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User:FishLoveHam/Kush Kazemi

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Kush Kazemi
EastEnders character
Portrayed byDavood Ghadami
Duration2014–2021
First appearanceEpisode 4945
20 October 2014 (2014-10-20)
Last appearanceEpisode 6257
19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
ClassificationFormer; regular
Introduced byDominic Treadwell-Collins
Spin-off
appearances		The Queen Vic Quiz Night (2020)
In-universe information
Other namesKhouroush Kazemi
FatherUmar Kazemi
MotherCarmel Kazemi
Brothers
WifeSafirah Kazemi (backstory)
Shabnam Masood (2015–2016)
Sons

Kush Kazemi is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Davood Ghadami. Ghadami's casting was announced in August 2014 before Kush was introduced by executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins in episode 4945, broadcast 20 October 2014, as a friend of established character Martin Fowler (James Bye). Kush is initially billed as a "good guy" who is "funny and full of energy", but hides a tragic past underneath his "brash exterior". Across his stint, his storylines focused on his various romances and flings with female characters such as Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrar), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), and Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty). In September 2020, it was announced that Ghadami had left the soap after over six years. The character was killed off in episode 6257, broadcast on 19 April 2021, where the character is pushed in front of an oncoming train by Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith).

Storylines edit

Kush causes disruption on his first day by trying to drive his van down Bridge Street, but ultimately makes friends due his laid-back personality. He is attracted to Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrar), despite her coy nature, in an attempt to give Shabnam some Christmas spirit, he kisses her, but keeps this from his peers. Kush pushes Shabnam on her feelings for him, and she later has a one-night stand with him as she is upset over losing her job. She rejects him afterwards, feeling guilty for betraying her religious views, until Kush convinces her to start a relationship. They keep it a secret at first but when Shabnam's father Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) hears it from Donna Yates (Lisa Hammond), he is angry at them for keeping a secret. Shabnam persuades Masood to accept them but ends up lying that Kush has proposed to her. When he tells her that it is happening too fast, as they have only been dating a short while, Shabnam is devastated at her actions and Masood throws him out. Afterwards, Kush confides in Martin Fowler (James Bye) that he is not ready for another marriage after the death of his first wife, Safirah. At Donna's 30th birthday party, he gets drunk and when Shabnam tries to talk to him, he tells her that he is still grieving over the loss of his wife. Eventually, Shabnam admits that she does not want to get married; she only lied about the proposal because she loves him. They decide to take things more slowly. Masood comes round to this, but tells them that he does not want to see Shabnam getting heartbroken. However, Kush later proposes to Shabnam after learning of her daughter from Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), whom he had earlier kissed.

After kissing Stacey a second time and regretting it, Kush finds out that Shabnam is five months pregnant with their child. He has initial doubts about this, but they soon begin planning their wedding. Seven months into her pregnancy, Shabnam's baby dies, leaving Kush heartbroken. Shabnam gives birth to their son, Zaair, but Kush is unable to cope and leaves the room. He visits Zaair later, cuddling him and telling him how proud he is. Shabnam and Kush argue because he was not there for her and she plans to move to Pakistan, while he considers returning to Essex with his mother Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford). However, Carmel and Masood get them to reunite. Shabnam rearranges their wedding, hoping that being married will help them gain custody of her daughter Jade Green (Amaya Edward). Kush thinks they are marrying for the wrong reasons, but they agree that they love each other and want to marry. Before the wedding, Shabnam tells Kush that Stacey's baby is not Martin's, and Stacey tells him she thinks he could be the father. Stacey swears a reluctant Kush to secrecy and he marries Shabnam and departs with her for their honeymoon. When Kush and Shabnam return, Kush learns on the day of Jade's hearing that Shabnam took Jade without permission. Kush and Shabnam decide not to go for custody of Jade when they realise they have not come to terms with Zaair's death.

When Stacey's son Arthur Fowler is born, Shabnam thinks Kush could be the father from his behaviour, and confronts Stacey, worried she will lose her husband, but Stacey tells her he is not the father, so Shabnam finds Kush and passionately kisses him. However, Shabnam later hears Kush talking to Carmel about Arthur being his son, and Shabnam begins to re-evaluate her marriage. She wants to tell Martin the truth about Arthur's paternity, but when Stacey's mental condition worsens, she and Kush agree to wait and Kush vows to prioritise Shabnam over Arthur. Kush suggests to Shabnam that they move away, but she decides to leave on her own, urging Kush to stay for Arthur. Masood finds out about this and Arthur's paternity, so punches Kush and threatens to kill him if he comes near Shabnam again, and tells him that Shabnam has already decided to leave Walford. Kush then breaks down in Carmel's arms, thinking he has lost Shabnam for good. Despite Kush's pleas, Shabnam leaves Walford with Jade after planting a tree in Zaair's memory, telling Kush that they must lead separate lives, but she still loves him. Kush then starts drinking heavily and Martin finds out that Kush is Arthur's father. Stacey tells Kush that he can be a part of Arthur's life, but Martin disagrees and breaks his friendship with Kush. An emotional Kush has sex with Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill), but she suffers an epileptic fit in his bed. Kush calls Nancy's former boyfriend, Tamwar (Himesh Patel), who calls Kush selfish. Kush realises he is a bad role model so tells Stacey and Martin that he wants nothing to do with Arthur. Tamwar calls Carmel, who agrees to move in with Kush. Carmel then reveals to Kush that his father, Umar (Selva Rasalingam) has sold their house and she is homeless.

Kush develops feelings for Carmel's best friend Denise Fox (Diane Parish). They admit their feelings to each other and they have a brief fling, however, she ends it, fearing it will ruin her friendship with Carmel. Kush later discovers from Carmel that Denise is pregnant and believes he is the father, but Denise tells him he is not as she is 18 to 19 weeks pregnant. Kush later advises his younger brother Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) when he wants to have sex with his girlfriend, Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), who is Martin's daughter. When the explicit image Shakil sent to Bex goes viral around Shakil's school, Bex is blamed, even though Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper) was the one who sent it. This causes things to become fraught yet again between the Kazemis and the Fowlers. Kush pursues Denise again but she turns him down due to her friendship with Carmel. However, when Kush is in the fish and chip shop after having a drink with Denise, Michelle Fowler (Jenna Russell) crashes into it, leaving him unconscious. Denise helps rescue Kush, and while he is in hospital, she admits her feelings for him and they start a relationship. Back home, Carmel interrupts Kush and Denise one morning, but assumes that Kush has met a doctor from the hospital, which he confirms. Denise tells Kush that they should admit to their relationship from the start, so they tell Carmel, who is shocked, and says that when the relationship ends, she would be forced to take Kush's side and would lose her friend forever. Kush asks Denise to move in with him but she declines where Kush accuses her of comparing him to her controlling ex-husband, Owen Turner (Lee Ross). Kush storms off and goes into cardiac arrest in the middle of the market, and is diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome. Denise regrets rejecting him and spontaneously proposes to him in the hospital; he accepts. Later, Kush's other brother, Darius Kazemi (Ash Rizi), offers him work in Dubai but Kush and Carmel are left devastated when Shakil, while returning a stolen bike taken by his friend Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), dies after being stabbed by a gang. When Kush and Denise end their relationship, he begins having a secret sexual relationship with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace). The pair decide to keep it a secret due to the complicated relationship Kush has with the Slaters and Fowlers, but when they are caught having sex, they admit to being together. When Kush sees Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) being harassed on a balcony by Leo King (Tom Wells), he rushes to her defence, and accidentally pushes Leo over the balcony.

Kush was killed-off on 19 April 2021 after being pushed in front of an oncoming train by Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) as he attempted to flee to Dubai with Whitney and Arthur after informing the police of a car heist that took place in November 2020 involving the Mitchell family and Shirley Carter (Linda Henry). As Whitney took Arthur to the toilet, Gray confronted Kush and the two men had harsh words with Gray telling Kush that Whitney is his life. After a brief tussle Gray falls onto the track as a train approaches, Kush frantically tries to save Gray and pulls him up to safety, but Gray turns and shoves Kush onto the tracks where he is killed by the oncoming train. The next day, the residents mourn Kush, especially Whitney, Martin and Denise. Later, in The Queen Vic, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) invites all of Kush's friends to raise a glass to their friend. Kush's body is flown to Dubai to buried near his family and Martin and Sonia fly over to attend the funeral. In March 2022, Gray is arrested for Kush's murder, as well as for the murders of his first wife Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer) and Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White).

Creation and introduction edit

 
Kush (Ghadami, pictured) was initially envisioned as a "good guy" and "a new leading man to spice up the market".

The character was announced on 19 August 2014, where he was "set to cause a big stir in Walford" as he would open a stall at Walford's market, sparking a competitive rivalry with Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).[1][2] Kush is initially billed as a "good guy" who is "funny and full of energy", but hides a tragic past underneath his "brash exterior".[1] Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins explained that the show's bosses had "had Kush in [their] minds for a while" prior to the character's announcement, envisioning him as "a new leading man to spice up the market and set some female hearts fluttering".[1] Treadwell-Collins also teased that it wouldn't be long before he had a female character "firmly in his sights".[1] When asked about Kush's character, Ghadami said that the viewer would quickly get a "good idea" of Kush's personality, saying that the character originated from Essex and was a bit of an "Essex boy".[2] He added that Kush is a "genuinely a nice guy [...] and he wants to get on with people", despite adding that Kush would "ruffle feathers" around Walford at first.[2]

Kush is established to have connections in Walford, namely Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), as he was once close friends with her husband Martin (James Bye).[1][2] Ghadami said of Kush's introduction that "He turns up on the Square and is setting up a market stall. He's in direct competition with a few others on the market. That's not a bad thing, though - there are some interesting relationships there and he manages to ruffle a few feathers from very early on".[2] When talking about the character's relationship with the Masood family, Ghadami revealed that they would be present during his character's first scene and that Kush would get along well with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) and begin an unexpected relationship with Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrar).[2] Speaking of the relationship, Ghudami said "His personality isn't completely compatible with Shabnam's and early on that shines through. He doesn't see it as a bad thing though and kind of enjoys it. He likes to speak his mind which isn't always appreciated".[2]

Speaking of his role, Ghadami said he was "excited to be joining the cast of EastEnders" as he had been a fan of the show for a very long time. He continued by calling it "surreal" to work with actors that he had "spent so many evenings watching on television".[1][2] Treadwell-Collins added that Ghadami was a "brilliant actor and a proper gentleman".[1] Ghadami felt that Kush's personality similar to his own, which he commented was "easy to bring to the role".[2] Kush went on to make his first appearance on 20 October 2014.[3]

Development edit

Relationship with Shabnam Masood edit

Initial relationship edit

Affair with Stacey Slater edit

Stillbirth edit

Breakup edit

Knife crime story edit

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a858049/eastenders-shakil-knife-crime-story-review/

Departure edit

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-kush-kazemi-exit-davood-ghadami/

Reception edit

Davood Ghadami received several awards and nominations for his portrayal of Kush. At the 2015 British Soap Awards, he was nominated for "Best Newcomer" but lost to Jessica Regan (Niamh Donoghue, Doctors).[4] At the 2015 Inside Soap Awards, Ghadami was nominated for "Sexiest Male" and shortlisted for "Best Affair" with co-star Lacey Turner, losing "Sexiest Male" to Michael Parr (Ross Barton, Emmerdale), and "Best Affair" to Parr and Charley Webb (Debbie Dingle, Emmerdale).[5][6][7] In 2015, he won the TV Choice Award for "Best Soap Newcomer (Actor)".[8] In 2016, Ghadami was nominated at the 21st National Television Awards for "Serial Drama Performance", but lost to Danny Dyer (Mick Carter, EastEnders).[9] At the 2016 Inside Soap Awards, Ghadami was nominated for "Sexiest Male", losing to Charlie Clapham (Freddie Roscoe, Hollyoaks).[10] He was also nominated for "Best Actor" at the 2016 British Soap Awards, losing to Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale).[11] At the 2017 British Soap Awards, he was again nominated for "Best Actor" but lost to John Middleton (Ashley Thomas, Emmerdale).[12] He won "Sexiest Male" at the 2017 Inside Soap Awards.[13] He was nominated for "Best Soap Actor" at the 2018 TV Choice Awards, losing to Danny Dyer.[14][15] In 2019, he was nominated for "Serial Drama Performance" at the 24th National Television Awards, again losing to Dyer.[16]

Kush was described as a "hunk" and a "womaniser" by Dan Wiggins of MyLondon.[17] Claire Lindsay of Metro called Kush "one of the few generally amiable guys in the [soap] genre".[18]

Kush's death scene received generally negative reception. It received 106 viewer complaints due to "horrifying scenes".[19] The topic of the complaints was listed as "violence".[20] Louise Griffin of Metro called the scene a "shock".[20] The decision for Kush to be killed by Gray was criticised by Calli Kitson of Metro, who labelled it a "complete mistake", expressing frustration with how it required Kush's problem gambling storyline to be dropped.[21] Viewers were reportedly "devastated" by Kush's exit.[22] Claire Lindsay (Metro) described the scene as "a quick gasp which served to further undermine a powerful story" and "unnecessarily gruesome", continuing that "the dispatching of Kush to give Gray a few more months of shelf life is just one in a long line of botched up death stories".[18] After the scene aired, many viewers voiced their criticisms on Twitter about the death being too gruesome.[22] Some criticised the plot device of CCTV cameras malfunctioning, believing it was too convenient to be plausible.[23] Writing for Irish Mirror, Rose Hill reported that fans "were left sickened" by the scene, opining that the scene was "tragic".[24]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Dainty, Sophie (19 August 2014). "EastEnders bosses cast Davood Ghadami as newcomer Khoroush Kazemi". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kilkelly, Daniel (14 October 2014). "EastEnders newcomer Davood Ghadami: 'Kush fancies Shabnam'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ "EastEnders episode broadcast 20/10/2014". BBC Online. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel; Dainty, Sophie (16 May 2015). "Who won at British Soap Awards 2015? See the winners list in full". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  5. ^ Dainty, Sophie (14 July 2015). "Inside Soap Awards 2015 longlist revealed: Who's in line for Best Actor, Actress and Newcomer?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  6. ^ McGrath, Rachel (6 October 2015). "Inside Soap Awards 2015 Winners: 'Emmerdale' Wins Big, Beating 'EastEnders' And 'Coronation Street'". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ^ Sandwell, Ian (29 September 2015). "EastEnders and Emmerdale lead 'final four' shortlists for the Inside Soap Awards 2015". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ Denham, Jess (8 September 2015). "TV Choice Awards 2015 winners list: Ant and Dec and Broadchurch triumph as Sheridan Smith pays tribute to Cilla Black". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ^ "National Television Awards 2016 longlist nominees announced". BBC. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  10. ^ Sandwell, Ian (21 June 2016). "Inside Soap Awards 2016 longlist revealed: Which of your soap favourites are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  11. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 April 2016). "British Soap Awards 2016 nominations: Which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  12. ^ Dainty, Sophie (18 April 2017). "British Soap Awards 2017 nominations: Find out which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  13. ^ Dainty, Sophie (6 November 2017). "Emmerdale wins best soap at the Inside Soap Awards for the third year running". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  14. ^ "TV Choice Awards". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Winners 2018". TV Choice. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  16. ^ Harp, Justin (16 October 2018). "Here are all the nominees for the National TV Awards 2019, including Strictly, Doctor Who and Ant & Dec". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  17. ^ Wiggins, Dan (14 April 2022). "The EastEnders and Holby City hunk who appeared in box office flop that lost Disney $200m". MyLondon. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  18. ^ a b Lindsay, Claire (19 April 2021). "As Kush dies in EastEnders, the soap deaths that were a huge waste and mistake". Metro. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  19. ^ Hurst, Brogan-Leigh (1 May 2021). "EastEnders hit with over 100 complaints over brutal Kush Kazemi tube death". Mirror. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  20. ^ a b Griffin, Louise (1 May 2021). "EastEnders hit with complaints after Kush Kazemi's violent death at hands of Gray Atkins". Metro. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  21. ^ Kitson, Calli (19 April 2021). "Why having Gray Atkins kill Kush Kazemi in EastEnders was a complete mistake". Metro. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  22. ^ a b Stolworthy, Jacob (20 April 2021). "EastEnders viewers 'devastated' as Kush killed by Gray in gruesome twist". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  23. ^ Quinn, Angie (20 April 2021). "EastEnders viewers furious as Gray Atkins gets away with another murder after Tube blunder". MyLondon. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  24. ^ Hill, Rose (19 April 2021). "EastEnders fans sickened by Kush's horror train death after saving Gray's life". Irish Mirror. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.

External links edit

Kush Kazemi at BBC Online (Archived)

Category:EastEnders characters]] Category:Television characters introduced in 2014]] Category:English male characters in television]] Category:Fictional merchants]] Category:Fictional gamblers]] Category:Fictional murdered people]]

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