EastEnders stars were left 'sobbing' on Thursday night as they bid an emotional farewell to a much-loved co-star.
During the latest episode, Whitney Dean exited the BBC One soap after 16 years. It was revealed last year that Whitney actress Shona McGarty had quit the hit soap. Whitney, who first made her debut back in 2008, has been part of several explosive storylines over the past 16 years and more recently she was left heartbroken to discover partner, and father to her newborn baby Dolly, Zack Hudson had cheated on her with friend Lauren Branning.
After the heartbreak, Whitney decided to leave Walford for good on Thursday with newborn Dolly and foster daughter Britney Wainwright, revealing she was moving to Wakefield to be near brother Ryan Malloy. In emotional scenes at the end of the episode, Whitney, Dolly and Britney all left Walford for good as Julia's Theme played out.
Following the emotional episode, EastEnders' official Instagram account posted a picture of Shona surrounded by her co-stars as they all grinned to the camera. The BBC One soap penned: "We’re just gonna leave this one right here... #EastEnders" with crying emojis. Replying in the comments, Jacqueline Jossa, who plays Lauren Branning, wrote: "Sobbed", before adding "I am a broken woman!" and "loveeeeee you @shonabmx" while Dean Gaffney, who played Robbie Jackson from 1993 until 2019, put a heart emoji.
Elsewhere, on another post by EastEnders, which was a behind-the-scenes look at Shona's final scenes as Whitney, they penned: "Watch as we followed Shona McGarty around for her final weeks of filming as Whitney Dean. Emotions were high as cast and crew prepared to say goodbye to a much-loved Walford icon… #EastEnders" to which Patsy Palmer, who plays Bianca Jackson, replied: "Love you @shonabmx “ What if I fall ? But what if you fly my girl ! What if you fly “ Beyond proud of you Thankyou for recieving my love" with heart emojis.
It comes as soap watchers were quick to take to Twitter, now X, over Whitney's exit scenes where some eagle-eyed viewers spotted a sweet hidden detail. Fans spotted that Britney was wearing the same hat that Whitney had worn during her first ever debut back in 2008. One person said: "Class nod to Whitney that ending it on a bus with Britney wearing the hat from her first episode! Mad #Eastenders" while a different account put: "It’s the way the episode ended. The little Easter eggs, Britney wearing Whitney’s cap. Whitney quoting Bianca from when they first came on the square. What an ending #Eastenders."
Elsewhere, another viewer wrote: "Honestly didn't expect to get so emotional watching tonight's episode It really does feel like the end of an era seeing Whitney leave though. Such a nice send off for her, especially loved Britney wearing the same cap Whitney wore when she first arrived #EastEnders", a different account put: "Ahhhh the ending had me in such crazy tears literally grew up watching Whitney gonna miss her so much #Eastenders" while another added: "But of course I cried because the Julia’s theme is EMOTIONAL and Whitney really is a legend on this show. I’m so upset. #Eastenders."
