Whitney Dean’s shocking 𝕔rime exposed – and will trigger her dramatic EastEnders exit after 16 years

This article contains spoilers from Wednesday’s (March 27) EastEnders which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) has been harbouring a secret ever since her return to Albert Square, and it has now been exposed as a shocking crime.

When Whitney was in Milton Keynes, she met tearaway teen Britney Wainwright (Lola Campbell) and almost instantly took her under her wing.

It didn’t take Whitney long to realise that Britney’s mum wasn’t taking care of her properly, and during a tense showdown Keeley Wainwright challenged Whitney to take her off her hands.

Whitney has been hiding a shocking crime

Whitney’s partner Zack Hudson (James Farrar) was stunned to discover that Britney was their new foster child, though it soon became clear to viewers that Whitney wasn’t being totally honest about the situation.

After slipping up on the story about how she came to foster Britney, Whitney later told the teen that Zack could never know what happened before they left Milton Keynes, leaving viewers intrigued.

In recent scenes, everything became clear when Whitney received a call from social worker Jan, and was adamant that she should be the one to take it, despite Zack being keen.

Outside, Whitney told Jan that she and Zack had decided not to continue fostering due to their new baby – though she didn’t anticipate Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) overhearing.

Lauren demanded to know why Whitney was lying, and threatened to tell Zack what she’d overheard if Whitney didn’t spill.

With no other option, Whitney admitted that she had paid Keeley to take Britney away, meaning that they weren’t legally fostering her at all.

Lauren was horrified, and urged her best friend to tell Zack the truth, though it was clear that Whitney was reluctant.

With Whitney soon set to leave EastEnders, could this huge lie be what drives her exit?