Phaldut Sharma: My mum predicts EastEnders moves

EastEnders newcomer Phaldut Sharma has revealed that his mum is a huge fan of the soap and even has ideas about what should happen to his character. The actor, who arrived in Walford in July as Masood's wreckless brother AJ, told Inside Soap magazine that his mother has a hand in the show's events, having previously predicted he should join the cast. "My mum watches EastEnders religiously and has always said I should play Masood's brother," Phaldut said. "So far, exactly what she thinks should happen to AJ has happened - and now she reckons it's down to her!" The soap star and former dancer added that his mother had previously been convinced he would be a doctor or a lawyer, but is nonetheless pleased with his choice of career. "She's always wanted me to do something more academic, so she's quite enjoyed the fact that she's been able to watch me on television over the years playing everything from a doctor to a husband to a lawyer," he said. "She loves that - I think all mums would." However he admitted that she would like to see AJ settle down. "If it was down to her, she'd probably want AJ to have a makeover and get married," Phaldut admitted. "That's exactly what she would be after. She would put him in a suit and give him some sort of professional job."

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.