Laila will make an appearance in Albert Square in August (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy Notice Holby City’s Laila Rouass is set to make a “lifelong dream come true” with a guest appearance on EastEnders. The actress, who was born in Stepney, will be seen on the BBC soap as new character Ayesha in early August. The news comes after it was reported Laila had made a complaint against her former Strictly Come Dancing professional partner Anton Du Beke, amid the misconduct probe. According to EastEnders producers, her character will arrive in Walford after an invite from Nish, and it quickly becomes clear she shares a past with him, Suki and the Panesar family. It will be revealed that Ayesha knew Suki and Nish years ago, but they’ve lost touch over time.
Laila took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009
(Image: PA)
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Speaking about her upcoming role, the 53 year old shared with PA: “I cannot tell you how excited I am to be in EastEnders.” “I was born in the East End and grew up there, and there was such a buzz when the show started. Even though I was little at the time, I can clearly remember the first episode and Doctor Legg arriving at the flat where Reg Cox had been murdered.” “I’ve also known Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar) for many years, so it was great to work with him again and to do scenes with Balvinder Sopal (Suki Panesar) and the rest of the Panesars as Ayesha reunites with them. This is a lifelong dream come true.” Rouass is most recognised for her roles as doctor Sahira Shah in Holby City, from 2011 to 2021, and Amber Gates in Footballers’ Wives, where her character was reportedly inspired by Victoria Beckham.
Laila left Holby City in 2021
(Image: ITV)
She has also starred in Primeval and Spooks, and competed on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, where she danced with Anton Du Beke. Last week, it was reported that Anton had be named to lawyers Carter Ruck by his former celebrity dance partner Laila. It’s understood that the complaint made by Laila follows a remark made by Anton at the time of their pairing on the show, in which he said she looked like “a P***” after she had been given a spray tan. The professional dancer later apologised for the comment, as he said: “I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language. During the course of rehearsals Laila and I have exchanged a great deal of banter entirely in jest, and two weeks ago there was an occasion when this term was used between the two of us. “There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it, which was done without thought or consideration of how others would react. I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnEastEndersStrictly Come DancingLaila Rouass
