Whitney Dean left EastEnders tonight in an emotional farewell after 16 years. Actress Shona McGarty bowed out of the soap as her character left to move to Wakefield.
She left behind stepmum Bianca, former fiancé Zack and ex best friend Lauren as she and her girls got the bus out of the Square.
But while some fans thought it was ‘perfect’, others declared it the ‘worst exit ever’. So where do you stand?
Britney and Dolly went with Whitney (Credit: BBC)
Whitney Dean leaves EastEnders
After making up her mind last night (Wednesday May 22) that she was leaving Walford for good, Whitney turned things around pretty darn quick. By tonight’s episode (Thursday May 23) she had sorted somewhere to stay (with brother Ryan), got a school placement for Britney and a whole new social services plan already in place.
Bianca soon announced she was going to move with her. But that all came crashing down when upset Zack revealed Bianca had known about him and Lauren the whole time.
Whitney confronted her stepmum and told her she was no longer welcome to Wakefield. Bianca sobbed and begged for another chance, but Whit remained firm.
Sonia also encouraged her to talk to Lauren before she left. Whit did, but was still not forgiving. She cut all ties, telling her: “You lost a mate.”
Tearful Lauren told her: “Good luck with your new life.” But Whit simply retorted: “Don’t need it.”
Whitney then met with Zack by Peach’s tree. She told him they had never really loved each other enough – that their love and grief for Peach kept them together when it shouldn’t have done. She told him she’d never regret their time together, though, as it gave them Dolly.
Whitney also promised she wouldn’t make it hard for him to see Dolly (because moving to Wakefield isn’t hard!) as she knew he would be a brilliant dad.
Zack bid a tearful goodbye to his daughter and allowed Whitney to leave without a fight, knowing it was what she needed.
After a send-off in The Vic, Whitney, Britney and Dolly walked through the market to rounds of applause from the market traders.
Then they boarded a bus to King’s Cross as Britney asked: “Will we be all right?” Whitney told her: “We’ll figure something, we always do.” Before smiling to herself.
Whit’s final scene was a happy one (Credit: BBC)
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