After playing a nice guy for so long, Davood Ghadami is looking forward to finally embracing his dark side– but only on screen, of course.
The 40-year-old has relished his role as a roguish character in the Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise, which starts tomorrow night.
The former EastEnders and Strictly star says: “I’ve been the good guy for so many years it was a nice change to portray someone not so nice.”
Off-screen, he remains committed to being a devoted family man.
Married to primary school teacher and teenage sweetheart Isobel, 41, the couple have been together for more than 20 years and live in Essex with daughters Eve, 10, and seven-year-old Grace.
Davood – Kush Kazemi in Albert Square until he was pushed under a train in 2021 – says: “It’s very much a pink house at the moment but they are growing up far too quickly.
“They are very bright. I tell them how lucky they are to have freedom, education and the opportunity to do whatever they want.”
Being of English-Iranian heritage, Davood has been deeply affected by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, for allegedly violating Iran’s rules requiring women to cover their hair.
Her case sparked protests in which more than 500 have been killed and 20,000 held prisoner.
Davood’s dad Mohammad came from Iran to Harlow, Essex, in the 1970s and married local girl Jayne. He says: “Dad left Iran when the revolution happened. I’ve been back a couple of times.
“It’s a beautiful country but politically broken and horrific for women.
“Things aren’t perfect here but look a few thousand miles away to see the alternative.
“Eve and Grace can go freely to school and share a classroom with their peers, male or female, and not be forced to wear different clothes because they were not born male.
“They know other girls their age in Iran aren’t so lucky but that people are trying to change things.”
Davood is frustrated he cannot do more. The danger facing protesters means he is unable to contact relatives living north of Tehran.
He says: “It is very difficult to find out what is happening because people can’t say or systems are down.
“It’s frustrating watching from the sidelines but Iranians are incredibly strong-willed, especially the women.
“They’ll find a way to make this a success. It’s a change that has been waiting for the last few decades and we’re confident this will ultimately be a successful revolution.”
You only need to chat for a few minutes to realise Davood’s most famous role – as good guy Kush on Albert Square – was not much of an acting stretch.
Warm, open and engaging, he’s clearly one of life’s decent people, even if he relishes playing not-so-nice Ben Tyler on tonight’s show.
Beyond Paradise, set in Devon, follows Kris Marshall’s Det Insp Humphrey Goodman on a new adventure.
Davood says: “When I heard they were bringing back Kris Marshall, and with EastEnders writer Tony Jordan behind it, I was really intrigued.
“Viewers love a good mystery and seeing how it is solved. That’s what they look forward to when they watch Death in Paradise.
“Beyond Paradise does that beautifully. It takes what the original did so well and moves it up a notch.”
Davood loved working alongside Kris too. “It was great,” he says. “He’s more relaxed and less off the wall than Humphrey so it’s enjoyable to see how he slips into character.”
Davood obviously makes friends easily and stays in touch with several of his on-screen romantic entanglements from EastEnders, including Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, and Denise Fox, played by Diane Parish.
He says: “I worked closely with Lacey and she is a good friend.
“One of my only regrets about EastEnders is that I didn’t have more scenes with Diane. She’s amazing.”
The bromance with James Bye, who played his best friend Martin Fowler, is also still going strong.
The pair met again when Davood cheered him on during last year’s Strictly – the show on which he made the quarter finals in 2017.
The pair will be reunited again on BBC ’s Pointless Celebrities which airs later this year.
James recently announced he and wife Victoria, who already have three boys, are expecting their fourth child.
Davood says: “I am thrilled for James. He is building his five-a-side side team. We used to have a running joke that if I keep having girls and he keeps having boys, we’d have to swap one for one.”
Davood was a familiar face before joining EastEnders. In 2010 he played Duncan Clark in ITV detective drama Taggart.
He followed this with appearances as Aran Chandar in BBC soap Doctors and as Ramin Tehrani in Beeb hit Casualty. Arriving in Walford in 2014, he soon became a favourite. So it was shocking when he was pushed in front of a train by Gray Atkins played by Toby Alexander-Smith.
While others might have hoped to depart Walford in one piece, leaving the door open for a return, Davood said he was pleased to have a permanent exit.
“I know cast members who have been written out have returned,” he says. “But I didn’t want to sit by the phone waiting to be asked back.
“For me it’s better not to have that option and to be able to move on.
“It does feel sometimes I haven’t left, though. I’m part of the WhatsApp group. They’ve not kicked me out yet.”
After his EastEnders departure Davood was swiftly cast in another BBC show, Holby City, only for it to be axed, leaving many viewers furious on his behalf.
Last year he played the villain Abanazer in panto Aladdin in Aylesbury, Bucks, and it sparked a desire for more rogue parts.
He says: “It’s nice being nasty. Being a panto villain gave me a taste for it. I know panto baddies are in a league of their own – being very big and silly.
“But I really enjoyed the experience. It’s something you can revel in.
“I’d love to do more bad guy roles – something where the character has some sharp edges”
Until then, Davood is busy working on his second job as a gym owner.
His ripped physique, which so impressed the Strictly judges, certainly makes an excellent case for the benefits of exercise.
He says: “I take my eldest daughter to the gym sometimes. She has a go with the bars and the machines.
“Being active is so important for my mental well-being too.”
- Beyond Paradise is on BBC1, tomorrow at 8pm.
