Actress Laila Rouass Joins EastEnders Cast

Laila Rouass is joining the cast of EastEnders – after it emerged she was left ‘in tears’ when her pro Strictly partner Anton Du Beke said she ‘looked like a P***’ in 2009.

The actress, 53, who is of Indian and Moroccan descent, will head to Albert Square as guest character Ayesha in August.

Ayesha arrives in Walford following an invitation from established character Nish Panesar, and it’s quickly apparent she has history with him, his ex-wife Suki Panesar, and the rest of the family.

It will transpire that Ayesha knew Suki and Nish a long time ago, but they haven’t been in touch for many years.

Laila is best known for her roles in since-cancelled soaps Holby City, Primeval, and Footballer’s Wives.

Laila Rouass, 53, who is of Indian and Moroccan descent, has been revealed to be joining EastEnders as guest character Ayesha

It comes after it was emerged she was left ‘in tears’ when her Strictly partner Anton Du Beke (pictured) said she ‘looked like a P***’ in 2009

Laila is best known for her roles in since-cancelled soaps Holby City, Primeval, and Footballer’s Wives

Laila said of her upcoming appearance: ‘I cannot tell you how excited I am to be in EastEnders!

‘I was born in the East End and grew up there, and there was such a buzz when the show started.

‘Even though I was little at the time, I can clearly remember the first episode and Doctor Legg arriving at the flat where Reg Cox had been murdered.

‘I’ve also known Navin Chowdhry (Nish) for many years, so it was great to work with him again and to do scenes with Balvinder Sopal (Suki) and the rest of the Panesars as Ayesha reunites with them.

‘This is a lifelong dream come true!’

Laila’s scenes as Ayesha have already been filmed and will air in early August.

The news comes after Laila was seen on Wednesday for the first time since it was revealed she was cried left in tears after Anton’s remark.

At the time of the incident, Anton, 58, apologised and admitted he felt ‘stupid’ and ’embarrassed’ for saying the actress looked like a P*** when she got a spray tan.

Laila’s guest character Ayesha will be invited Nish Panesar, and it’s quickly apparent she has long history with him, his ex-wife Suki Panesar, and the rest of the family.

The news comes after Laila was seen on Wednesday for the first time since it was revealed she was cried left in tears after Anton’s remark

At the time of the incid
ent, Anton admitted he felt ‘stupid’ and ’embarrassed’ for saying the actress looked like a P*** when she got a spray tan (both pictured in 2009)

He and Laila reportedly made amends just a few weeks later.

The historic row resurfaced last week amid the ongoing barrage of allegations against Strictly Come Dancing and its professionals.

More and more celebrities are speaking out about their experience on the show, as claims of ‘abuse’ and ‘bullying’ from former contestants continue to grow.

The Holby City star looked effortlessly chic in denim blue jeans and a black top and blazer as she walked her dogs in a park.

It was also revealed at the time that Anton had also asked Laila if she was a terrorist in a joke about her North African heritage.

Speaking on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two after the incident came to light, Laila said: ‘We are getting through this together. It’s been a tough week for both of us… But we just want to move on.

‘This happened weeks ago and we’ve been getting on very well.’

Anton added: ‘I would just like to reiterate my apology from last weekend to Laila, to everybody on the show and to everybody that watches the show because I feel embarrassed, I feel stupid as well.’

He continued: ‘It was a stupid thing to do and a stupid thing to say and now people are talking about that when they should be talking about the show and what a great show it is.’

It was also revealed at the time that Anton had also asked Laila if she was a terrorist in a joke about her north African heritage

He finished: ‘As I say I am mortified about it, completely, and Laila has been quite remarkably wonderful.’

Bruce Forsyth was also forced to backtrack in a formal BBC statement after he said the nation should get a ‘sense of humour’ about the controversy.

He had told radio station TalkSport: ‘We used to have a sense of humour about this. You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing.

‘At one time the Americans used to call us ‘limeys’ which doesn’t sound very nice, but we used to laugh about it. Everybody has a nickname.’

But hours later a statement from Bruce was issued by the BBC.

‘What Anton said to Laila was wrong and he has apologised unreservedly for this. Nor do I in any way excuse or condone the use of such language. To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable.

‘However, there is a major difference between this and racist comments which are malicious in intent and, whilst I accept that we live in a world of extraordinary political correctness, we should keep things in perspective.’

The statement added ‘these are my personal views and not necessarily those of the BBC’.

Strictly is currently facing its biggest crisis in its 20 years since it returned to the BBC in its current form as a wave of complaints from past celebrity contestants have been made in recent months

Professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the show following claims he hit and spat at his dancing partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals. He later admitted and apologised to Zara in a statement

Weeks before, Giovanni Pernice , 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners.

James Jordan has also poured fuel on the flames of the Strictly bullying row after Steve Backshall complained that James’ wife Ola ‘bullied’ him while on the programme in 2014.

The former Strictly pro took to social media to make a jibe at the seasoned television explorer after it emerged that he lodged a complaint with the BBC over professional dancer Ola’s ‘rude and impatient manner’.

Responding to a Strictly fan’s mocking disbelief that the hardened explorer – who has dived with Great White sharks and wrestled poisonous snakes in his career – could be ‘reduced to tears’ by the 5ft 4in dancer, James joked: ‘Please help me!!’

MailOnline has revealed the show’s hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman could begin the new series with an apology for alleged a
busive behaviour suffered by celebs in a desperate attempt to save the show.

BBC bosses are said to be desperate to draw ‘an immediate line’ under the scandal when it begins in September and sources have said it ‘can’t start quick enough’.

Weeks before, Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners

James Jordan has also poured fuel on the flames of the Strictly bullying row after Steve Backshall complained that James’ wife Ola ‘bullied’ him while on the programme in 2014

They said the presenters may be asked to address it at the start of the first show and could even say sorry after complaints from Amanda, Zaraand Steve.

The insider told us: ‘This year’s Strictly is the 20th anniversary and it will be a celebration of the show and its history.

‘The BBC will want to draw an immediate line under what has happened. The show can’t start soon enough.’

It comes amid claims a host of Strictly celeb contestants have set up a ‘secret support group’ where they have shared their own horror stories and corroborated one another’s claims.

But Tess and Claudia may not address the sudden departures of Giovanni and Graziano.