A new EastEnders guest star has revealed she was previously rejected by the soap 37 years ago.

Shazia Mirza appears in today’s episode of the BBC soap as Dr Ayub, who is involved in the baby Jimmy storyline as she informs Lauren and Peter that the newborn’s blindness is caused by a genetic mutation.

The latest development in the storyline means that Lauren can rule out being responsible for Jimmy’s blindness after her drug dependency while pregnant.

Taking to Instagram, comedian Shazia shared a rejection letter from the soap from nearly four decades ago, saying it had been an “honour” to be cast as part of the new storyline.

“37 years ago I wrote to @bbceastenders asking for a part and 37 years later I got one,” she wrote. “EastEnders is working with advice from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on a storyline where Lauren and Peter’s son is diagnosed as severely sight impaired.”

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After explaining the storyline, Shazia further wrote: “It has been an honour to be part of such an important storyline. If you’re impatient, Thursday’s episode is already on @bbciplayer or catch it live tomorrow night at 7PM.”

In her original 1988 letter, the show wrote: “Dear Miss Mirza. Thank you very much for your letter. We get so many people wanting parts on EastEnders, that it is our policy to have to say no. We are obliged to use only Equity members in the making of EastEnders.

“We are sorry we have not been able to assist you, but hope you will continue to enjoy the programme.”