Britain's Got Talent’s Shaheen Jafargholi life now after EastEnders exit and Michael Jackson connection
Swansea's Shaheen Jafargholi is a name that will be familiar to many after the singer made headlines in 2009 following his Britain's Got Talent audition, but where is he now?
Hailing from Swansea, singer and actor Shaheen Jafargholi captured the nation's attention with his 2009 audition on Britain's Got Talent, though you might be surprised to learn he already had a string of TV roles to his name before his memorable audition.
A graduate of the Mark Jermin Stage School, Shaheen boasted appearances on CBBC's Grandpa in My Pocket and Torchwood, and he even shone as a young Michael Jackson in Thriller Live on stage, all before his acclaimed BGT performance.
His BGT audition launched him onto the global scene, but not without a hiccup. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
When Shaheen began singing Valerie by Amy Winehouse, Simon Cowell interrupted, asserting that the choice was "getting it really wrong".
Prompted by Cowell to switch tracks, Shaheen then delivered a standout rendition of Smokey Robinson's Who's Loving You, receiving plaudits from the judges and a standing ovation at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre.
Though Shaheen didn't take home the BGT title, finishing sixth after winning dance troop Diversity and Susan Boyle, did little to dampen his stride and in fact was the break he needed.
His professional background sparked debate on whether BGT should be 'only open to amateurs', with critics challenging the fairness of his participation. In response, BGT clarified that the competition was 'open to everyone'.
After his stint on BGT, Shaheen continued to find success and he even build up a friendship with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
In September 2009, following Michael's sudden death, Shaheen performed I'll Be There at the MOBO Awards. This led to him being invited to sing at Michael Jackson's memorial at the Los Angeles Staples Center in July that year.
After his rendition of Who's Loving You by The Jackson 5, Berry Gordy (founder of Motown Records), famously remarked: "I have no cotton pickin' idea who that is, but if I were [still] in the business, I would sign him tomorrow."
In 2010, someone did just that, as Shaheen released his debut single, Last Train Home.
The track was meant to be part of an album, but to date, the album has not been released. Shaheen's management cited "huge international interest and some overseas opportunities".
These 'overseas' opportunities never came to fruition, possibly because Shaheen was about to embark on a new venture in the UK.
Shaheen, a trained actor and singer, joined the cast of EastEnders in 2016 as Shakil, the son of Carmel Kazemi, played by Bonnie Langford. His character was involved in several high-profile storylines, including a romance with Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), involvement in gang crime, and ultimately a stabbing resulted in his character's tragic death.
The storyline received widespread praise, with the producers collaborating closely with the Ben Kinsella Trust, established by former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella following her brother's fatal stabbing.
Notably, during Shakil's funeral episode in 2018, real-life families affected by knife crime were featured as mourners.
After leaving EastEnders, Shaheen immediately transitioned to another ongoing drama, Casualty, where he portrayed nurse Marty Kirkby. Marty was described as "a confident nurse who has a blunt bedside manner and excellent clinical skills".
He had been central to several major storylines, including coming out to his parents, engaging in casual sex with strangers, and contracting HIV. Upon joining the show, Shaheen expressed: "It's an honour to become a small part of this legacy."
With his real-life mother working in a hospital, Shaheen often turned to her for assistance with medical terminology and patient communication techniques.
The singer-turned-actor has undergone a significant transformation over the years, now sporting a fresh short hairstyle and boasting a unique fashion sense.
More recently the actor appeared in the BBC mini series Lost Boys & Fairies as the character Celyn. He said on social media: "Working on this show felt so bloody good for so many reasons. The fact that it was made and set in Wales was one of them."
He added: "So grateful to @dafjameswrites for letting me be a part of his story and to live vicariously through ‘Celyn’. A job I will never forget."
From Britain's Got Talent to Michael Jackson concerts, and from Albert Square to Holby ED, Shaheen Jafargholi is one Welsh star who consistently demonstrates that he's not just a one-hit wonder.