EastEnders actress Shona McGarty has opened up on her decision to leave her role as Whitney Dean on the BBC soap after 15 years, ahead of her exit next year.
Whitney’s decade and a half on Albert Square has proved dramatic, with the popular character being involved in some of the biggest storylines of all time, from Whitney’s sexual abuse at the hands of Tony to her stalking ordeal.
In recent months, viewers have seen Whitney tragically lose daughter Peach, and decide to become a foster parent alongside partner Zack Hudson (James Farrar).
Speaking to Inside Soap Magazine, Shona revealed the reason behind her decision to leave.
Whitney is set to depart the Square next year
‘It’s going to be the end of an era, or an earring, as the EastEnders saying goes,’ she said, referencing the phrase coined by Pat Butcher star Pam St Clement ahead of her 2012 exit.
‘I’ve loved my time in Walford, but with the character of Whitney, bless her, she’s had some awful things happen to her, and I think she needs a break.’
This leaves us wondering if Whitney will return in the future, and Shona certainly isn’t ruling it out.
‘The door’s open and I could always come back in the future. But at the moment, I want to pursue things that are in my heart, like singing — stuff that I’ve been doing since childhood and dreaming about.
‘EastEnders has been amazing; I just want to do other things.’
Away from Walford, Shona is currently starring in pantomime Beauty and the Beast as lead character Belle in Dartford.
Unfortunately, she recently had to pull out of a show after falling ill.
Taking to her Instagram story, she told fans that she was ‘gutted’ to not be performing, but that she is on plenty of antibiotics and medication to help her tackle her cold and flu symptoms.
Her role as Belle has seen her team up with former EastEnders co-star Harry Reid, who played Ben Mitchell between 2014 and 2018, who is also starring in the show, which runs until December 31 at The Orchard Theatre.
