EastEnders fans are buzzing with speculation that a notorious soap villain could be set for a shocking return—despite being killed off years ago.
Back in 2010, the menacing Yusef Khan, played by Ace Bhatti, stormed into Albert Square and immediately became one of the most captivating villains in the soap’s history. Yusef’s arrival was no ordinary one—he had tracked down his estranged wife, Zainab Masood, played by Nina Wadia, who had fled Pakistan after an affair with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra). The couple had sought refuge in Walford, but Yusef was hot on their trail.
In a dramatic twist, it was revealed that Yusef’s own family had set Zainab on fire decades earlier. The shocking revelation didn’t end there—Zainab’s son Tamwar was dating Yusef’s daughter, Afia (Meryl Fernandes), forcing the Masood family to reluctantly accept Yusef into their lives.
Yusef caused plenty of drama (Image: BBC)
However, Yusef’s presence quickly wreaked havoc. He manipulated and drugged Zainab, leading to her hospitalization and ultimately causing the collapse of her marriage with Masood. The once-loving relationship turned toxic as Yusef’s abusive behavior left viewers horrified.
When Zainab finally attempted to escape the nightmare, Yusef retaliated violently, beating her before setting fire to the B&B. In a moment of revenge, Zainab deceitfully claimed that Yusef’s daughter was trapped in the flames, leading him to rush into the burning building. But in a twist of fate, the floor beneath him gave way, sending Yusef plummeting into the inferno.
Fans, however, are convinced that Yusef’s story isn’t over.
Despite his apparent death, some viewers believe Yusef could make a dramatic comeback. After all, they argue, his body was never shown on screen after the fire, leaving the door open for a potential return.
He was last seen on screen over 10 years ago (Image: BBC)
On a Reddit thread, one fan speculated: “I can imagine Yusef Khan from 2011 returning unexpectedly and teaming up with Nish. He was the worst soap bad guy. Maybe they will cause another Panesar house fire.”
Another viewer chimed in, recalling the fiery scene: “Didn’t he go through the floor of the fire, or was that a different character?” To which the first fan replied: “That was him. But anything is possible with EastEnders. Technically we didn’t see the body in the bag.”
As speculation mounts, one thing is clear—EastEnders has a history of resurrecting characters for jaw-dropping plot twists. Could Yusef Khan be the next to rise from the ashes?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on BBC One.
