Former Eastenders star Shona McGarty has dropped a major hint that she could be swapping drama for the dance floor in next year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Shona, 33, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap for 15 years, revealed she’s been approached to appear on the prime time show several times, but always turned it down due to anxiety.
However, after a year of exciting new challenges, the actress has now said she finally feels ready to take on the glitzy BBC competition.
Speaking to Revamp about being offered the position, she said: ‘I have been several times, but I turned it down personally because of my anxiety.
‘I think it just got in the way. I would think, “I can’t do it,” or, “It’s not the right time”. I just panicked, and I kick myself for it now But now that I’m older, I’m like, you know what? I’ll do it. I feel like everything happens for a reason.’
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Former Eastenders star Shona McGarty has dropped a major hint that she could be swapping drama for the dance floor in next year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing
Shona, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap for 15 years, revealed she’s been approached to appear on the prime time show several times, but always turned it down due to anxiety
Shona bid farewell to EastEnders earlier this year, with her character Whitney leaving Walford to start a new life with her baby, Dolly, and foster daughter, Britney.
Her departure marked the end of an era, as she had been on the show since 2008 and became a household name for her dramatic storylines, including Whitney’s relationships and struggles.
Since leaving the soap, Shona has thrown herself into a new career on the stage, taking on the lead role in the hit play 2:22 A Ghost Story.
The production, known for its rotating celebrity cast, has previously featured stars such as Cheryl, Harry Potter’s Tom Felton, and One Tree Hill’s Sophia Bush.
While Shona has described working in theatre as daunting, she has also admitted she has relished the experience.
She told The Sun: ‘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.
‘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.’
Her newfound confidence could explain why she’s now seriously considering taking on Strictly.
Shona bid farewell to EastEnders earlier this year, with her character Whitney leaving Walford to start a new life with her baby, Dolly, and foster daughter, Britney
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
Fans are already speculating about the possibility, particularly after Shona recently teased a return to EastEnders for the soap’s upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations in February.
‘I wouldn’t say no,’ she said. ‘I’d do anything to celebrate EastEnders. It’s such a special show.’
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 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.
Since leaving the soap, Shona has thrown herself into a new career on the stage, taking on the lead role in the hit play 2:22 A Ghost Story
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.
Her final episode back 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.
The new mother’s big plans were initially overwhelming, but she felt reassured 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.
Her character’s departure was named the ‘end of an era’ by fans who were left ‘crying’ as they struggled to watch
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 meeting with 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.