EastEnders star Davood Ghadami says Taggart role prepared him for soap opera fame

EastEnders star Davood Ghadami says solving murders on Taggart helped him make it to soap stardom.

Davood, who plays Walford market trader Kush, was a regular as forensics expert Duncan Clark for the last series of STV’s hit crime drama.

And he’s sure his Glasgow days boosted his prospects, leading to him swapping George Square for Albert Square.

“It was definitely such a help,” Davood told The Sunday Post.

“I’d done things when I was a guest star, just in for a few days, but this was different.

“You’re in regularly, working with people as part of the regular cast, like we have here in EastEnders.

“You can’t buy that experience. It was priceless and landing Taggart was a big stepping stone in my career, getting me exposure and further work.

“And despite what you hear about the weather, I have brilliant memories of soaking up the sun and having barbecues in Scotland.”

The heat Davood’s feeling at the moment comes from being at the steamy heart of that most tried and trusted of soap plots, the love triangle.

Kush finds himself torn between Rakhee Thakrar’s Shabnam and, now, Lacey Turner’s Stacey.

“He’s obviously been working hard at his relationship with Shabnam after things got a bit frosty between them,” confides the likeable 33-year-old.

“But then he kind of falls into Stacey’s arms.

“When you look at it you might think they’re going to get on easier, they’re made for each other.

“With what Kush and Shabnam have been through, though, viewers are rooting for that relationship to work.”

As we chat as he comes off the EastEnders set, Davood can’t help but chortle as he recounts a tale of just how passionately fans feel about the love triangle.

“I was at a charity event and a mother and daughter had an argument about who they thought up I should end up with.

“The mum was saying I should go with Stacey as she’d never be too hard on Kush and the daughter was saying Shabnam made his life better.

“They were really heated so I just slipped away and left them to it.

“I can totally understand why viewers get into it because I’m just as intrigued.

“My favourite thing when that little white envelope arrives at my house with the script is to get myself a cup of tea and see where things are going.

“One minute I want it to work with Shabnam, and then I can see why he’d want Stacey.”

Whichever way the scriptwriters decide it’s going to end up, Davood’s lapping up working alongside newcomer Rakhee and old hand Lacey.

In fact, he admits he finds the whole EastEnders experience a joy.

“I really couldn’t ask more of a job,” says Davood.

“Just to have regular work in this profession is brilliant, but for it to be in a show that’s absolutely flying is an amazing bonus.

“And it only seems to be getting better.”

Although he has appeared in other series such as Law & Order, Doctor Who and Silent Witness as well as films like Disney’s John Carter, Davood knew that EastEnders would take attention to a whole new level.

“When you start a job like this you know things are going to change in your life,” admits Davood.

“You become aware of people looking I’ve even had people looking in my shopping trolley and giving me a commentary on what I’m buying.

“And I’ve learned to put on my best selfie face for photographs.

“Because the schedules here can be hard, the time you can have fun out and about on your own become more precious.

“So there are places I used to go that I won’t because of the attention.”

This week sees Kush’s 30th birthday bash end with his mates handcuffing him to the railings in just his pants.

“It was the coldest bit of the coldest day of the week,” adds Davood ruefully.

“When you see the script you think: ‘I’d better not have too many carbs the day before’ to look in decent shape.”

EastEnders, BBC1, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs and Fri.