Shaheen Jafargholi

Back in 2009, a baby-faced Shaheen auditioned on the show with a cover of Amy Winehouse’s version of The Zutons’ song Valerie. Shaheen, of Swansea, received a standing ovation when he belted out Michael Jackson’s Who’s Loving You, but he also got himself the gig of a lifetime as a result. In the same year Shaheen, who was just 12 at the time, was invited to perform at Jackson’s funeral. Now he has moved away from singing and is focusing more on his acting. He landed roles in BBC dramas Casualty, Torchwood and children’s TV show Grandpa in my Pocket. But his big break came in April 2016 when Shaheen joined the cast of EastEnders to play Shakil Kazem. He said then: “I’ve been a fan since I was a kid so to be a part of something so iconic is an honour.”