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EastEnders to feature gay Muslim love affair
By: Nigel Robinson
Marc Elliot as Syed Masood
Marc Elliot as Syed Masood
EastEnders is to feature a Muslim man embarking on a gay love affair
In a move bound to provoke controversy, the BBC soap will see Syed Masood, played by actor Marc Elliot, question his sexuality and enter into a relationship with the openly gay Christian Clarke, played by John Partridge.
The character of Muslim property developer Syed Masood, who has a girlfriend, arrived in Albert Square six weeks ago.
The gay romance between Syed and Christian will blossom next month and the two will share an on-screen kiss.
EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer said: "We've always tried to make EastEnders reflect modern life in multicultural Britain and we've always told social issue stories relevant to our diverse audience.
"This isn't a moral tale of right or wrong; it's very much a human interest story where a young man struggles with the conflict between his faith and his feelings.
"To all intents and purposes, Syed's a 'good' Muslim man: he doesn't drink, smoke or engage in sex before marriage. But he struggles with his sexuality when he finds himself drawn to Christian and he believes this goes against his faith.
"This is not a story about Syed and Christian's physical relationship – we don't see anything beyond one kiss. It's more about the inner turmoil and conflict Syed endures trying to remain true to his faith while questioning his sexuality.”
Last year the BBC received over 100 complains after Christian shared a kiss with his then boyfriend in Albert Square.
And in a recent survey on attitudes towards sexuality not of one of the 1001 British Muslims quizzed supported homosexuality.
