EASTENDERS star Shona McGarty has opened up about the challenges she has faced since quitting the
BBC soap.
Shona, 32, has been a mainstay on EastEnders since 2008 when her character Whitney Dean arrived on
the soap with her step-mum Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
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While Patsy, 52, left the soap in 2014, Shona’s character remained on the soap and continued to be involved in a number of dramatic storylines, such as her relationship with Callum Highway (Tony Clay) that ended with her leaving him at the altar, and being stalked by Leo King (Tom Wells), the son of paedophile Tony King (Christopher Coghill).
Whitney finally got her happy ending though, and earlier this year left Walford to start a new life with her baby Dolly and teen foster daughter Britney (Lola Campbell).
Walking away from the BBC soap was a “really difficult” move, though, Shona admitted.
Speaking about her exit exclusively to The Sun, she said: “It was a really difficult decision, because it’s all I’ve ever known.
“I pretty much grew up on the Square, so I feel like I’m leaving home,” Shona continued, adding, “But I had to put on my big girl pants and be quite brave, because life is so short.
“You feel that more and more as you get older. There are other opportunities and areas of the industry I want to explore before I get too old!
“All things come to an end and this is the new chapter of my life. I mean, 16 years is amazing. I’ve had a really good run and Whitney needs a break. She’s had a pretty tough paper round!”
Now Shona has opened up about the “scary” few weeks she’s had since leaving EastEnders as she takes on a new stage role that is nothing like the soap.
Shona is currently performing on stage in 2:22 A Ghost Story, which has a rotating cast and has featured celebs like Harry Potter star Tom Felton and One Tree Hill’s Sophia Bush.
While speaking to RSVP Live, the soap star detailed the “scary” but “thrilling” career change.
EastEnders star Shona McGarty reveals she’s engaged to mucisian boyfriend after romantic proposal in London park
“We’ve had some really great audiences so far. They all laugh and get shocked at different things in the show, which keeps us on our toes – you never know how they will react. It’s scary,” she said.
Shona added: “No matter how many times we do it, I always get butterflies in my stomach and think something could go wrong. But when we get into it, it is great, and I’m really enjoying it.
“I’ve never felt such adrenaline before. If you make a mistake, you can’t go again, so you are constantly in flight or fight mode, but it’s a great feeling, and I enjoy the buzz. My ritual after each show is that I go to Spar, get a bag of nachos dip and go back to the hotel to wind down. I love it.”
The actress’ life has been something of a whirlwind since leaving EastEnders because, along with her new acting role, Shona confirmed her engagement to Irish musician David Bracken.
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
- EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.
- Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.
- Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.
- Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.
