin admitted it had been a mass exit.

“When any producer takes over, they have their own ideas, a culling happens," he told the hosts.

Nitin is expecting to appear for the final time on November 17, and he added: "That’s when the reality will hit me."

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