EastEnders star plans pop career as she hits the studio with Kylie and Westlife producer months after quitting Walford
Shona McGarty played popular Whitney Dean from 2008 until leaving in 2024.
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Taking to Instagram, the star posted a photo of herself alongside musician and record producer Steve Anderson.
She captioned: "My happy place! Working with @mrsteveanderson is an absolute dream, we got so much accomplished in our studio session yesterday, and I feel it is all coming together nicely.
"Do you guys want a little sneak peek at something we recorded?"
One fan commented: "No way! This is awesome x."
Another wrote: "Sneak peak pleaseeee! You're looking beautiful girl so proud of you girl."
A third added: "Yes can't wait to hear your music Shona."
While a fourth shared: "So happy for you! You deserve every bit of happiness and success."
Through the production group Brothers in Rhythym, Steve has worked with artists including Kylie Minogue and Westlife.
As for Shona, the actress first announced her decision to leave EastEnders back in 2023.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, Shona said: '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.'
Whitney's final storylines built towards her wedding with fiancé Zack Hudson.
It saw her adoptive mother - and show legend - Bianca Jackson make a comeback to the Square.
However, Whitney was left devastated upon learning Zack cheated on her on her wedding day and furiously called the whole thing off.
She told Zack: 'It's OK that you didn't love me enough. Maybe I didn't love you enough either, because if I did then maybe I wouldn't have lied to you about Britney?
'I feel that love for Peach, we both do. But do you think maybe that love and that pain kept us together for longer than it should have.
'It gave us Dolly though and I'll never regret the time we had together but it's over.'
After cutting ties with Bianca - who'd kept quiet about Zack's infidelity Whitney left alongside Britney and Dolly for a new life in Wakefield.
While she got a prestigious Julia's Theme send-off, viewers weren't too pleased with Whitney's exit.
One wrote: "#EastEnders this is possibly up there with the worst ending especially for Whitney. I wish her and Jay got together had a baby and left the square happily ever after.'
Most complained about soap storylines
Over the years, all three of the main soaps have featured plots that have had even die-hard fans reaching for their phones and laptops so they can get in touch with Ofcom and complain. Here are just some of the most scandalous...
EastEnders baby theft: 13,400 Ofcom complaints - Back in 2011, EastEnders was flooded with complaints when Ronnie Branning (RIP) swapped her baby for the dead son of Kat Moon. The storyline drew the most number of objections in the soap's long history and saw it roundly criticised by campaigners - with 13,400 flying in over the course of the storyline. Some viewers called it 'distressing' and 'horrific' but Ofcom ruled the scenes were not "unduly disturbing'.
Emmerdale dog-napping: 550 Ofcom complaints - Back in 2016, Ross Barton and Charity Dingle came up with a plan to steal a dog and hold it ransom - but viewers didn't like it one bit. The nation's pet owners rose up, insisting the storyline would encourage copycats (not to mention copydogs). Complaints over two episodes totalled a staggering 550 and soap writers quickly learnt you don't mess with animal-lovers.
Coronation Street double murder: 546 Ofcom complaints - Marginally less people complained about a gruesome double murder than objected to a dog-napping plot when Pat Phelan was at the centre of a spate of killings. First he forced Andy Carver to shoot dead Vinny Ashford - and then Pat killed Andy. All the bloodshed back in 2017 proved to be too much for some viewers, who lodged complaints in vast numbers about the 'violent scenes'.
Another added: 'Shona McGarty's final episode might quite possibly be one of the worst episodes I've ever endured. That's exactly what it felt like. I had to endure it.
"I never wanna hear the names Whitney, Britney or Peach & the phrase 'what's best for my daughters Zack' ever again. #Eastenders'
A third remarked: "Worst exit story ever, Whitney deserved better after all the trauma they put her through on this show. Logging out until Christmas, what a disappointment #Eastenders."
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
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