EastEnders fans remember Shona McGarty as Whitney, the girl who went through too much yet kept standing. Now she’s out there doing something different. A new start, a new sound, and maybe a bit of healing, too. But is this where Whitney’s story really ends? Keep scrolling to learn more.
A Fresh Stage For Shona McGarty
Shona was a part of the BBC soap for sixteen long years. However, she left the Square in 2024. Fans were disheartened after her exit. Her character, Whitney Dean, had been a part of major storylines. Elsewhere, nobody has forgotten the stories she carried.
Whitney took her daughters, Britney and Dolly, and moved to Wakefield to start fresh. It was her last and final bus ride, where Julia’s Theme was playing in the background. And this had made fans emotional, and they were sobbing. However, Shona wanted this end to have a new beginning for herself.
Even after leaving the soap, she did not stop. She has now stepped into something extremely new. She debuted on the West End and played the legendary model Bettie Page in Queen of the Pin-Ups – The Musical. Fans were happy to see her shining bright. However, this time it was about the theatre lights and not the glow of Albert Square.
Elsewhere, she is also venturing into music. She had hinted about it for months now. On October 16, she finally revealed that her new single, “Unapologetically Me,” will be released on October 30. Shona said it was a celebration of freedom, courage and self-acceptance. She wrote, “It’s taken me a long time to stop apologising.”
Will Whitney Ever Return To EastEnders
Even after Shona began her new chapter, fans asked if Whitney Dean would ever return. However, she didn’t rule out that completely. She said she still feels deeply connected to the soap and also to her castmates.
She said, “No, I don’t regret leaving. But when I watched the live 40th anniversary episode, I did cry. Lacey Turner was incredible as Stacey, and I missed that feeling of teamwork. I was so proud, but a little gutted too.”
Clearly, the soap is something that she still cherishes deeply. She said, “People ask when I’ll return, but I’m not ready yet. Maybe one day.” However, to this point, Shona is still deciding to go her own way. She is discovering, picking up new things, and inventing.
Maybe her new music and theatre pieces are the kind of self-help that she didn’t know she needed after a long time of taking on deep, emotional roles. Whitney’s life may have been put on hold, but Shona’s is becoming bigger and bigger. For more EastEnders spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.