EastEnders star ‘signs up’ for ITV reality show after soap exit

EastEnders ‘ Whitney Dean star Shona McGarty is apparently set to swap the streets of Walford for the ice rink as she’s reportedly joining the next series of Dancing On Ice. It was announced last week that Shona has quit the BBC soap after 15 years, but it’s now been revealed the 31-year-old might be taking part in rival channel ITV’s popular competition series. A source for the reality show explained: “Shona is a great name for Dancing On Ice and she is on ITV’s wish-list.” Speaking to The Sun, they continued: “She is a huge talent and a very well-known name and to walk off EastEnders and straight onto their rival channel’s biggest show would be a huge coup.” The soap legend’s final episodes are due to air next year, and Dancing on Ice usually starts in January. EastEnders: Whitney Dean will soon be making an exit from the soap (Image: BBC) Express.co.uk has reached out to ITV for a comment on the rumoured line-up. Shona recently announced she has decided to step away from her beloved EastEnders character to “spread my wings”. She arrived on the BBC soap as the troubled teenage daughter of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) back in 2008, and has endured some of the soap’s most dramatic storylines. Explaining the reason she felt it’s time to move on, Shona told The Sun on Sunday: “I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders. I have loved my years in the show. “I have been trusted with some incredible storylines and have made amazing friendships – and family – which will endure.” EastEnders: Holly Willoughby could be welcoming Shona to the ice rink (Image: ITV) Another source told the publication: “It wasn’t an easy decision for Shona to make and she is gutted to be walking away from her soap family, especially as she has grown up on set with most of them. She’ll be sorely missed by the cast. “But she feels like now is the right time in her life to step away and try something new.” They went on to add the 31-year-old is “hoping the door will be left open for her character to return one day,” however it will ultimately be up to the writers to decide how Whitney will make her exit. Could the actress make a speedy return to screens by taking part in next year’s Dancing on Ice? EastEnders continues on Monday at 7.30pm, while Dancing on Ice is set to return to ITV in January.