An EastEnders guest star has paid tribute to Shona McGarty, as she prepares to leave the soap after 16 years playing Whitney Dean.
Whitney's exit comes as she and partner Zack Hudson plan their wedding and prepare to welcome a baby together, with Whitney unaware that Zack has cheated on her with Lauren Branning.
The presence of Britney further complicates matters for Whitney, after she took in the troubled youngster by paying her mum Keeley to foster her.
Whitney's friends and family recently discovered the truth about how Britney came to live with the couple, after Whitney told them she legally fostered her.
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As Shona prepares to say goodbye to the show Kirsty Curtis, who plays Keeley, shared an emotional goodbye message for her co-star.
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Sharing behind-the-scenes photos of the pair on her Instagram page, Kirsty said she's "proud" to call Shona her friend and said she was "buzzing" to be able to act alongside her.
"Shinty McGinty! @shonabmx ❤️ What can I say… you girl are a superstar and I couldn’t have asked for a more talented, passionate, hard working actor to have been my on screen partner/rival for @bbceastenders, she wrote.
"You are the most beautiful person inside and out and I am proud to now call you my friend.
"I have watched you on screen for the last 16 years and have witnessed you execute the most beautiful and brutal scenes as Whitney Dean, so I was buzzing when I was asked to be a part of your exit story to have the chance to act with you on the best soap there is," Kirsty added.
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"The world has known you as Whitney Dean, but now it’s time for Shona McGarty to take over! Can't wait to see you smash it."
Kirsty added that she feels Shona has "the biggest future ahead of you" and described herself as her "no 1 fan girl".
"Your energy is infectious & working with you was just magic every second," she added. "Thank you for being so welcoming and making me feel right at home. Defo made a friend for life."
After leaving EastEnders, Shona is set to swap the screen for the stage as she stars as Jenny in 2:22: A Ghost Story for its shows in Dublin.
She will join Once Upon a Time's Colin O'Donoghue, Love Island's Laura Whitmore and Strictly's Jay McGuiness in the cast from June 20.
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
