Two key members of the EastEnders ensemble have just been revealed to be leaving their roles, shocking fans of the BBC program.
After 15 years on the program, Shona McGarty has decided to depart her role as Whitney Dean.
She has been a part of several of EastEnders’ most intense plotlines over that period, including one in which Whitney was subjected to stepfather Tony’s abuse.
More recently, she was horrified to learn that her unborn child had Edwards syndrome, forcing her to painfully decide to end her pregnancy.
Shona has amassed a sizable following over the years, and many of them are heartbroken to see her depart.
Twitter users are already speculating about what her next job may be; some want her to play the lead in a West End production, while others think she’ll be competing in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Fans of EastEnders are all hopeful that the door will be kept open for her to come back in the future, regardless of what she decides to do next.
Lorraine Stanley, who played Karen Taylor, was also revealed to be leaving the Square.
Karen has worked her way up to manageress of the launderette since moving to Walford in 2017, all the while attempting to keep an eye on her large family.
Fans expressed regret that Karen was written off so quickly; some thought she would develop into the next Dot Cotton.
Others have already speculated on what would cause the character to leave, and many have suggested that her departure might reveal the identity of the Christmas murder victim.
Fans believe Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) may have been the corpse on the floor, and they speculate that Karen would not want to remain in the Square after her son’s death.
Karen had previously endured a great deal of heartache on the Square when Chantelle was killed by her violent husband Gray Atkins.
Could she leave because of another death in the family?
Will she ever come back?
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