Tamwar Masood
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| EastEnders character | ||||||||||||||||
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| Tamwar Masood | ||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Himesh Patel | |||||||||||||||
| Created by | Diederick Santer | |||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2007— | |||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 1 October 2007 | |||||||||||||||
| Profile | ||||||||||||||||
| Home | 41 Albert Square | |||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Student | |||||||||||||||
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Tamwar "Tam" Masood is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He is played by Himesh Patel and he made his first appearance on 1 October 2007.
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[edit] Character creation
[edit] Background
Tamwar Masood was one of several Asian characters introduced in 2007 by executive producer, Diederick Santer.[1] He was first seen in October 2007. Tamwar was the third character in the Masood family to make an appearance on-screen, joining the already established Zainab, and Shabnam (his mother and sister) who both appeared in July 2007. The core family was completed by the introduction of Tamwar's father, Masood Ahmed, a few weeks later. The Masoods were the first Muslim family to join the show since the Karims, who appeared between 1987 and 1990, and they were the first Asian family to be introduced since the unsuccessful Ferreira family in 2003. Panned by critics and viewers, the Ferreiras were dismissed as unrealistic by the Asian community in the UK, and were eventually axed in 2005.[2][3]
The introduction of more ethnic minority characters is part of producer Diederick Santer's plan to "diversify", to make EastEnders "feel more 21st century".[4] Prior to 2007, EastEnders was heavily criticised by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), for not representing the East End's real "ethnic make-up". It was suggested that the average proportion of visible minority faces on EastEnders was substantially lower than the actual ethnic minority population in East London boroughs, and it therefore reflected the East End in the 1960s, not the East End of the 2000s. Furthermore, it was suggested that an element of "tokenism" and stereotyping surrounded many of the minority characters in EastEnders.[5] The expansion of minority representation in EastEnders provides "more opportunities for audience identification with its characters, hence a wider appeal."[6] Trevor Phillips, CRE chair, has said: "balanced representation of ethnic minority communities in the media matters. The industry has a key part to play in this, it is a powerful tool and can go a long way towards helping to build an integrated society."[7]
[edit] Casting
17 year old actor, Himesh Patel, was cast in the role of Tamwar. Like the character he plays, Patel is the son of a of a postmistress and he is also a former paperboy.[8] He has commented: "I was so nervous before I went for the audition - my biggest role before was in plays at school but they made us feel very welcome…I was thrilled when I learned that I had got the part…[I] have been avidly watching EastEnders to get up to speed with all the characters … Being in EastEnders is such a great start to my career and working with some amazing actors is fantastic. Sometimes I only get the scripts a couple of days before filming, so it can be a bit stressful learning the lines but I'm managing so far … The whole EastEnders 'family' has been very helpful, and I was made to feel at home from the moment I arrived.[9][8]
Patel has revealed that he was already a "big fan" of the actors who play his on-screen mother and father, Nina Wadia and Nitin Ganatra: "I was a big fan of Nina and Nitin already, and suddenly to find myself working with such experienced and respected actors was like a dream come true."[9] Steve Biggs, the director of the Cambridge-based "Young Actors Company", where Patel trained, has said "Apart from being an excellent actor, Himesh is a very likeable and down-to-earth young man, who I'm sure will prove to be an absolute hit, both on and off screen". Actress Nina Wadia, who plays Patel's screen mother, has added: "I'm looking forward to working with my on-screen son, Himesh Patel."[9]
[edit] Character development
Himesh Patel has described his character: "Tamwar is a quiet boy who could be described as a geek but he is quite single-minded and will do what he wants".[8] Reports claimed that Tamwar was to struggle with his sexual identity and be the first homosexual Muslim character featured in a British soap opera.[9] This, however, was denied by the BBC.[10]
[edit] Storylines
Tamwar first appeared as a student attending a study session with his classmate, Libby Fox. Libby clearly resented his presence, which she later revealed was because Tamwar achieved higher grades than her.
On 28 January 2008, while looking through the post, Tamwar discovered the family were in severe debt. He also discovered that his sister Shabnam had been secretly saving to go on a trip around the world. Tamwar persuded Shabnam to stay, and offer her holiday money to their mother to save the family business.
On 2 May 2008 he stopped Whitney Dean from running away from Mo Harris after Whitney stole a top from Stacey Branning's stall. He has also become involved with his mother feud with Bianca Jackson after she ripped up the cheque which Tamwar bought round to replace Zainabs window boxes which Bianca's daughter Tiffany Dean ruined by pouring soapy water on them.
[edit] References
- ^ "Two new characters join Eastenders Asian family", www.asiansinmedia.org. URL last accessed 2007-10-16.
- ^ "Unrealistic’ Ferreira family dismissed by Asian viewers", The Stage. URL last accessed 2007-10-16.
- ^ "Unrealistic’ EastEnder accuses BBC of discrimination", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2007-10-16.
- ^ "The art of storytelling", The Guardian. URL last accessed on 2007-03-27.
- ^ "EastEnders hasn't got enough black and Asian actors", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 2007-03-27.
- ^ "EastEnders", www.museum.tv. URL last accessed on 2007-03-27.
- ^ "Coronation Street and EastEnders battle it out for coveted CRE Race In the Media Award", cre.gov.uk. URL last accessed on 2007-03-27.
- ^ a b c "Special delivery: paperboy lands EastEnders post", The Hunts Post. URL last accessed 2007-10-16.
- ^ a b c d "Himesh, 17, joins EastEnders", www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk. URL last accessed 2007-10-16.
- ^ "EastEnders wedding gossip", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2007-10-28.
