EastEnders star sends 'emotional' message to fans as she quits show after 16 years
EastEnders legend Shona McGarty has announced she is quitting the show after 16 years on the BBC soap.
Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean, broke down in tears she she sent an emotional message to her fans as she spoke about her exit, saying it was her decision to leave the show.
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She will be leaving the soap on a dramatic note as her final episode playing Whitney sees her discovering a huge betrayal on her wedding day to Zack.
Pic: Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron/BBC
Shona, 32, took to social media with a teary message to her fans ahead of her final EastEnders appearance, saying: It's going to be really emotional and I just want to say thank you, I guess, for everything...
'Thank you to everyone who's ever supported Whitney... I'm really excited for my future and I'm really excited for EastEnders future as well because EastEnders is a fabulous show that is at the heart of the nation.'
Pic: Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron/BBC
She said it was her decision to leave the show and even teased that there is a possibility her character could one day return to Walford.
Shona continued: 'I haven't got a chip on my shoulder about it, it was my decision and I just want to say thanks for everything...16 years is a long time.
'It's been a tough old paper round and I've loved every single minute of it. And who knows, the door is wide open and Whitney could come back in, in her high heels and really big earrings one day.'
Shona's next project is based in Ireland as she has been cast as Jenny in Danny Robins' hit play 2:22 A Ghost Story which is starting a run in Dublin next month.
EastEnders star Shona McGarty joins the Dublin cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story. Pic: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Other stars include The Wanted star Jay McGuinness, who will portray Ben, and former Love Island host Laura Whitmore stepping into the role of Lauren.
The plot of 2:22 A Ghost Story follows Jenny and her husband Sam who are renovating their new London home. Jenny becomes convinced that the house is haunted when a series of eerie events take place at exactly 2:22am over the course of several nights.
2:22 A Ghost Story opens in Dublin's 3Olympia Theatre on June 20 with performances until August 11.