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DABB Alumni, Sakira Vel
Radio Times
2026
EastEnders star teases "different energy" with Ash Panesar recast ahead of return. Speaking exclusively with Radio Times while on the red carpet for the National Television Awards 2026, EastEnders star Shiv Jalota has teased the upcoming return of Ash Panesar.
When she returns, Ash, the sister of Jalota's character Vinny, will be played by a new actress, with Sakira Vel taking over from Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, who left the soap in 2023.
Speaking about Ash's return and Vel's new take on the character, Jalota said: "It's amazing. The actress, Sakira, she's fantastic, and she brings a different energy to Ash."
DABB Alumni, Bairavi Manoharan
wheretowatch.tv
2026
Closing Time: Channel 5 drama plot, cast and how to watch tonight. What is Closing Time about?
Closing Time follows Mo, played by Antonio Aakeel, a gifted cook who works in his uncle’s kebab shop.
Although Mo has ambitions beyond the takeaway, he has kept his culinary dreams largely to himself. His circumstances make pursuing those ambitions particularly complicated, with his visa renewal pending.
Everything changes during a late-night shift when Mo meets Laila, played by Ellora Torchia.
DABB Alumni, Tashinga Bepete
Gonintendo
2026
Overwatch "Cost of Life" Story Time Video with Tashinga Bepete - Doctrine, a brilliant cybernetic engineer, rejects the limits of life and death to save the one person he cares about. As his work begins to consume him, he is forced to face the consequences of his ideology.
Out of the shadows comes our newest Support Hero, Doctrine, who can manipulate life itself to heal allies and damage enemies with the help of his Eternal Scepter. Dodge incoming fire with his Shrouded Momentum ability, and send out your Invigorating Drones to an ally for increased attack speed and healing.
DABB Alumni, Ambika Mod
Esquire
2026
Everything We Know About ‘Black Doves’ Season 2 – Including The Addition Of Ambika Mod - Alongside Knightley, Whishaw and Lancashire, and Andrew Buchan as Helen’s husband-turned-PM, Wallace, there’s some great new additions to the line up, including One Day’s Ambika Mod, who when asked who she is, replies: “I’m the muscle, babe.” She plays Laila, the newest member of the Black Doves, or as Sam says sarcastically: “Oh good, another addition to the psychotic girl gang”, which, for us, is obviously fantastic.
DABB Alumni, Hannah Khalique-Brown
The Standard
2026
Her determination to achieve her dream led her to write hundreds of letters to agents and casting directors until she finally had a breakthrough at a showcase called DABBS Generals Day for non-white actors (“I’ve always had unshakeable faith in myself. Hannah Khalique-Brown is currently acting her socks off opposite Simon Pegg in season two of The Undeclared War on Channel 4. She plays Saara Parvin, a student whizzkid on placement at GCHQ when a Russian cyber-attack threatens the country; a difficult role which Khalique-Brown — herself something of a whizzkid — excels at. “Before the first season I learned to programme languages,” she says. “And I learned coding because I thought if she’s a coding prodigy, but I can’t understand a word of what’s she’s saying, I’m not going to be able to learn it.”
How 1 UK Actor Is Pushing Open the Door for Ethnically Diverse Talent
Backstage
2020
Actor Suraj Shah is founder of the B.A.M.E. General Open Auditions, an event that allows less-represented actors to access industry professionals like casting directors, agents, and writers. Backstage sat down with Shah to hear about the showcase’s aims and how it came about.
DABB: Opening Doors for Global Majority Performers
Spotlight
2026
Find out about DABB, their impactful Generals Day and apply for the 2026 showcase.
Diverse Actors Breaking Barriers (DABB) is an organisation dedicated to removing the gatekeeping that often sidelines global majority creatives. Founded by Suraj Shah in 2018, DABB focuses on the logistics of change: putting actors in the room with casting directors, offering personalised career guidance, and expanding industry opportunities.
Spotlight is proud to partner on the event, offering support with recalls during the selection process, as well as complementary memberships for the performers who are selected to participate on the day.
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