This player -- EastEnders' Outhwaite -- is captivating (5)
I believe the answer is:
south
'captivating' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'this player eastenders' outhwaite' is the wordplay.
'SOUTH' is hidden within the letters.
However, I'm unsure how this is indicated.
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for south that I've seen before include "Antarctica" , "1949 musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, made into a film in 1958" , "Direction to the right of sunrise" , "Card player" , "Cardinal point" .)