Himesh Patel admits it was "terrifying" leaving ‘EastEnders’, but there was "only so far" he could take his character.
The 28-year-old actor portrayed Tamwar Masood from 2007 to 2016, and while he enjoyed growing his alter-ego in his nine years on Albert Square, the ‘Yesterday’ actor believes it was "the right moment" to depart Walford.
He said: "The amount of time I planned to stay kept changing because I was aware the transition could be hard.
"I was still enjoying my time there and growing as an actor. But then it felt like the right moment to take a leap of faith.
"It was a tough decision to walk away from what was my family, and a character who will always have such an important part of my life, but it had to be done.
"There’s only so far you can take yourself as an actor and a character in that show.
"I knew it was time to leave, and it was terrifying."
Himesh credits his family with encouraging him to get into acting after he impressed them by doing "silly voices and impressions" as a youngster, but he is pleased they are "completely away from" the showbiz spotlight.
He added to Marie Claire magazine: "My family are completely away from it all, which is something I really cherish and protect.
"I was always doing silly voices and impressions, and my mum and dad saw that and encouraged me to channel it.
"I joined a youth theatre in Cambridge, and that’s how I got the ‘EastEnders’ audition."
Himesh Patel: EastEnders departure was ‘terrifying’
