Carmel Kazemi

Name: Carmel Kazemi
First Appeared: 26th May 2015
Last Appeared: 5th November 2018
Played by: Bonnie Langford

Carmel Kazemi’s arrival in Walford was anything but quiet. She entered the scene when her son, Kush, became engaged to Shabnam Masood, and quickly integrated herself into the Masood family. Carmel got along well with Shabnam’s father, Masood, and even offered her support when she found out about Shabnam’s secret daughter, Roya. However, her overenthusiasm for planning the engagement party and wedding caused friction with Shabnam, who wasn’t thrilled with Carmel’s involvement. Things took a dramatic turn when Carmel moved in with the Masoods temporarily and was caught in bed with Masood by Shabnam. The family faced tragedy when Shabnam and Kush’s baby, Zaair, was stillborn, leading Carmel to support them through the funeral and their subsequent reconciliation.

Carmel’s relationship with her son Kush became strained when he revealed that he was the father of Stacey Branning’s son, Arthur, a product of a one-night stand. This revelation caused Kush and Shabnam to split. Despite the turmoil, Kush and Carmel both remained involved in Arthur’s life, even as Stacey and Martin Fowler took on the primary parenting roles.

In 2017, Carmel found herself unwittingly involved in a scheme by Max Branning, who courted her to influence the local council’s planning decisions. This manipulation led to a public humiliation when Max revealed his true intentions by kissing his secret girlfriend, Fi Browning, in front of Carmel. The following year was marked by tragedy when her son Shakil was fatally stabbed by a gang. Overcome with grief and feeling helpless, Carmel even attempted suicide but was saved by the discovery of Shakil’s watch. She became a passionate advocate for knife crime prevention, campaigning for a knife amnesty and starting a youth club, though her efforts were often fraught with emotional challenges and setbacks.

In 2021, Carmel received the devastating news of Kush’s death, which was too much for her to bear. Unable to face the memories in Walford, she decided not to return, opting instead to have Kush’s body moved to her in Dubai. Carmel’s time in EastEnders was filled with intense highs and lows, marked by her unwavering dedication to her family and her resilience in the face of repeated heartbreak.