Major EastEnders legend makes unexpected return 2 years after show exit
EastEnders spoilers follow for Monday’s (May 25) episode, which can now be streamed on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air at 7:30pm.
EastEnders fans were treated to yet another unexpected comeback, with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) making a surprise and unannounced return to screens on Monday.
The legendary show character, a staple of the BBC One soap for 16 years, made was thought to be her final appearance in 2024.
Happiness often evaded Whitney throughout her time on the Square but she finally thought she’d got her happy ending with Zack Hudson (James Farrar).
Zack, however, cheated on her with best friend Lauren Branning Jacqueline Jossa) and thus devastated Whit decided that it was time for a fresh start away from Walford, leaving with Britney Wainwright (Lola Campbell) and new baby Dolly.
In emotional scenes, she received a warm farewell from her fellow market traders and subsequently departed in the back of a bus, receiving EastEnders’ signature Julia’s Theme for the heartfelt goodbye moment.
But flashforward two years and Whitney is back on the Square, having agreed to meet an excited Zack for lunch at Knight Fusion.
The chef was seemingly hopeful of rekindling things with Whit but she revealed that she’s seeing someone else – news which left him knocked for six.
To make matters worse, it comes just days before Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) – who he’s fallen for – is due to walk down the aisle with Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw), which means more heartbreak for Zack.
The question is: will this just be a flying visit for Whitney, who seems to be very much settled in her new life away from the Square?
Whitney is the latest in a string of surprising comebacks over the past six months or so.
Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), who was revealed to be Jasmine Fisher’s (Ideyarna Donaldson-Holness) accomplice in stalking Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), staged a number of surprise returns this past year, while a ghostly appearance from Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) also got viewers talking, as did the superb comeback of Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell) and that unexpected appearance from Dr Nina Gupta (Hersha Verity)!