Syed Masood

Name: Syed Masood
First Appeared: 21st April 2009
Last Appeared: 15th November 2012
Played by: Marc Elliott

Syed Masood, the eldest son of Masood Ahmed and Zainab Masood, certainly knew how to make an entrance in Walford. Before the Masoods even set foot in Albert Square, Syed had already managed to almost bankrupt the family business by stealing from it. His father, Masood, took the blame but exiled Syed, who then moved to the north of England to dabble in the property industry. Four years later, financial troubles brought Syed back to his family, and boy, did the drama follow!

In 2009, Syed reconnected with his family, and despite Masood revealing his past theft, Zainab forgave him and welcomed him back into the family home. Syed introduced his girlfriend, Amira Shah, to the family, and she soon moved to Walford to be with him. But things got complicated when Syed developed feelings for his colleague, Christian Clarke. Their secret affair was a rollercoaster of emotions, blackmail, and a lot of sneaking around. Syed’s struggle with his faith and sexuality led to a dramatic wedding day confession to Christian, but he still went through with marrying Amira, much to his mother’s insistence.

Despite his best efforts to make his marriage work, Syed couldn’t stay away from Christian. The affair continued, leading to a series of explosive revelations and confrontations. Amira’s father, Qadim, was furious, and Christian was attacked. Syed’s life spiralled as he faced rejection from his family and community. He even attempted therapy to “cure” his homosexuality, but it was Christian’s unwavering support that helped Syed accept himself. They moved in together, but Syed was disowned by his parents, leading to more heartache and drama.

Syed’s entrepreneurial spirit shone through when he started his own massage business, but not without a few bumps along the way. He discovered his father’s near-affair and dealt with Christian’s indiscretions. The couple’s attempt to have a child with Roxy as a surrogate was a fiasco, and Syed’s business ventures often landed him in hot water. The collapse of the family restaurant’s roof and subsequent hospital visit brought a brief reconciliation with his mother, but old wounds were hard to heal.

The drama didn’t stop there. Syed’s quest for a divorce from Amira revealed he had a daughter, Yasmin, whom Amira had kept secret. This revelation led to more tension between Syed and Christian, but they eventually decided to fight for their relationship and Yasmin’s place in their lives. The couple faced numerous challenges, including false accusations and family manipulations, but their love endured. By the end, Syed and Christian were reunited, and Syed found some peace with his family, proving that love, in all its forms, can conquer even the most dramatic of soap opera storylines.