BBC to build mosque on the new $20 mln EastEnders set

The BBC is building a mosque on the new EastEnders set, on a street leading to Albert Square, which is described as “a prominent” place of worship for Muslims.

According to a report in The Sun, the new £15 million ($20 million) set will “be as authentic as East London today, including a mosque”.

Talks are said to be taking place over whether adaan, the Islamic call to prayer, will be heard. “The new set will better reflect the East End on screen as well as increase the potential for storylines”, the BBC said.

Future plot?

According to the report, the decision may be questioned by some EastEnders fans because there is no church on set.
The report quoted a source as saying that a future-plot meeting about the idea that a lead character would be radicalized by Muslim fanatics was “on the horizon”.

“The soap wants to be up to date and timely. It is a realistic storyline for an East London community,” the source is quoted to have said.

However, an EastEnders spokeswoman insisted that there are “no current plans for a radicalization storyline.” The Masoods – dad Ahmed, daughter Shabnam and son Tamwar - are the only Muslim family in EastEnders.