Shona McGarty wants to be around to celebrate 70 years of \'EastEnders\'.
The BBC soap just marked its 35th anniversary, and the star hopes her character Whitney Dean will still be part of the cast channelling former mainstay Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement), who spent 26 years on Albert Square.
Discussing the show\'s 70th anniversary, Shona laughed: "Whit will be 62 by then!
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"I reckon she\'d be just like Nana Pat - strong and feisty, but glamorous, with huge earrings and blue eye shadow!"
The 28-year-old actress would also like to see Whitney still hanging out with Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) to mirror Pat\'s friendship with Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor).
Shona - who first appeared on the soap back in 2008 - told Inside Soap magazine: "She\'d have her best pal Ruby by her side, who she loves to death.
"But they\'d argue a lot, just like Pat and Peggy!"
Meanwhile, she recently opened up on her character\'s exit plan as she\'s being targeted by Leo King\'s (Tom Wells) mum Michaela Turnbull (Fiona Allen).
In scenes set to air next week, Whitney - who killed Leo in self-defence - is released on bail and gets confronted by his mother, who has posted about her online.
She will later be seen clutching her passport and planning to leave Walford - but Shona suggested her alter ego would regret running away.
She explained: "She thinks it\'s the only way out, but she\'d miss everyone so much. It would be the hardest thing she\'s ever done."
27 November 2025 - 6:19 AM
