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Ex EastEnders Shaheen Jafargholi reveals he still works with old castmates as he teases huge Casualty storylines

(Picture: Alistair Heap / BBC)

Shaheen Jafargholi might have swapped Walford for the bright lights and fast pace of life in the Casualty ED, but he hasnt left EastEnders completely behind.

Earlier this year, Shaheen bowed out of his role in EastEnders when his character Shakil Kazemi was tragically killed off in a knife attack in Albert Square, and now Casualty fans will see him join the show as Marty, the new student nurse whos set to ruffle a few feathers with his boistrous personality and cheeky charm.

He arrives in the ED along with frenemy Jade, and the two go head to head trying to impress new bosses leading to all sorts of dramas from the pair. But while all of thats going on, Shaheen hasnt forgotten his old EastEnders pals.

In an exclusive chat with metro.co.uk, Shaheen has teased the exciting storylines coming up for his new character, Casualtys big Christmas episode, and revealed he still has his old cast buddies on call when he needs them.

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How has it been swapping life in the East End to becoming a student nurse?

Its been great. We filmed the first episode in June or July this year and it feels like it was ages ago. Its a really great place to work in terms of cast and crew, its all very exciting.

Jane and Marty joint the ED (Picture: Alistair Heap)

Have you been keeping up with the aftermath of Shakils death?

Theyve done an extraordinary job with the storyline. The aftermath is still playing out which for me is really important in terms of whenever youre going to cover something like this, you need to make sure you dont do it for the sake of ratings but give the story time to breathe and give some truths to it. Everyone whos worked on it is great; Bonnie, Zack, Davood. Its brilliant. Hats off to those guys for putting in all the work. I put in some work and wanted to make sure it was done with justice, and correctly. But then after I did my part I left, and these guys have carried it on and made it what its become. Im really proud.

Apparently there was a scene where they had a billboard of me in the Square I heard! Which really made me laugh. Thats so brilliant that Im still haunting all of my friends. You cant escape me.

Are you still in touch with your EastEnders friends?

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Tilly Keeper and Jasmine Armfield (Louise and Bex) are two of my best friends in the whole wide world. We run lines together. Do you know what, its really entertaining for me, sometimes I will be reading a script and they have a lot of words, and Jasmine is not the most long wordy type of person in the world, well put it that way! Its really entertaining sometimes, me and Tilly will just sit there and ask her to read some of my Marty lines.

(Picture: Alistair Heap / BBC)

So whats Matty like?

He has all this energy and this want to do the best he can, and impress everyone. But hes got this part to his personality thats a bit mischievous, a bit cheeky, he can be a bit witty a times and can rub some people up the wrong way. I think he needs to calm down a bit in terms of dividing people. As a character he always means well but doesnt necessarily go about things the right way and might sometimes say the wrong thing.

Is he involved in any of the big upcoming stunts?

There are some exciting things to come, definitely. Theres a really great Christmas episode planned, and everyones worked crazy hard. There are some great things happening, especially from Marty and Jade – they get themselves into some big situations over the next couple of weeks.

Jade is Martys frenemy in the ED (Picture: Alistair Heap / BBC)

So Jade and Matty arent exactly best pals…

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Yeah I think the first two episodes you see them together it definitely sets it up. I think you get a feel for how these two different people interact on a friendship level and a work level as colleagues. Its interesting to explore those dynamics when youre friends with someone – we call them frenemies, Marty and Jade. Thats what they grow to be. They are constantly trying to outdo each other, it makes for funny moments.

In his second episode Matty is hit with claustrophobia and Jade does nothing to help – will he be OK?

Hes asthmatic so that has something to do with it. Again, its all linked into the competition element and they find themselves in some crazy situations that wouldnt have happened if they hadnt been on each others backs so much, but thats their competitive nature coming through wanting to impress everyone.

Will his asthma lead to some dramatic storylines down the line?

I think anyone whos asthmatic in real life its something that just jumps out sometimes. I think being a nurse its a critical job, so maybe hell get pushed to his physical limits that might lead to some asthma moments.

He and Jade seem to be the light against some of the shade that can be the storylines in Casualty.

I have missed some of the serious storylines going on at the moment and I think those two are a bit of life, and energy, and comedy. The comedy moments that they achieve just being at each others necks constantly. They realise their friendship is real, but they need to work on their boundaries with one another.

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Have you had to do lots of research on big words working on the show?

Oh forever, thats all Im constantly doing and Im so bad at pronouncing these words. Luckily we have a full time medical adviser who works as part of the team on set everyday so its their job to make us look like were actually passing for doctors or nurses.

Are there some serious moments for Matty as well as the comedy?

I think the end of every joke they annoy someone a bit more every time. I think Marty puts his foot in his mouth and that comes from inexperience. Theyre youthful, compared to some of the other characters, you see how young they are. That all bubbles away for long enough, someone will put them in their place. Connie runs a tight ship. Theyll get themselves inline eventually and be the nurses when they want to be.

MORE: Emmerdale fans disgusted as teacher Maya and underage Jacob kiss

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