Shona McGarty has hinted at a possible return to EastEnders just in time for its 40th anniversary. 

The actress, 33, who portrayed legend Whitney Dean on the soap for over 16 years, bid an emotional farewell back in May to ‘explore other opportunities.’ 

Her character’s departure was named the ‘end of an era’ by fans who were left ‘crying’ as they struggled to watch. 

But, luckily for Shona soap bosses have left the door open, with Whitey moving to Wakefield to be closer to her brother, Ryan Malloy. 

‘I left on the bus and not under it, so for that I’m really grateful,’ the soapstar told The Sun. 

‘I would absolutely go back to EastEnders – it’s 16 years of creating a family, I grew up on that show.’ 

Shona McGarty has hinted at a possible return to EastEnders just in time for its 40th anniversary (pictured this week)

The actress, 33, who portrayed legend Whitney Dean on the soap for over 16 years, bid an emotional farewell back in May to ‘explore other opportunities’ 

Shona added that she has maintained a good relationship with EastEnders, but there is no scope for her to return right away. 

She said: ‘I wouldn’t say no to [going back for EastEnders’ 40th anniversary], I definitely would because I would do anything to celebrate EastEnders.’ 

Shona explained how she thinks her character could have saved ‘poor’ Bianca Jackson who was recently attacked by killer Reiss Colwell. 

The 40th anniversary episode will broadcast live from BBC Elstree Centre in February, 2025. 

Whitney made her debut in 2008, aged 16, and has been at the centre of multiple explosive storylines over the last 16 years.

But her most recent, potentially her last, was the most heartbreaking so far.

Her final episode’s in May, saw Whitney’s partner and father to her newborn Dolly, Zack Hudson, break her heart after he cheated with childhood pal Lauren Branning.

Unable to cope with the betrayal, she decided it was her time to say goodbye to her home in Walford and move to Wakefield to be closer to her brother, Ryan Malloy.

‘I left on the bus and not under it, so for that I’m really grateful,’ the soapstar told The Sun, ‘I would absolutely go back to EastEnders’  (pictured this week)

She added: ‘I wouldn’t say no to [going back for EastEnders’ 40th anniversary], I definitely would because I would do anything to celebrate EastEnders’  

The new mother’s big plans were initially overwhelming, but she felt reᴀssured when her adoptive mother, Bianca, offered to join her. 

This plan soon crashed and burned as Whitney felt betrayed once more when she learned Bianca knew all along about Zack and Lauren’s secret and didn’t tell her.

Whitney refused to let Bianca join her and decided to leave alone with Dolly and her foster child, Britney Wainwright.

Before jumping on the bus to escape the heartache and suffering, Whitney attempted closure by meetingwith Zack and Lauren separately.

After an emotional final goodbye at her leaving do in the Vic, residents walked Whitney to her bus stop and soap extras gave her a hug and kiss on the way.

Whitney held her head high and quietly sobbed as she made her way through the square for the final time – a scene so emotional that fans at home were reduced to tears and begged for her return in the future.

Her final episode’s in May, saw Whitney’s partner and father to her newborn Dolly, Zack Hudson, break her heart after he cheated with childhood pal Lauren Branning 

Unable to cope with the betrayal, Whitney decided it was her time to say goodbye to her home in Watford and move to Wakefield to be closer to her brother, Ryan Malloy

The new mother’s big plans were initially overwhelming, but she felt reᴀssured when her adoptive mother, Bianca, offered to join her

This plan soon crashed and burned as Whitney felt betrayed once more when she learned Bianca knew all along about Zack and Lauren’s (pictured) secret and didn’t tell her

Unable to see past her part in the scandal, Whitney refused to let Bianca join her and decided to leave alone with Dolly and her foster child, Britney Wainwright

And they all lived happily ever after. Watch the whole episode now 👉 #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/zorm6zdaRZ

— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) May 23, 2024

Fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their devastation and heartbreak. They dubbed her exit the end of an era and ‘bawled their eyes out’.

One penned: ‘Didn’t think I would cry this much over Whitney leaving #eastenders’

‘Goodbye Whitney, your days of suffering are finally over. Eastenders didn’t have to make me cry though.’

‘Well it’s definitely an end of an era for Whitney on I was absolutely bawling my eyes out at end of tonight’s Eastenders as the beautiful Whitney left all the best for the future u will be sadly missed Lots of love beautiful’