WARNING: This article contains topics of a sensitive nature that may disturb some readers.
Shona McGarty’s Whitney Dean burst onto the EastEnders scene on April Fools’ Day 2008, but her storylines are no joke. As Bianca Jackson’s ward, she’s weathered the storm of drama that is Walford life. From her rollercoaster romances with Zack Hudson, Lee Carter, and Callum “Halfway” Highway to tackling dark themes of abuse and exploitation, Whitney’s been through the wringer. Her tales are the stuff of soap legend, delivering edge-of-your-seat thrills and spills that glue audiences to their screens. Whitney’s saga is a testament to the human spirit, a blend of heartache, hope, and the kind of growth that only comes from surviving Walford’s wildest rides. Here’s a nod to Whitney’s whirlwind adventures in EastEnders.
Whitney Dean‘s life story reads like a gripping novel, full of twists and turns. Growing up wasn’t easy, with poverty and instability as constant companions. Yet, through the turmoil, she faced sexual abuse, exploitation, and emotional trauma, leaving indelible marks on her soul. But in this rollercoaster of life, she’s got an unwavering ally – Bianca. Their bond is more akin to sisters than mother and daughter, forming an unstoppable duo.
I’LL FIND MY LOVE SOME DAY…
In the world of EastEnders, Whitney Dean and Bianca Jackson’s relationship stands out. Whitney burst onto the scene as Bianca’s adopted daughter, and Bianca, known for her fiery spirit and sharp tongue, has been central to some of the soap’s most memorable plots. She’s deeply rooted in Walford, linked through the Branning clan and beloved characters like step-daughter Whitney and sister Sonia Fowler. Their relationship is a tapestry woven with drama and tension, highlighted when Bianca became entangled in Whitney’s harrowing abuse storyline in 2008. Fast forward to the present, and Bianca’s back in town for Whitney’s swan song. In a special two-part episode, we see Whitney and Zack head to Milton Keynes for a catch-up with Bianca. But their arrival stirs up drama with the local kids, Britney and Taylor. Amidst the reunion, Whitney confides in Bianca about her pregnancy, swearing her to secrecy from Sonia. It’s just another day in the life of Whitney Dean – never dull, always dramatic.
THOUGH HE’S FAR AWAY…
Meet Ryan Malloy, the man with a backstory so dramatic it could only belong in a soap opera. Portrayed by the talented Neil McDermott, Ryan burst onto the scene as Whitney’s long-lost half-brother on the 28th of April, 2009. The son of the infamous Debra Dean (also Whitney’s mom), Ryan’s childhood was a cocktail of abandonment and alcohol, shaken not stirred, thanks to his dear old dad. Fast forward to his teen years, and Ryan’s doing his own version of ‘Finding Nemo,’ except he’s looking for his mom, not a clownfish. The sibling duo of Ryan and Whitney finally unite, sharing not just a mother but a penchant for drama. Ryan’s entrance to Walford was less ‘hello, sis’ and more ‘by the way, I’ve killed a man.’ Talk about an icebreaker! He even tried to play hot potato with the murder weapon via Debra. But Whitney, being the canal-loving environmentalist she is, decided it belonged with the fishes. And just when you thought the Malloy rollercoaster had hit the brakes, Ryan made a comeback in 2023, proving that he’s just a phone call and a plot twist away.
SOMEONE I SIMPLY CAN’T HELP BUT ADORE…
Whitney and Lauren Branning‘s friendship could’ve been the stuff of legends, if only it hadn’t hit a soap opera level snag. Lauren, in a plot twist worthy of a daytime Emmy, decided to have a fling with Whitney’s fiancé, the infamous Zack Hudson. The secret affair was spectacularly unveiled on what was supposed to be the happiest day of Whitney’s life. As she and Zack were about to exchange vows, Britney—no, not Spears—burst in to spill the beans. And as if the universe demanded more drama, Whitney’s baby decided it was time to make an entrance while she was stuck in a van with the backstabbing bestie. Lauren, amidst the chaos, attempted to come clean about her rendezvous with Zack, but alas, Whitney’s impending motherhood took centre stage.
SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME
Whitney’s love life could give the most dramatic soap operas a run for their money. Her marital escapades with Lee Carter and Callum Highway were nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, complete with twists, turns, and the occasional loop-de-loop.
Whitney and Lee Carter’s marriage was akin to embarking on a video game set to the highest difficulty.
Troubles arose when Whitney impulsively kissed her father-in-law Mick, and Lee wove himself into a messy situation with Abi Branning, culminating in a rather surprising chlamydia storyline. The true antagonist, however, was Lee’s clandestine debts, hoarded away as if he were a squirrel preparing for a long winter.
In 2016, Whitney’s pregnancy appeared as a ray of hope, but destiny had a twist in store, resulting in a devastating miscarriage.
The marriage was tenser than a teabag left stewing for too long, with Lee’s bizarre behaviour skyrocketing Whitney’s stress levels. It was a union destined to disintegrate like a stale biscuit, which it eventually did when Whitney grew weary of Lee’s capers.
Then came Callum Highway, with a romance that started as sweet as a bag of candy floss. They kept the flame alive through texts and calls while Callum was playing soldier. But Callum was battling his own war within, culminating in a kiss with Ben Mitchell that left him questioning everything. Callum, ever the romantic (and also a bit clueless), popped the question to Whitney, planning a wedding while wrestling with his feelings. When he confessed his tryst with Ben, Whitney’s world was rocked, but she initially decided to march down the aisle anyway. In a twist worthy of a season finale, she reversed engines and left Callum high and dry at the altar.
Leo made quite the entrance as a wedding crasher at Whitney’s big day, charming her stepsister Tiffany with a cheeky peck on the cheek, much to the horror of Bianca, Tiffany’s mom. Despite Bianca’s warnings, Leo couldn’t resist the allure of Walford and soon began his campaign of intimidation. Turns out, he’s the son of Bianca’s ex, Tony, and he’s convinced Whitney’s been spinning tales about his dad. He’s after his grandma’s inheritance and isn’t above threatening harm to get it.
Back in Walford, Whitney drops the bomb that she’s chatting up a new guy, who’s none other than Leo. Their fling kicks off with a car pickup, but things get awkward when Tiffany, the wedding kiss recipient, outs Leo’s true identity. Whitney, however, isn’t deterred and keeps seeing him. At E20, she spills her relationship history to Leo, who’s fishing for dirt on his dad but comes up empty-handed. Whitney eventually puts the brakes on their romance, but Leo’s not done yet. He digs up a scandalous video of Callum and uses it to try and wedge between Whitney and her ex.
The drama peaks with Leo cornering Whitney on a balcony, only for Kush to rush to the rescue, resulting in Leo’s accidental tumble over the edge. In the hospital, Whitney hopes for mercy from Leo, who discovers her detailed notebook of their encounters. Leo’s last act of manipulation has Whitney publicly declaring Tony’s innocence before he takes up residence in her loft, spying through the ceiling. A final confrontation leads to a struggle, and Whitney defends herself, leaving Leo’s lifeless body in her kitchen…
SOMEONE WAITING FOR ME…
There are two other important characters that Whitney has interacted with have been vital parts of her story: Tony King and Rob Grayson.
Tony King was Bianca’s fiancé who groomed Whitney and started a sexual relationship with her behind Bianca’s back. Tony went to prison in 2007 after assaulting a boy who apparently harassed Whitney and was released in September 2008. Upon returning home, he made it clear to Whitney that they would resume their sexual relationship.
EastEnders took on a challenging and previously unexplored storyline that delved into the uncomfortable realities of Whitney’s life. Her narrative unfolded around the collapse of her family unit, her ordeal with sexual abuse by Tony King, and then her exploitation at the hands of local pimp Rob.
Rob Grayson was a pimp who exploited Whitney Dean for financial gain. His first appearance was in February 2011, and he appeared until a special Comic Relief episode on March 2012. Rob was using Whitney to pay off his debts. When Whitney realised she was there to have sex with men, she asked Rob if she could leave. Rob said to either be nice to his friends or he would hurt her. He grabbed her and locked her in a room. Whitney managed to escape and later returned to Walford after being arrested for shoplifting.
The EastEnders team meticulously developed both plots, conducting thorough research on sexual exploitation and collaborating with survivors to ensure a portrayal that was both accurate and handled with care. The storyline revealed Whitney’s internal battles with self-worth and her struggle to find her identity, often feeling unworthy of love and joy. Through her journey, Whitney learned to appreciate her own value and discovered her inner resilience.
These storylines were significant as they highlighted the issues of grooming and sexual exploitation, raising awareness about these important issues.
For survivors, these storylines meant the world.
SOMEDAY WHEN MY DREAMS COME TRUE
In the glamorous yet tumultuous world of Walford’s power couples, Zack and Whitney were the ones to watch. However, Zack’s new job on a swanky cruise ship meant he had to break it to Whitney gently, suggesting she might need some help with their bundle of joy. Whitney, fiercely independent, wasn’t having any of it, reminding him they were hardly a couple. The plot thickened when Zack, haunted by the specter of an HIV diagnosis, started to pull away from everyone, Whitney included, and renounced his fatherly duties in a dramatic showdown at Peggy’s. Whitney, meanwhile, was dealing with her own crisis after discovering their baby had Omphalocele, a condition where organs grow outside the body. The doctor gave them a ray of hope, mentioning surgery after birth. In the midst of this emotional whirlwind, Kat asked the tough question about the baby’s chances, and the doctor couldn’t guarantee a happy ending. Devastated, Whitney faced the unknown future of her child. But in an unexpected turn, Zack, showing a softer side, imagined their child as a girl named ‘Peach,’ holding onto the hopeful statistic that 9 out of 10 kids with Omphalocele survive, giving Whitney a beacon of hope in their stormy situation.
Amidst a poignant exchange filled with conflicting emotions, Whitney resolves to terminate the pregnancy, unwilling to subject Peach to suffering. In a moment of profound sadness, Zack is brought to his knees by the gravity of their choice. As time marches on, four days pass and the inevitable farewell arrives. They are blessed with a fleeting encounter with their dear daughter, Peach Dean. Whitney, through tears, whispers an apology for the shortness of Peach’s time, affirming her eternal love for her precious child with a parting kiss. Leaving the hospital, the parents are shrouded in their sorrow, embarking on the formidable journey of healing.
Zack’s not exactly thrilled to learn that Britney, the girl Whitney bumped into while visiting B in Milton Keynes, is now playing the role of Whitney’s ‘foster’ daughter—a twist no one saw coming after a year. Britney’s having a tough time adjusting and nearly bolts after Zack’s less-than-warm welcome, but Whitney’s persuasive powers prevail, and Britney agrees to stay. The plot thickens when Whitney confesses to Lauren that she dished out £2,000 to Brit’s mother Keeley for Britney’s handover, without the legal foster paperwork to boot. Lauren’s jaw hits the floor, and she urges Whitney to come clean to Zack. Meanwhile, over at The Albert, Whitney’s sweating bullets, worried Lauren might spill the beans.
In the latest episode of “Life’s Twists and Turns,” Whitney successfully enrols Britney in school, only to face a new challenge when Britney takes a tumble with her bike. At the hospital, they discover Britney has Type 2 Usher Syndrome, impacting her vision and hearing. Whitney braces herself to break the news to Britney, who takes it surprisingly well. Meanwhile, Bianca swoops back into town, just in time to join Whitney’s deep dive into Usher Syndrome research and a support group meetup. In a classic mix-up, Reiss accidentally spills the beans to a teacher that Whitney isn’t Britney’s biological mom, leading to a dramatic intervention by Social Services. Despite Whitney’s fierce advocacy, Britney is whisked away, leaving everyone on pins and needles waiting for Keeley’s verdict. In a heart-warming twist, Zack, Bianca, and Keeley pull off a rescue, and a thrilled Whitney, filled with gratitude for Zack’s unwavering support, pops the question at The Vic. He says yes, and wedding bells are set to ring in just two weeks!
In the whirlwind of wedding prep, Britney’s vase heist leaves Whitney less than thrilled. With Bianca stirring the pot, Whitney revokes her Maid of Honour title and crowns Lauren, who whips up a ‘sten do’ for the lovebirds. But drama’s never far behind as Lauren and Whitney clash, leading Penny to play mediator by locking them in Bianca’s Taco Van. Amidst the taco-scented reconciliation, Whitney’s baby decides it’s showtime. With no way out, it’s a race against time as Bianca and Britney swoop in for the save. Whitney’s dash to the hospital ends with a familiar face; Lynsey, the midwife, is there to welcome little Dolly Dean-Hudson into the world.
DOOF-DOOF!
Whitney’s love life in Walford has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for years, complete with marriage mishaps and romantic rumbles. She’s been the queen of heartbreak, betrayal, and the all-too-familiar unrequited love, often finding comfort in the arms of yet another complex character. But through it all, Whitney stands strong, a warrior for her happiness and the happiness of her nearest and dearest. Shona McGarty, who brought Whitney to life for a commendable 15 years, shocked the world with her exit announcement in July 2023. Fans have been on a countdown to her final appearance on the 23rd of May 2024, with calendars marked and tissues at the ready.
Shona, ever the intrepid explorer, is trading Albert Square for the vast wilderness of showbiz. She’s ready to feast on the buffet of opportunities while time is still her ally.
Bidding adieu to EastEnders is proving to be a sob fest to rival the show’s infamous Christmas episodes. Shona’s departure feels akin to leaving behind a family, with the Square being more than just a backdrop but a home. So, as we prepare for her final scenes, it’s time to break out the violins and keep a box of tissues handy – it’s going to be an emotional farewell.
A Walk Through Walford 
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