EastEnders actor Davood Ghadami has reportedly left his wife for an actress he starred alongside in a pantomime.
The 42-year-old, best known for playing Kush Kazemi from 2014 to 2021, had been married to wife Isobel since 2010 and shares two children with her.
According to The Sun and references on his Instagram, the Harlow-born actor is now in a relationship with Melanie Barker.
The pair are said to have met while performing in a 2022/23 production of Aladdin, in which Ghadami played Abanazar and Barker starred as Princess Jasmine.
“They are two very attractive people and it was clear they had sizzling on-stage chemistry together,” a source told the Sun.
The pair have now been spotted out and about together having dinner, visiting hotels and training in the gym.
“There was a lot of flirting backstage and I’m sure Aladdin wouldn’t have been happy that Princess Jasmine was giggling with Abanazar behind his back,” the Sun account added.
“But the genie is now well and truly out of the bottle and they are a proper couple -living together, training together and posting photos on Instagram together.”
The fairytale ending isn’t perfect for everyone, however, with Sophie Ghadami now reportedly left on her own.
The couple married in 2010 after meeting at university and welcomed daughters Eve and Grace in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
Their relationship survived the infamously testing Strictly Come Dancing curse by making it to week 10 alongside partner Nadiya Bychkova without striking up a romantic relationship.
However, it seems the marriage couldn’t survive panto season.
Singer and actress Melanie Barker is 10 years Ghadami’s junior and is also said to have been married at the point of the pair meeting.
Ghadami’s father Muhammed emigrated to Harlow from Iran and now has various property interests in the Essex town. Davood Ghadami has even represented his dad before Harlow Council.
Ghadami’s representatives have been approached for comment.
