DTC hasn't mentioned it!

Didn't Shabnam tell Stacey that she was still in London (Bow I think) when she left Walford? Maybe she only went to Pakistan months later.

I might have to search for the episode online to double-check but I feel sure she went straight To Pakistan after leaving the square 2008?

I'm not overly keen on adoption reunion type storylines while the person concerned is still a child -it's very unrealistic and this has been done with Sonia and Rebecca.

Hmm. I'm sure she said she had her in the UK, could be wrong though, I think the pakistan trip was a ruse to cover, although she went later on as I think i recall her going on some pilgrimage in Pakistan, the episode deeds a bit fuzzy for me .

I guess making her a foster child instead of adopted makes it more justifiable although I doubt SS would let her anywhere near anyone of those lot, although maybe Shabnam might get a reprieve because of her circumstances.

In truth a child that has been in foster care from birth until aged 6 or 7 is highly unlikely to be reunited with a birth parent as it would be hugely emotionally damaging and unsettling. Infact they'd stand a very high chance of being adopted.
I hope the storyline is that the family accepts this eventually and leave her happy were she is settled.

The newspaper clipping Shabnam had referred to the baby being found in Bethnal Green, Shabnam went to Pakistan after Roya was born. I think Shabnam said she had hoped somebody close to the Masoods possibly the Aunt and Uncle whose house she left the child outside would adopt her so she'd be close by and I suppose that way Shabnam would be able to keep tabs on her. I wonder what triggers Shabnams confession?

Jane mentions in storylines really makes my skin crawl now - I'm pretty sure I will never forget what she did, no matter how many caring Jane storylines they land her with.

Cackling!

We're into parody stage with the Carters now.

You could very well be correct but I simply don't remember for sure with a clear memory.
However emotionally the child returning to Shabnam all these years later would not in reality be something most social workers would think was a good idea.

Where's Dean in all of this? Dead I hope. I hope this Roya has had a name change and is living with a loving family and Shabnam, Shirley or Dean can't get their grubby mitts on her. They don't deserve to snatch her back like Sonia did Rebecca.

Yes . This is correct. I also remember this.

Oh great. A storyline to keep the rapist on our screens.

I echo your sentiments.

So bored of the Carters and their endless family secrets and discoveries. I watch the show on catch up and fast forward through a lot of their scenes now.

It's the Masoods' first big storyline and it looks like it will be all about Shirley again

The Masoods need more screentime. Shirley needs LESS screentime. She's so overused :/

It does make me laugh that on prev threads, Shirley abandoning her children is met with so much contempt from posters saying you shouldn't abandon your children while Shabnam abandoning her baby on a doorstep is met with 'poor Shabnam'. Nonsensical.

Also I wish people would stop jumping the gun. Shirley looks for Roya because Dean asks her too. The story is saying about Shirley looking because those are the 'exclusive pictures'. It also states that Masood, along with 'master' Jane also attempt to find Roya, however there is yet to be photos released. I think it will be nice to see Shirley interacting with the Masoods though, a story that's doesn't revolve around her family. We are forever talking about intergrating the Carters with others and when they do....they can't win. I am happy enough for Shirley to be involved - Linda Henry is a fantastic actress and I always enjoy Shirley scenes - she does get people talking!

Personally, I'm looking forward to this, I think it is far less contrived for them to look for Roya than for Roya to unexpectedly turn up, and if it was supposedly in the papers, I guess it wouldn't be overly hard to find out what happened to her...should be good, I'm not going to write it off as others have before it has even aired.

However I agree about Dean, but it seems that they will attempt to redeem him through Roya and give him a new purpose - I can't see why else they would make him a rapist and then a father.

And just on Shirley a moment, I can recount numerous stories where Shirley hasn't been involved at all - Who killed Lucy Beale?, Sharon finding her birth father, Phil vs Max, Nick/Charlie/Dot, Ronnie/Vincent and so on, so no, the show isn't all about her.

Shirley will probably end up making it about her though. She frequently caused problems in Mick and Linda's home, because she emotionally blackmailed them into putting her nand over the door for one.

Dean does not deserve to find or see Roya. Shirley does herself no favours because she is continuing to support a rapist.

BIB: In her eyes, she isn't supporting a rapist. Shirley, Buster and Denise believe Dean - so they aren't actively supporting a rapist, they think he is innocent. Though I wish the truth about Dean would come out now - maybe it will come out during this storyline - we thought they were wanting Dean to stay for the Roya reveal - if it is coming earlier, maybe he won't be staying as long?

I look forward to this exciting storyline. Particularly with the Masoods involved

Syed's sexuality and Zainab/Yusef were big storylines (the first one was the centre of the 2010 New Year episode). But after Zainab left, this will indeed be their biggest storyline.

If the families manage to bring Roya to Walford with them, it would be so good for a Zainab return by the end of the year. Furious that she wasn't told about this. Could cause friction between her and Shirley initially and maybe with Masood if he's out searching for her too.

I think we will see friction between the families but I what I would actually like to see is them working together. Hopefully this will be a way of bringing back Zainab and I wonder if this will feed into Shirley's new era that DTC teased. Funnily enough - I'm not all that interested in Dean/Shabnam rather I am interested in Masood, Shirley, Zainab (if she returns) and Buster (if he stays) as Roya's grandparents.

In related news - Shirley's hair looks really nice in those photos, I wonder why the hair and make up dept don't style it that way more often. Plus I think it suits Linda Henry with a bit of length to it, just and observation.

At least the secret doesn't concern Aunt Babe being Shirley's real mum. I genuinely couldn't stand any more of those kind of twists!

I've just seen the pictures! They've already cast Roya and her adoptive father! I'll be really upset if Roya is just snatched back, but no doubt they'll make out the adoptive father is abusive or something and she'll be sailing back to Walford in no time.

I have a feeling its going to turn out Dean raped Shabnam and the only reason he has sent Shirley looking for the child is to try and prove its a lie only for Shirley to discover its the truth.

DTC said the rape plot was concluding and would reach a shocking end. I can't see how the rape can conclude unless Dean leaves because non of the Carters are going to be able to move on with that happened while he is still there. If EE even tried to attempt making Dean and Mick have a relationship further down the line it would be far fetched and stupid to viewers intelligence.