Shona McGarty has broken her silence after quitting her role as Whitney Dean on BBC soap EastEnders.
The 31-year-old actress has been on the show for 15 years, having joined in 2008 aged 16, but decided to leave the show following a reported cast reshuffle.
Speaking to Inside Soap magazine, she said, “It wasn’t an easy decision because I’ve made so many friends.”
“I’ve seen people come and go, and now Whitney is one of the longest-lasting characters.
“I had so much fun and wrote so many storylines, some of which were very sensitive, and it was an honor to be entrusted with such difficult things year after year.”
‘It wasn’t an easy decision’: Shona McGarty has broken her silence after quitting her role as Whitney Dean on BBC soap EastEnders
Soap legend: The 31-year-old actress has been on the show for 15 years, having joined in 2008 aged 16, but decided to leave the show after a reported cast reshuffle was
Shona continued: “It will make me sad to say goodbye to my friends and family but it was the right decision for me as I want to do other things.”
“After 15 years, I’ve had a pretty good run.”
Shona could join this year’s ‘Dancing On Ice’ cast after it was revealed she had quit the soap.
An insider told The Sun: “She’s on ITV’s wish list” and a “great name” if she were to join the ITV show.
The source said: “Shona is a great name for Dancing On Ice and she’s on ITV’s wish list.”
“She’s a huge talent and a very well known name and it would be a huge coup to leave EastEnders and go straight into the biggest show on her rival network.”
“Shona is in the running for an ice debut when the show starts in January, but they’re all early dates.”
“A number of stars being courted for the next series are already training at their local rinks to ensure they get the basics down.”
“It would be huge for ITV to catch Shona and they would be delighted if she came on board.”
Web have reached out to ITV and Shona representatives for comment.
Until then: Fan favorite Lorraine Stanley, who plays Karen Taylor, will also leave Albert Square at the end of the year
Shona’s shock departure comes after show bosses confirmed fan favorite Lorraine Stanley, who plays Karen Taylor, will also leave Albert Square.
Lorraine’s character is expected to be written out by the end of the year, while Shona’s final scenes will air in early 2024.
A spokesperson for EastEnders told Web: “Shona is leaving and bosses have decided to advertise the role of Karen.” “We’re not adding anything else at this point.”
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday about her decision to leave Albert Square, Shona said: “I’ve decided to spread my wings and I’m leaving EastEnders.” “I loved my years on the show.”
A source told the publication that the decision “wasn’t an easy decision” but Shona felt now was the right time to “try something new”.
They added, “She hopes the door will stay open for her character to return one day, but there are no guarantees and it’s all up to the screenwriters.”
As the adopted daughter of the notorious Bianca Jackson (played by Patsy Palmer), Whitney has been part of several hard-hitting storylines.
In 2008, Whitney was groomed and abused by her mother’s on-screen partner, and in 2020, to mark the soap’s 35th anniversary, she killed the deranged Leo King.
Earlier this year, the soap saw Whitney face the heartbreaking decision to give birth to her baby girl, Peach, after being diagnosed with end-stage Edward Syndrome.
In the harrowing scenes, Whitney and Peach’s father, Zack Hudson, said a heartbreaking goodbye.
It is believed that Shona aspires to a career in singing, which she has not shied away from.
Entertainer: Shona is an avid singer and has performed for Children in Need, released a charity single and other major events
In 2012 she appeared on Children in Need singing Sm Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come”.
She released a charity song for Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2018 and covered The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ for the charity Mind in 2021.
Last year she sang for BBC1 at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.
The source told The Sun: “As well as acting, Shona also loves singing and has a real musical talent so that’s one of the options available.”
The star narrowly missed out on winning Best Actor in a Leading Role at this year’s British Soap Awards, but EastEnders scooped the big prize – Best British Soap.