The actor, 21, played schoolboy Shakil Kazemi in the BBC One soap up until May when he was knifed to death in a hard-hitting critically acclaimed storyline that is nominated for two Inside Soap Awards.
And he will now soon appear on screen as Marty a new student nurse set to shake up Holby General.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online’s Soap Bubble, Shaheen reveals his new role has left him facing a weird phobia: fake blood.
“I’m playing a nurse which is hilarious to everyone who knows me because I’m the most squeamish person. I had an experience with fake blood when I was doing my exit story on EastEnders and when you watch it versus doing it, it feels completely different.”
Shakil was knifed in a brutal episode that saw him stumble around the square wounded desperate to get help for himself and best friend Keegan.
But his bloody anguish came to nothing when Mick Carter assumed he was drunk and kicked him out, leaving him to die alone under a bush.
The actor spent hours filming his final episodes covered in fake blood which will set him up perfectly for all the blood and gore of Casualty.
And as well that after two years of re-living his school years by playing a teenager on screen, Shaheen is thrilled to finally be able to act without carrying a book bag.
He added: “I started playing Shakil when he was 16 and I’m 21 in real life so going to work every day and then I would go in at 7am and put a uniform on and feel like I was back at school and it was too weird.
“It’s really nice to go to work and play an adult.”
Describing his new character, Marty, he said: "He’s very sharp-tongued and witty.
“He’s a student nurse for starters, so take from that what you will.
“He’s obviously not up to the standard of a professional fully-trained, fully educated nurse at this point.
“He’s definitely excited to be working at Holby City. A lot happens to him during his first few days so he’s just trying to make a good impression and do his best.”
The upbeat nature of Marty is in stark contrast with his tragic EastEnders exit.
Speaking about his EastEnders exit storyline, Shaheen admitted he had reservations about tackling such an important story.
He said: “I wanted to know that we were going to do it right and that it was going to have a positive impact.”
“To be given the opportunity to leave the show in such a huge way was a really exciting opportunity to have,” he added.
“The nature of the storyline was quite hard-hitting and intense to play, but if anything I was honoured.”
Shaheen added: “With a storyline like that, where it’s such a huge topic in real life, it was important for all of us involved to feel like we were portraying it as real as possible and doing a good job for this thing that happens to so many people in real life.
“For the reaction to be as positive as it has and for it to hold as much importance and impact as I feel it has has been really overwhelming and really exciting and I’m so proud of the show.”
And luckily such a powerful subject meant that he didn’t have time to worry about being unemployed after two years at EastEnders.
He said: “I kind of had a bit of tunnel vision with the whole storyline.
“I couldn’t really see further, I could really see past my last day because what I was doing in the present day was so intense that it takes over all of your mindset.
“I didn’t really think of my job being over at the end of the storyline, whilst I was doing it, it was only on my last day, I was like, ‘Oh. Ok, it’s done now. Let’s just leave to fate now and see how it all goes.’”
The actor’s exit from the show has been nominated for two awards, something Shaheen didn’t expect.
He said: “I was so shocked, I was so confused.
“While you’re doing something like that, I was so invested in getting it right and putting all my energies into each and every hour that we were filming, that I never thought that this would be recognised for something like that.
“I was so honoured and happy that someone thought it was worthy. Obviously I do, but for someone else to confirm that was really, really exciting for all of us.”
And while he’s also nominated for best exit, he faces stiff competition from another stabbing – Coronation Street villain Pat Phelan being stabbed through the heart by his victim Anna Windass.
But Shaheen joked that Shakil’s stabbing stands up to it, saying: “I like to think that Shakil’s stabbing will suffice [in standing up to Pat Phelan’s demise].
“I think the whole point of this storyline for me, regardless of any awards or recognition, was that it was going to have impact to the actual generation that it is happening to in real life.
“And I think it has so that for me is like an Oscar in itself.”
To vote for Shaheen and all things EastEnders at the Inside Soap Awards click here.
SCENE OF THE WEEK
Coronation Street's Gail Platt's meltdown over mum Audrey
There are few things finer in soapland than Gail Platt in meltdown mode.
Whether she's flying through her house singing a Katy Perry sing better than Katy Perry herself, or convincing herself that her mother had dementia because she's lied to her about a cruise, actress Helen Worth never fails to deliver.
And this week was no different when she launched into a full rant about how Audrey was convinced she was having drinks with the captain of a ship that didn't exist.
BIGGEST SOAP NEWS
Shock Battersby sister love triangle for Coronation Street
Corrie''s Imran Habeeb risks infuriating Toyah and Leanne Battersby when he starts dating both at the same time, the Sun revealed earlier this week.
The suave dressing lawyer will use his gift of the gab by keeping the relationships from the sisters.
It may come back to bite him however as like all soap love triangles it's not expected to last long.
A TV source said: “They both don’t know and he knows this so is quite happy with how things are going and doesn’t do anything about it
“His ego goes through the roof and he’s really enjoying the attention and he thinks he’s living the dream having two women on the go.
“But you don’t want to mess with a Battersby and no doubt it’ll come crashing down for him.”
Emmerdale's Lachlan White to be exposed
Lachlan White has finally been exposed as a murderer in an explosive Emmerdale trailer.
The teenage psychopath – who is played by actor Thomas Atkinson in the ITV soap – looks to have been discovered by both his girlfriend Belle Dingle, her brother Sam and Robert Sugden.
Lachlan has so far murdered his mother Chrissie, his grandfather Lawrence, his aunt Rebecca and his best friend Gerry Roberts.
Now in the explosive trailer Lachlan is discovered with something horrific in the boot of his car as well as a shovel and gloves by Sam, then he hunts down a terrified Robert Sugden with a gun, and then attacks girlfriend Belle after she finds blood on him.
It's a lot of work being a killer.
Which soap did you watch last week? Ratings revealed…
SPOILER ALERT
What's coming up next week?
There's a shooting horror in Coronation Street next week when Peter Barlow is gunned down in a drive-by shooting by the gang responsible for terrorising his son Simon.
The teenage tearaway is put through his own ordeal when the gang try to kidnap him forcing Kate Connor to step in and save him from being dragged into a car.
The week doesn't start off great for Peter as his on/off ex Carla Connor brings back painful memories when she lines up a Tina McIntyre lookalike to test him.
Meanwhile, Kate Connor gives Rana Nazir an ultimatum as she plans to leave Weatherfield with her mum and Angie Appleton ends her marriage to Jude as he plans to surprise her with a vow renewal.
Things aren't looking up for Imran Habeeb either as he's caught romping with Leanne Battersby and Rita Tanner has a furious row with Audrey Roberts over Maria Connor and conman Lewis Archer.
Over in Emmerdale Rodney Blackstock fights for his life as he suffers shock collapse as his daughters scheming with Misty is exposed and there's a horrific return as DI Bails confronts son Ryan Stocks leaving Charity Dingle terrified.
Meanwhile the Dales murderer Lachlan White is pushed to breaking point and Rhona Goskirk is set for heartbreak as Pete Barton caught with another woman.
But in good news Charity Dingle finally starts to introduce her son Ryan to her family starting with Moses.
Over in EastEnders Phil Mitchell fires Keanu Taylor in furious bust-up as Sharon Mitchell affair begins.
And it's a week for reveals as Hayley Slater's pregnancy is revealed but Stacey Fowler panics husband Martin is the father, and Stuart Highway returns to confront his brother Halfway.
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