EastEnders fans were left astonished by Vinny Panesar's dramatic transformation when the character returned to screens on Monday night after a three-month hiatus due to COVID-19. Viewers took to social media to comment on his new look, with many branding him 'hotter' and 'a dish'.
One fan account shared before-and-after snaps on Twitter, confirming that actor Shiv Jalota still plays the role, despite the change in appearance. The account noted that Shiv had shaved and changed his hairstyle during lockdown, prompting a flurry of reactions from fans.
Comments ranged from 'Vinny looks so different without the beard, but still just as hot' to 'Vinny's looking like a dish'. Another fan gushed that he looked 'damned hotter', while a fifth shared a heart-eyes emoji.
Vinny, alongside brothers Kheerat and Jags, made history last year as the first Sikh family in Walford. The Panesar family quickly became fan favourites since their debut.
Despite the buzz, Monday's episode drew 3.35 million viewers, trailing behind ITV rivals Emmerdale (4.51 million) and Coronation Street (5.31 million). However, fans were delighted to see the soap return, flooding Twitter with praise.
