Strictly Come Dancing signs EastEnders hunk Davood Ghadami for this year’s series
EASTENDERS star Davood Ghadami is this year’s Strictly Come Dancing soap hunk, The Sun can reveal.
The muscly actor, best known for playing market trader Kush Kazemi, has signed up for the upcoming series.
A TV source said: “Davood is this year’s heartthrob and bosses are delighted he’s signed up.
“Soap stars, particularly from EastEnders, have done really well on the show previously.
“Producers are keen for him to get his kit off and get the audience’s pulses racing a bit.”
Davood, who entered Walford three years ago, was nominated for best newcomer at the British Soap Awards in 2015 but lost to Doctors’ Jessica Regan.
His character’s storylines include his then-girlfriend Shabnam losing their baby and him having sex with mum Carmel’s best friend, Denise Fox.
The British-Iranian actor, 35, is the latest in a long line of EastEnders stars to take part in the dancing competition.
Last year, Tameka Empson, who plays Kim Fox, was partnered with professional dancer Gorka Márquez, but they were the second couple to go out.
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Other famous faces from the soap include 2015 runner-up Kellie Bright, 41, and 2010 winner Kara Tointon, 34.
Davood’s signing comes as former Saturdays singer Mollie King, 30, was confirmed as the show’s first celebrity contestant a week after The Sun revealed she was signed up.
A Strictly spokeswoman declined to comment on Davood last night.