Saeed Jeffery

Name: Saeed Jeffery
First Appeared: 19th February 1985
Last Appeared: 26th December 1985
Played by: Andrew Johnson

Saeed Jeffery brought plenty of drama to Albert Square. London-born, he claimed to be a Cockney but was seen as Asian by the residents of Walford. Inexperienced and naive, Saeed took over his family’s corner shop when his parents retired to Bangladesh. Despite his father’s positive reputation, Saeed struggled to gain acceptance, especially from Lou Beale, who frequently reminded him that he didn’t belong and couldn’t take care of his customers properly.

Saeed’s personal life was equally complicated. Unhappy in his arranged marriage to Naima, who shared a flat with him at 47B Albert Square, Saeed found little solace at home. Naima didn’t like him much, frequently undermined him, and refused to share his bed, prompting Saeed to seek companionship elsewhere, including visits to prostitutes and a strip-club where Mary Smith worked. After persistent pressure, Naima finally consummated their marriage, but their happiness was short-lived. An anonymous letter from Dot Cotton exposed Saeed’s sordid exploits, leading to Naima confronting him and, ultimately, leaving him.

A few months later, Saeed was caught making obscene phone calls to Naima’s friend, Debbie Wilkins. This was the last straw for Naima, who filed for divorce. Feeling humiliated and alone, Saeed heeded his parents’ advice and moved to Bangladesh. There, he allegedly remarried, had seven children, and worked as a government translator in Dhaka. His final appearance on 26 December 1985 ended with an emotional farewell to Lou Beale before he departed in a taxi. After his departure, Naima continued to run the shop until 1987, when she too left Walford and returned to Bangladesh.