When is Whitney Dean leaving EastEnders and why did Shona McGarty quit BBC One soap?

EastEnders fans will be saying goodbye to a Walford favourite soon as Whitney Dean actress Shona McGarty prepares to bow out of the BBC One soap after 16 years.

It was revealed last year that Whitney actress Shona had quit the hit soap and her exit scenes are set to play out very soon. Whitney has been part of several explosive storylines over the past 16 years and more recently she has secretly and informally adopted troubled youngster Britney.

In upcoming scenes, Whitney’s adoptive mother Bianca Jackson returns to Albert Square. With Whitney’s exit looming and Bianca back, soap fans have been wondering when the character will depart the iconic soap.

When is Whitney leaving EastEnders?

Whitney’s exit scenes are thought to be airing very soon, especially after actress Shona recently had a leaving party with her co-stars. Taking to Instagram earlier this month, actress Diane Parish, who plays Denise Fox, shared a video montage of the party, writing: “Great send off for an Iconic character and sensational actress @shonabmx Shona McGarty. We will miss you bad bad bad but go get ‘em Queen!”

With Shona already having a leaving party, it looks as though her soap exit will soon be looming and it is thought she filmed her final scenes earlier this month too. This week on the soap has seen Whitney learn that adopted daughter Britney has Type 2 Usher Syndrome with her partner Zack worrying that the added stress is too much for Whitney whilst she’s pregnant.

In upcoming scenes next week, Whitney’s adopted mum Bianca is back. Bianca is soon distracted as she learns Whitney’s partner Zack has gone AWOL. It’s not long until she heads to Whitney’s, demanding answers to which Zack arrives home and tries to evade Bianca’s questioning.

However, it gets too much for him and he leaves again, and later heads to The Vic to see Whitney but the pair are interrupted by Wahida, a mum who is meeting Whitney to share her son’s experience of Usher Syndrome, after Britney’s diagnosis. Soap fans will recall that only recently, it was revealed that Whitney paid off Britney’s mum to informally adopt her and in scenes this week Britney was diagnosed with Type 2 Usher Syndrome.

Later, after a candid conversation with Linda Carter, Bianca speaks with Zack. What has she heard and what will she say to Zack? Things take a dramatic turn later in the week when a blunder from Reiss leads to devastation for Whitney. In the scenes, Whitney has a successful meeting with Britney’s teacher about her Usher Syndrome diagnosis but Reiss soon puts his foot in it when he reveals that Whitney is not Britney’s mother.

An oblivious Whitney is later shocked when she is greeted by social services who have arrived to take Britney away for her safety until they can corroborate Whitney’s version of events with Keeley. Later in the week, Whitney is devastated about Britney to which Bianca and Zack work together to track Keeley down.

Eventually, they track Keeley down and she meets them both at Walford East, but things go from bad to worse when Bianca starts criticising Keeley’s parenting and Keeley reckons Britney would be better off elsewhere. Will they be able to convince Keeley to let Britney return? And is this part of Whitney’s exit storyline?

Why did Shona McGarty quit?

It was revealed back in 2023 that Shona had quit EastEnders after first joining back in 2008 when she was just 16. Shona told The Sun on Sunday at the time: “I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders. I have loved my years in the show. I have been trusted with some incredible storylines and have made amazing friendships — and family — which will endure.”

Talking to Inside Soap magazine further, she said: “It wasn’t an easy decision because I’ve made so many friends. I’ve seen people come and go, and meanwhile, Whitney has been one of the longest-standing characters. I’ve had so much fun and done so many storylines, some of which have been sensitive, and I’ve been honoured to be trusted with such heavy stuff, year after year.”

The actress added: “So, I’m going to be sad to say goodbye to my friends and family, but it was right decision for me as I want to do other things. After 15 years, I’ve had a pretty good run!”